Partnerships

The Trust seeks to build strategic relationships and collaborative partnerships with peer philanthropic trusts, charitable organisations, corporations, and all levels of government. This is predicated on the understanding, that in regard to the community sector, governments are the most significant supporters and recurrent funders of all community sector activity. More often than not, governments may need to be encouraged to partner with the community sector to work towards innovative solutions, especially for the disadvantaged and marginalised in the community.

The Trust will work collaboratively where it:

• does not relieve a government department or entity of its responsibilities.
• leverages significant additional funds in an area of interest to the Trust.
• does not incur undue transaction or administrative costs.
• promotes future sustainable funding of the activity/project.
• is not perceived to result in automatic ongoing support.
• has not become a dominant activity of the Trust.

Partnerships may involve specific projects/programs related to the current community sectors being supported by the Trust and/or to build the capacity of the not-for-profit sector to deliver improved outcomes related to the Trust’s community sectors and/or strands. Preference may be given to programs which demonstrate the potential of greater public benefit as a result of activities such as: strategic planning; business planning; organisational reviews; mergers and acquisitions; board development; and executive coaching/mentoring.

All applications we receive are given careful consideration. We are always happy to discuss your proposal prior to submission.

The application process for Partnership grants involves:

1. A completed Expression of Interest Form is submitted within the same timeframes for normal grant rounds.
2. The Expression of Interest is considered by the Trust.
3. If the Expression of Interest is approved by the Trust, then a detailed proposal is developed in collaboration with the Trust for consideration at the next available grant round and approval will be dependent upon the amount of available funds and other competing priorities.

If you would like to submit an application for a Partnership grant, please read through the guide below and make sure you include all requested information with your proposal to enable us to consider it fully.

Step 1 – Does your project fit within our grant programs and priorities?

Please read through the list of exclusions. You may like to review previously approved grants on the Publications page of the Trust’s website.

Step 2 – Check your eligibility

Before preparing your submission make sure your organisation is eligible to apply to the Trust for a grant. The Trust can only give grants to Victorian charitable institutions:

1. Applicable Tax Status

Your organisation must be endorsed by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as a:

• Charitable Institution; or

• Public Benevolent Institution; or

• Health Promotion Charity

and with “Income Tax Exemption” tax concession status.

Please note this is not the same as Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.

We cannot make grants to other ‘funds’ or ‘foundations’ so organisations endorsed by the ATO as a ‘Charitable Fund’ are ineligible for our consideration.

To find out your organisation’s endorsement, please visit the Government’s ABN Lookup website and do a search on your organisation. If you have the required endorsement and are proceeding with your grant proposal, please print out a copy to include with your application.

2. Location

Your organisation must be legally in situ in Victoria, separately constituted with a Victorian Board of Management, producing separate financial statements and its activities predominantly confined for the benefit of Victorians.

If your organisation is part of a national organisation and/or has operations outside of Victoria (eg offices/branches/services), it must have a separately constituted Victorian Board of Management and produce separate financial statements. An example of this is the Australian Red Cross. We also require a copy of the organisation’s constitution and written assurance that the organisation does not intend to operate or apply any of the grant funds outside Victoria.

3. To review the Acceptance of Standard Grant Conditions and note on the Application Coversheet.

If your application is approved, your organisation will be required to supply a duly executed Acceptance of Standard Grant Conditions form.

Step 3 – Prepare Your Grant Proposal

Your proposal should include the following:

1. Grant Expression of Interest

You will need to fill in an Expression of Interest form which is available from our website. Only applications that are signed off by the CEO (or equivalent position) and for Universities the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research or Head of Research will be considered.

2. Attachments

• a copy of the most recent Annual Report (for a year-end not more than 15 months ago), including full audited accounts is required to ascertain the financial viability, sustainability and financial efficiency of the applicant organisation.
• a copy of your Constitution including Objects and/or Statements of Purpose (if required).
• a copy of your Tax Status as a charitable organisation as outlined in Step 2 printed in the last 30 days.
• any letters of endorsement supporting the project and/or your organisation.

Step 4 – Other considerations:

Due to the high incidence of grants being declined through insufficient funds, the Trust will only consider:

• up to TWO applications per Victorian University each funding round, however the Trust will only approve a maximum of TWO grants per university each financial year; and

• only ONE application per other charitable organisation each funding round, however the Trust will only approve a maximum of ONE grant per organisation each financial year.

Organisations that are a party (other than the lead applicant) to a collaborative partnership application may also apply for a grant in their own right.

Previous successful applicants, other than universities, are not eligible to apply within 12 months of a previous grant being approved and/or before an existing multi-year grant is completed

Previous successful applicants are not eligible to apply if a satisfactory Acquittal Report has not been received.

Step 5 – Submit your proposal

Before mailing your request to us, please check back over the list above and ensure you have provided all the items and information we require. Applications should:

• Include all required material
• Be clear and concise
• Set the context
• Foster partnerships (where possible)
• Demonstrate that projects are sustainable beyond the application/pilot

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. The Trust welcomes the opportunity to discuss your application prior to submission.

For Arts, Culture & Heritage enquiries please call Sarah Bartak on (03) 9631 2553 (Mon-Wed) or email artsgrants@hmstrust.org.au

For all other grant queries, please call Chris Wootton on (03) 9631 2599 or email grants@hmstrust.org.au

Please mail one unbound copy of your application to:

Mr Darvell M Hutchinson, AM
Chairman
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
Level 43, 80 Collins Street
Melbourne Vic 3000