Grow your co-operative; increase your positive impact
The Bunya Fund is Australia’s first Co-operative Development Fund and was established by the BCCM in co-operation with our members. The aim of The Bunya Fund is to help newer and emerging co-operatives and mutuals to grow and prosper to increase their positive impact on their members, their communities, the environment and society.
The Bunya Fund provides education, training, advisory services and mentoring to support emerging co-operatives and mutuals that demonstrate high economic, social, cultural and environmental impact potential.
The Bunya Fund supports the BCCM’s mission of growing the co-operative and mutual economy in Australia by empowering the next generation of social businesses to choose the co-operative or mutual model of enterprise if it is the right model for them.
The Bunya Fund will provide capacity building, education and advisory services, valued at between $5,000 and $25,000.
Successful applicants will have access to:
Advice: Access to advisory and education services from BCCM memembers and other approved providers.
Infrastructure: Funding to support investment in organisational infrastructure where this is the main barrier to the implementation of a growth plan (e.g., a refrigerator for cold storage).
BCCM foundational education and courses such as governance training and Mutual Value Measurement© workshops if available.
BCCM Associate Membership for the remainder of the financial year.
Please note: Successful applicants will receive funding as a package of education, advice and mentoring. Grants are not awarded as cash funding
Eligibility
Newer or emerging co-operatives and mutuals (including one based in regional WA) that can demonstrate:
- The organisation is fit and proper to receive funding (high level of ethical practice)
- Clear organisational purpose and objectives
- Strong current or prospective economic, social, cultural, and environmental impact within their communities
- Business viability (or pathway to viability)
- Basic business documentation (annual report, business plan, financials)
- A strong foundation of member/community support and engagement.
Applicants must generally be a co-operative or mutual. Enterprises that are not currently a co-operative or mutual but intend to convert to a co-operative or mutual structure with the support of the Bunya Fund may also apply (e.g., a business buyout by the community or workers). Applicants may be for-profit, not-for-profit or charitable. Evidence of co-operative or mutual status is best evidenced through registration as a co-operative under the Co-operatives National Law or Co-operatives Act 2009 (WA). Companies that include co-operative principles in their constitution and meet the definition of a mutual entity in the Corporations Act are also eligible.
Applications open: Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Applications close: 5 pm, Monday, 1 May 2023
Grantees notified by: 5 pm, Friday, 30 June 2023
