RACQ Foundation Community Grant Program

RACQ Foundation helps impacted community groups recover from flooding, weather events, drought, bushfire and other natural disasters.

If you are a Queensland sporting club/organisation, community group, charity or an organisation with a charitable purpose and have been impacted by the 2022 South East Queensland severe weather events, natural disaster or drought you can apply now for a Community Grant with RACQ Foundation.

The application form and supporting documents must be completed no later than 5pm on Friday October 7th.

Application Checklist

Before starting your online application form, make sure you have thought through the details of your project. Such as:

• Who are you? Think of the organisation or charity.
• What is your background and what are your usual activities?
• What are the numbers of your volunteers and/or staff?
• What do you want to do with the grant?
• How do you plan on doing the project?
• What are the costs involved and the budget of the project?
• What happens after the project is completed?
• Are there any other sources of funding for your project?

Documents to gather before starting your online application

Important: Please be prepared to upload your documents in the final stages just before submitting your application, as file attachments cannot be saved for later.

• Proof of your not-for-profit status: ABN or incorporation number; and/or ACNC Number
• Project budget – a breakdown of the project costs and details
• Annual report - a copy of your most recent annual report (preferably audited)
• GST status - include details if your organisation is registered for GST
• DGR status - if your organisation has Deductable Gift Recipient status, attach either a copy of the letter of endorsement from the Australian Taxation Office or a copy of your status
• Photographs / drawings - please included to show how the weather event impacted your organisation and any damage or the proposed project
• Proof of tenure - if your application relates to the reconstruction, replacement or repair of real estate, please provide proof of tenure (e.g. copy of certificate of title, lease and license agreement). If you do not own the land, please provide copies/details of the landowner’s consent to the works
• Insurance - if your project is in relation to equipment and/or property to be replaced or repaired, please provide evidence of any insurance in relation to the equipment and/or property. Please provide copies of any correspondence in relation to claims relating to the repair and replacement of the equipment or property
• Quotes - where appropriate, successful applicants will need to provide a quote to demonstrate that the project or works represents value for money
• APPROVALS - please provide copies of all local authority and other approvals required to conduct any works, if required
• Grants and government assistance programs - please provide details of any successful grant applications or government assistance received in relation to the project

To be eligible for funding your  organisation  must meet each of the criteria outlined below: 

1. Your organisation must be either: 
   • a small to medium community organisation; or 
   • a charity or other organisation with a charitable purpose. 
2. The project must benefit Queenslanders who have been significantly affected by flood, other weather events or a natural disaster or seek to prevent such events from negatively impacting on Queensland communities. 
3. The project must be completed within 12 months of grant approval.
4. The grant must be used to: 
   • pay for material items or something tangible; or 
   • have a positive community impact; or 
   • cover the costs incurred by the organisation in relation to the cleaning and restoration of property with any disaster mitigation works forming a component of the overall grant. 
5. Applications to the RACQ Foundation are expected to be for amounts of up to $50,000, with grants of up to $100,000 considered in exceptional circumstances only. 
6. Applicants may only receive a grant once every 12 months.  Applicants which have received grant approval in the previous 12-month period, will not be considered.
7. Organisations that have not considered appropriate insurance requirements to ensure their assets have adequate insurance coverage (or the available level of insurance), may not be able to obtain a grant for these assets. 
8. Where a third party is responsible for repairing or building infrastructure and items and not the organisation (for example a landlord under lease or a local government authority), the third party is responsible for making these repairs or constructions, whether or not covered by insurance, and the organisation is not eligible to make a claim for assistance from the Foundation for these items. 
9. The RACQ Foundation Trustee Board may, in its absolute discretion, resolve to provide a grant to organisations that do not strictly meet the above criteria and may provide grants in addition to the cap. 

As a general, the RACQ Foundation will not consider funding programs for:

1. Political purposes
2. Fundraising events or appeals (for example: charity auctions, dinners).
3. Salaries which are directly related to the project.
4. Sponsorships or scholarships.
5. Expenses that ought to be the primary responsibility of government or projects which duplicate existing local, state and federal government projects or programs (for example: SES and P&C associations).
6. Works that arise because of a poor history or lack of maintenance.
7. Government bodies.
8. Foundations that are grant making bodies.
9. Organisations which have received a grant from the RACQ Foundation in the last 12 months.

Mitigation Works

Funding support is available for disaster affected community organisations for projects which will mitigate the effect of future disaster events on infrastructure. Mitigation support may include aspects such as drainage and materials, surfaces and fixtures that are more resilient to damage. A clear rationale for improving the infrastructure will need to be established in the application to be eligible for mitigation support.