Grassroots Grants 2021-22 Guidelines

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Grassroots Grants 2021-22

Guidelines Green Adelaide is launching its annual Grassroots Grant program to support individuals,

volunteers and community groups and other bodies to deliver local projects that contribute

to improved management of the metropolitan Adelaide environment.

The following document provides guidelines for applicants to apply for a Green Adelaide

Grassroots Grant. In 2021-22 the total funding available in the Green Adelaide region (see

Appendix 1 on page 12 for a map) is $1 million, with a minimum of $2000 and maximum of

$150,000 available per application.

What is Green Adelaide?

Green Adelaide was established on 1 July 2020 under the Landscape South Australia Act

2019, following a range of reforms to natural resources management in South Australia.

Green Adelaide’s region spans 17 metropolitan councils, from Gawler River in the north to

Sellicks Beach in the south, and about a third of Gulf St Vincent.

The Grassroots Grants program is an opportunity for Green Adelaide to partner with

individuals, communities and volunteers to work together and create a cooler, greener,

wilder and climate-resilient city. To support this vision for Adelaide, there are seven priorities:

1. Coastal management

2. Water resources and wetlands

3. Green streets and flourishing parklands

4. Biodiversity and water sensitive urban design

5. Controlling pest plants and animals

6. Nature education

7. Fauna, flora and ecosystem health in the urban environment.

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Grant objectives

All grants must contribute to one or more Grassroots Grants objective.

The objectives are:

Protection and ecologically sustainable management of landscapes and their

interconnected elements, in particular land, soil, water, native fauna and flora.

Protection and conservation of biodiversity, and restoration or rehabilitation of ecological

systems and processes so they are resilient to changes.

Prevention or control of impacts caused by pest species of animals and plants that may

have an adverse effect on the environment, primary production or the community.

Encouragement of the restoration or rehabilitation of ecological systems and processes

that have been lost or degraded.

Support for primary industries, interest of Aboriginal peoples and resilient communities.

Provision of information, educational initiatives and support mechanisms to strengthen

the skills, knowledge and capacity of people to sustainably manage natural resources.

The program encourages partnerships to achieve these objectives. Projects must also be

broad enough to deliver benefits across the community, not just to an individual person or

organisation.

Key dates:

Applications open – 28 April 2021

Applications close – 9 June 2021 at 5pm

Note: Late applications will NOT be accepted

Assessment period – June to August 2021

Successful applicants announced – September/October 2021.

Contacts

For enquires on the guidelines, application or project, email

[email protected] or phone 8226 8527.

For Aboriginal engagement assistance, email [email protected]

For assistance in accessing the Grants Management System, logins and passwords please

email: [email protected] or phone 8463 7883.

mailto:[email protected]



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Who can apply?

To be eligible for a grant you must be a legal entity or sponsored by a legal entity. The

project must be within the Green Adelaide region (see Appendix 1 on page 12 for a map,

including a link to an interactive version) and the project must be undertaken on a not-for-

profit basis.

Eligible entities include:

an incorporated community group or organisation (or a non-incorporated group with a

sponsor that is a legal entity)

an individual or partnership

a non-government organisation

a school, university or other educational entity (may require a sponsor)

an incorporated Aboriginal organisation (or a non-incorporated group with a sponsor).

If you are not a legal entity (i.e. not incorporated) you will need to seek sponsorship from a

legal entity that is prepared to take responsibility for the legal and financial accountability of

the project. The sponsor will receive the funding on your behalf and will be required to

provide a final acquittal of project funds. Trusts must register the name of the trustee (i.e.

John Smith as trustee for John Smith Family Trust).

The applicant’s sponsor organisation can apply for administration costs of up to 10%.

Note:

local councils are ineligible to apply

each applicant can only submit one application

applicants successful in Round 1 of Green Adelaide Grassroots Grants will be eligible

to apply for Round 2, however new applicants may be prioritised

applicants with outstanding reports from the previous Adelaide and Mount Lofty

Ranges Natural Resources Management Board grants will not be funded.

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How much can I apply for?

The total value of the Grassroots Grants program for Green Adelaide in 2021-22 is $1 million,

with grants between $2000 and $150,000 available per application.

The table below describes the level of funding, project time and reporting requirements for

each of the three tiers available.

Level Funding Project time Reporting requirements to

Green Adelaide

Tier 1 $2000 to $10,000 Up to 12 months Reporting frequency: end of project

Must include:

• photographs and/or videos of

activities and outcomes (e.g. before,

progress and after photos)

• completion of other agreed

monitoring and reporting

requirements as per grant agreement

• final financial acquittal.

Tier 2 $10,000 to $50,000 Up to 18 months Reporting frequency: six-monthly

and end of project

Must include:




• end of financial year acquittal

• final financial acquittal



requirements as per grant agreement.

Tier 3 $50,000-$150,000 Up to 24 months Reporting frequency: six-monthly

and end of project

Must include:




• financial reporting against agreed

budget

• final financial acquittal



requirements as per grant agreement.

Tier 1 funding will be paid 100% on signing of a grant agreement, with proof of project

completion required within 12 months of grant agreements being signed by both parties.

Tiers 2 and Tier 3 funding may be granted to multiple-year projects (e.g. two years); however,

funding under these tiers will be paid in instalments according to milestones and subject to

satisfactory reporting as agreed to by the applicant and the Green Adelaide Board.

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It is anticipated that grant agreements will be forwarded to successful applicants in

September/October 2021.

How to apply

Applications are prepared via the Department for Environment and Water’s online Grant

Management System by clicking the link below:

http//gmsportal.environment.sa.gov.au

The system allows you to track your application throughout the grant process and review

your submitted application.

http://gmsportal.environment.sa.gov.au/

http://gmsportal.environment.sa.gov.au/

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What types of activities will be considered for a grant?

Grants are available for a variety of activities which contribute to the objectives (see page 2)

of the Grassroots Grants program. The types of activities that will be considered for a grant

include, but are not limited to:

Type of activity Detail to be provided in your application

Assessment and monitoring Tell us about the surveys/monitoring the project

will be undertaking, what you will be monitoring,

the survey technique and the number of

surveys/monitoring activities.

Examples of activities include:

fauna survey

flora survey

pest animal survey

plant survival survey

water quality survey

weed mapping and monitoring

cultural monitoring

workshop, skills and knowledge survey.

Aboriginal

partnerships/engagement/knowledge

sharing

Tell us about the type of Aboriginal

partnerships/engagement/knowledge sharing the

project will be undertaking and the number.


Aboriginal on-country visits

cultural training sessions

workshop/field day.

Educational and communication

materials

Tell us about the types of publications to be

produced, the purpose and the number.


educational materials

newsletters

fliers

report

social media posts

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videos

signage.

Community/stakeholder engagement Tell us about the types of events the project will be

undertaking, the purpose and the number.


conference/seminar presentation

field day

training session

working bee

workshop.

Conservation actions Tell us about the conservation actions targeting

threatened species/threatened ecological

communities and the number.


installation of nest boxes or other

breeding/refuge structures.

Fencing Tell us about the barriers or other upright

structures the project will be undertaking to

control access and the length of fencing (km).


Length (km) of fencing installed

Note: property boundary is not an eligible activity.

Controlling pest animals Tell us about the pest animals and the actions the

project will undertake to control them and the

area (ha).


Area (ha) pest animal controlled.

Controlling pest plants Tell us about the pest plants and the actions the

project will undertake to control them and the

area (ha) or length (km).


Area (ha) or length (km) pest plant controlled.

Debris removal Tell us about the actions the project will undertake

to remove debris from land and/or water systems

and the area (ha) or length (km).

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Note Other activities or specific expenditure may be eligible where they support achievement of

the Grassroots Grants program objectives and Green Adelaide priorities.

If you are unsure about the eligibility of your proposed project or activities, please email:

[email protected] or phone 8226 8527.


Area (ha) or length (km) of debris removed.

Revegetating landscapes Tell us about the revegetation activities and the

actions the project will undertake and the area

(ha) or number of plants.


direct seeding

tube stock planting

mulching

plant guards

supplementary watering

erosion control.


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Limits on grant activities

Grassroots Grant funding cannot be used for:

activities that are causing or likely to cause environmental damage, either directly or

indirectly

administration and finance costs (unless paid to sponsor organisations, see “How to

apply” section on page 5)

reimbursement of personal labour costs

property boundary fencing

preparation of the grant application and grant reporting

components of projects that have no environmental or educational benefit, such as

retaining walls, shelters etc.

purchase of assets that could be considered for personal use

purchase of assets that could be obtained by other means, i.e. hire, loan etc.

retrospective funding of activities; projects cannot start until a grant agreement has been

signed by all parties

existing debts or shortfalls

marketing and promotion of the organisation or existing services (unless directly

associated with the project and educational in nature)

projects that have been funded through another source

activities that are unlawful.

Note This list is not exhaustive.

Only expenditure incurred by the funding recipient or sponsor, directly attributable to the

approved project, will be considered eligible expenditure.

How will grants be assessed?

Applications will be assessed by a panel of Green Adelaide staff, with final funding decisions

made by the Green Adelaide Board or its delegate.

Priority will be given to projects that:

detail how they will specifically contribute to achieving the Grassroots Grant program

objectives

leverage other funding sources or provision of in-kind funding (e.g. fencing funded

privately combined with a Grassroots Grant for tube stock, tree guards and weed control)

provide a high level of value for money based on the scale and impact of the project

demonstrate how well the project complements or supports existing programs/initiatives

include clear timelines, milestones and management of potential risks for the proposed

project

provide a high level of public benefit and supports the local community

utilise strategic partnerships and collaborations

demonstrate how success of the project will be measured

demonstrate how the project outcomes and outputs will be supported and maintained

into the future.

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Green Adelaide staff may work with applicants to refine project design, partnerships, scope

and scale before entering into a grant agreement.

All applicants will be formally advised on the outcome of their application in writing. Feedback

will be provided to unsuccessful grant applicants upon request.

Conditions of funding

Successful applicants will enter into a grant agreement which may (depending upon the level

of the grant) outline:

key objectives and project outcomes

project and grant payment milestones

monitoring and reporting requirements

data sharing agreement

sharing of any media/promotional opportunities

process for any project variation and/or extension requests

responsibility for public liability insurance

any other terms and conditions as deemed appropriate.

All successful applicants will need to acknowledge Green Adelaide in any promotions

including media, online (social media, website) and promotional materials.

Unspent funds

Any unspent grant funds must be returned to the Green Adelaide Board in accordance with

the grant agreement.

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Checklist before submitting a grant application

Have you considered discussing the project with partners or Green Adelaide or

Department for Environment and Water staff?

Have you reviewed your application, ensuring all sections have been completed and

each question has been addressed?

Have you uploaded the required documentation? The following information is

mandatory:

Budget justification (detailed spreadsheet outlining how the costs were

determined within the budget table for each activity). Please see How do I

complete the budget table? in Appendix 2 on page 14.

Project photos (of the site/s). Mandatory for all on-ground works

Project location map (where the project will be delivered).

Quotes, cost estimates.

Evidence of partnership support (if you have a project partner you will need to

attach a letter of support).

For projects delivering on-ground works such as planting trees and pest control, have

you included:

approvals/permits or evidence that approvals are being sought or not

required?

landholder permission to undertake the project? If you are undertaking work

on someone else’s land, you will need a letter of support.

plant list? Must be included for any project purchasing plants.

For projects holding an event such as a field day or a workshop, have you included:

event program/itinerary/schedule?

For Tier 2 and 3 projects, it is recommended that you include:

Project brief: plans, images, concept designs, specifications etc.

Risk management plan. Please see Appendix 3 on page 15 for information on

risks and an example of a risk management plan.

Other supporting documentation such as management plans can also be uploaded.

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Appendix 1 - Green Adelaide region

For an interactive map of the Green Adelaide region please click here. Note it is not

compatible with Internet Explorer.

The interactive map shows the Green Adelaide boundary, as well as council boundaries – and

there’s a search bar which allows you to search for an address.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Styler/index.html?appid=bf5febec8059447795f29a31d5c9381f

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Appendix 2 - How do I complete the budget table?

The budget table in the application form provides costings at the project activity level.

The project activities should reflect the same type of activities the project will be delivering as outlined in project delivery tab.

Project

activity

Quantity Start date Finish

date

Grant

funding

sought

($’s)

Cash

contribution

($’s)

Identify cash

co-

contributor

Volunteer hours

In-kind

contribution

($ value)

Identify in-

kind

contributor

Total

activity

costs

(i.e. Flora

survey,

pest plant

control)

(Number,

area ha,

length

km)

Date the

activity will

commence

Date the

activity

will be

completed

Funding

you are

seeking

from

Grassroots

Grants

Cash that will

be added in

addition to

Grassroots

Grants

funding being

sought

Who will be

contributing

cash towards

the activity

(e.g. list

other grants,

project

partners)?

Number of

volunteers

multiplied by

number of hours

per activity

Non-cash

contributions to

activity;

including venue

hire, donation of

goods, loan of

equipment.

Who will be

contributing

to activity (e.g.

council,

Bunnings,

school,

volunteer

group)

Grant

funding

sought plus

cash

contribution

plus in-kind

contribution

Example:

Flora

surveys

4 flora

surveys

Aug 2021 Oct 2021 $1500 $0 N/A 5 $200 Protective

clothing from

Bunnings

$1500

Example:

Training

sessions

2 training

sessions

Nov 2021 June

2021

$2000 $100 Landcare

group

5 $500 Venue hire

from local

council

$2100

Example:

Pest plant

control

5 Ha Sept 2021 Nov 2021 $15000 $500 Local council 10 $100 Hire of fill and

drill kit from

DEW

$15500

Example:

Direct

seeding

0.1 ha Jul 2021 Aug 2021 $400 $400 Parents and

Friends

20 $100 Materials -

shade cloth –

Parent

$800

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Appendix 2 - Budget justification

A budget justification spreadsheet will need to be uploaded to the Grant Management

System which itemises the costs for each activity (demonstrating how you arrived at the total

cost per activity). Please refer to the example below for the type of detail required within the

budget justification template.

e.g. training session

Training

sessions on

pest plant

and animal

control

Grant

funding

requested

Cash

contribution

In-kind

contribution

(including

volunteer

hours)

Comments

Consultant to

run 2 training

sessions @

$500 each

$1000 $0 $0 Quote

attached

Promote the

training

sessions,

organise

venue hire and

organise

consultant

(Salary -

12hours x $50)

$600 $100 $0 Salary scale

attached

Venue hire (2

days) @ $250

per day -

council

$400 $0 $100 Cost estimate

attached

Volunteer

trainers (2

volunteers at 2

hours @ $45)

$180 Based on

ABS hourly

rate for

volunteers

Total $2000 $100 $280

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Appendix 3 - What are grant activity risks?

Grant applications will require assessment of possible risks associated with the activity. When addressing risk in your application, consider risks such as

insufficient community interest or engagement, climate and seasonal conditions, availability of contractors/volunteer, staff turnover, safety risks

(volunteers, contractors) that may impact on the delivery of these activities and describe how these risks will be managed. For example, for insufficient

community interest or engagement, consider timing of the event, ensure it has been promoted across various mediums etc. For Tier 2 and 3 projects,

a risk management table may be attached in the Supporting Documents tab if preferred.

Risk management plan – example only

Describe the risk

There is a risk of/that

Risk cause/s

The risk/s are caused

by:

Current controls

The current controls for

the risk are:

Risk assessment Risk treatment

Depending on risk rating, additional

controls/mitigation strategy to be

implemented (to reduce risk rating)

Likelihood Consequence Risk rating

View the tables below to help determine your ratings and assessments.

Planting event will

not occur as planned

Seasonal

conditions (wet

weather)

Lack of volunteers

Consider

rescheduling

event

Advertising on

social media

Possible Moderate Medium

Plan for additional planting days

Consider school participation,

increase advertising

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Risk assessment ratings

Likelihood (of the risk occurring) Consequence (of the risk to the project)

ALMOST CERTAIN SEVERE

LIKELY MAJOR

POSSIBLE MODERATE

UNLIKELY MINOR

RARE INSIGNIFICANT

Use this table in conjunction with the likelihood and impact tables and the risk assessment guideline to determine the level of risk.

CONSEQUENCS ASSESSMENT

Lik

eli

ho

od

ass

ess

men

t

Insignificant Minor Moderate Major Severe

Almost certain Medium Medium High Extreme Extreme

Likely Low Medium High High Extreme

Possible Low Medium Medium High High

Unlikely Low Low Medium Medium Medium

Rare Low Low Low Low Medium