Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Spring / Summer 2011 | Page 6

Getting the most out of your grant application Q & A with Amy Rosanowski, Senior Consultant target for social inclusion? This could include Indigenous people, people from non-English speaking backgrounds or people with a disability. with Red Tape Busters Q. Our club has a number of projects that we would like to get funding for – how do we decide what to apply for ? Firstly you and your committee need to discuss what projects have the highest priority for you. Then you need to get an indication of the project cost, as this will impact on what projects are likely to be successful in funding applications. You can contact Shane Bowering or me at Red Tape Busters to help identify the projects with the greatest likelihood of success. Shane Bowering: [email protected] or 0402 210 664 Q. What makes a good letter of support? Amy Rosanowski: [email protected] or 0402 132 394 Q. Once we’ve decided on our project what else do we need to do? You should complete the Expression of Interest form on the Golf Queensland website and send it through to Golf Queensland as a request for grant writing assistance. If you already have information to support your application, include this with your Expression of Interest. This might include quotes or letters of support, although it is not necessary to have these at this stage. Q. How do we make our project stand out from the rest? It is really important to have a think about what makes your Club special. There are probably lots of things that you do that benefit your local community and that you don’t think of as special, but that would be well regarded by the funding body. Include this information with your Expression of Interest form. For example, is your course regularly used by one or more of the local schools? Do you have an active Juniors program? Do you have members who belong to groups that the Government is seeking to Have a think about how you can open your Club up to the community. If the school is not already using your course, give them a call and see if they would like to. The same applies for youth groups or others in the community. If you are applying for machinery (e.g. a new mower or tractor) is it possible that you could share this with another nearby club or school? This increases the benefit of the project to the community. Think about who you ask for a letter of support from. These will be much more influential if they are from groups in the community who will benefit from the project, or who benefit from your Club being successful. If you are applying for a state government grant (for example Jupiters or Gambling Community Benefit Fund) then you should always include a letter from your State MP. Do not just get letters from your members. Do not include a letter from someone who is already named on the application as a committee member or a contact person – even if they are writing the letter on behalf of a different club or group. The support letter should identify who the referee is and what their association is with your Club. It should identify that they know what the application is for and what the benefit is either to them or to the club. It should make a comment about the great work that you do in your community already! Q. What happens after the application is submitted? Most Government grants take between three to six months to be assessed, possibly longer! Notification of the result of the application will be sent to the contact person listed on the application form. This will normally be someone at your club, not anyone at Golf Queensland or Red Tape Busters. Feel free to call Amy on 0402 132 394 or email [email protected] with any queries. There are often grant opportunities available for clubs conducting Come and Try open days. 6 Q Golf Online Spring / Summer 2011 www.golfqueensland.org.au