Applying for a Grant

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

Please read through the guide below and make sure you include all requested information with your proposal to enable us to consider it fully.

Applications from a university or research institute must be submitted through their applicable research or grants office.

We also look after several other funds. Please click here if you wish to make an application to the Macpherson Smith Community Alliance for the Community Building Initiative, or to the L.E.W. Carty Charitable Foundation for medical research projects, or to The John Villiers Trust for grants to organisations conducting charitable purposes in Queensland.

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

Please read through the list of what we fund and don’t fund.

Step 2 - Check your eligibility

Before preparing your submission make sure your organisation is eligible to apply to the Trust for a grant.

The Trustees will not consider applications made within 12 months of a previous grant being approved or before an existing staged grant is completed.

The Trust can only give grants to Victorian charitable institutions:

• Your organisation must be based in Victoria, and its activities confined to Victoria.
  

If the organisation is based outside the State of Victoria, a grant can only be made to an autonomous Victorian Branch (controlled by a Victorian Board of Management) for application of funds within Victoria

If the organisation is based in Victoria, but its Constitution does not specifically limit its operations or application of funds to Victoria, we require written assurance that the organisation does not intend to operate or apply any of the Trust's funds outside Victoria.

• Your organisation must be endorsed by the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as a:
  • Charitable Institution; or
  • Public Benevolent Institution; or
  • Health Promotion Charity

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 click here and do a search on your organisation. If you have the required endorsement and are proceeding with your grant proposal, a copy is required to be included with your application.

If your proposal meets our project guidelines but your organisation is ineligible, please contact us as we may be able to offer advice to assist you.

Step 3 – Prepare your full proposal

Your proposal should include the following:

1. Application Summary
   This PDF form provides key organisation, contact and request information to assist us to process your grant proposal. (Please note - THIS IS NOT AN APPLICATION FORM. The information requested in no.2 below should comprise your grant application). You can download the application summary from above and fill it in electronically before printing. A Word version is supplied for those who are having trouble with the PDF form. This form MUST be signed by the CEO, Chairperson or equivalent endorsing the request. Universities are required to obtain endorsement from their respective Research Office or Vice-Chancellor.
   
2. Specific Grant Request
   This section should include:
3. A description of the project
4. Evidence showing a need for the request and its value i.e. the context in which your request has been formulated, including any other similar programs or research, to support your application
5. Detailed budget showing other sources of income, your contribution, etc. Project and other costs submitted in support of the application must be exclusive of GST. Please note that grants made by the Trust are regarded as gifts for the purposes of GST legislation and therefore not subject to GST (refer ATO GST Ruling 2000/11)
6. A listing of major partners in the project and their roles/responsibility
7. Timeline of the project
8. Anticipated evaluation methods
9. Attachments
   This section should include:
10. A copy of your latest Annual Report including audited annual accounts together with a copy of the report and accounts of the Victorian Branch, if applicable
11. A copy of your Constitution including Objects and/or Statements of Purpose
12. A copy of your Tax Concession endorsement as above (see Step 2 - Eligibility) printed in the last 30 days
13. Any letters of endorsement supporting the project and/or your organisation are also welcome

Step 4 – 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
• Demonstrate that projects are sustainable beyond the application/pilot

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us. We prefer to discuss your application with you beforehand, rather than receive an incomplete or underdeveloped proposal. If you have any queries, please call (03) 9631 2551.

Please mail one copy of your proposal to:

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