SUITABLE INITIATIVES FOR FUNDING
The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund's areas of focus are:
- Education
- Health
- Youth and leadership
- Social justice
- Cultural celebration
The Fund provides support for a variety of programmes and initiatives, both large and small, across Australia. Funding may be provided on a once off basis or over a number of years. The Fund also supports programmes where different organisations work in partnership, or where funding comes from multiple sources.
The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund especially welcomes applications from Aboriginal community organisations.
The Fund particularly values programmes that:
- Meet a need expressed by Aboriginal people
- Are initiated by Aboriginal people
- Involve Aboriginal people in their development, management and implementation
- Have community support
- Build strength and capacity in Aboriginal people and communities
- Deliver direct sustainable benefits to Aboriginal people
- Have clearly defined outcomes.
Applicants should demonstrate a commitment to working with Aboriginal communities to build capacity.
WHAT ISN'T FUNDED
Funding is not provided for:
- Capital works and expenditure, vehicles, travel (except where it is an essential minor part of a larger programme supported by the Fund), conferences, exhibitions, events, ventures which are commercial in nature, general fund raising appeals, long term recurrent expenditure, programmes that are usually considered to be in the realm of government, documentaries, or individual education support costs.
Research is only supported where it incorporates a significant community programme.
APPLYING FOR FUNDING
The RTAF Board members will next meet in November 2010. The closing date for submissions is the 10th November (unfortunately, submissions received after this date cannot be considered in the November funding round).
The RTAF will notify applicants within two weeks of when they lodge their submission, as to whether the submission is suitable for consideration at the next board meeting. The RTAF will inform all applicants on the success of their application at the beginning of the month after the closing date.
The Fund does not require funding recipients to have deductible gift recipient (DGR) status.
Applicants are encouraged to seek funds from a number of sources and to discuss their applications with the executive officer before submitting.
Submissions should demonstrate that the proposed programme has been thoughtfully planned. However, the board members base funding decisions on the merit of a programme, not the quality of the written submission.
The following points will help in preparing a submission (note that some of these items may not be applicable for small initiatives):
- The submission documentation should be concise; aim for no more than six pages (less for small initiatives)
- Include the following on a cover sheet:
- Date
- Name of the programme or initiative
- Name of the entity seeking funding
- Contact person and contact details
- A couple of sentences describing the programme or initiative
- Amount of funding sort
- Include the following in the submission:
- Background information about your organisation
- The purpose of the programme or initiative, and relevant background information
- A description of the programme or initiative which clearly outlines the activities to be undertaken
- The expected outcomes (ie longer term effects) and who will benefit
- Identify how the outcomes will be measured
- The risks and how they will be managed
- Other (potential) funding bodies and partners in the programme
- Specify what the funds will be used for and provide a budget breakdown
- Provide milestone dates for key programme activities.
TO FORWARD APPLICATIONS OR FOR MORE INFORMATION
Submissions may be emailed, faxed or mailed. Electronic copies are preferred, where possible.
Board members base their decision to fund on the information contained in the submission.
Applications and enquiries for funding should be directed to:
Executive Officer
Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund
GPO Box 384D
MELBOURNE 3001
Email: aboriginal.fund@riotinto.com
Ph: 03 9283 3333
Fx: 03 9283 3424
