Community Grants Program | Sustainable Forest Management & Certification

Through the 21-22 Responsible Wood Community Grants program, we seek to support regional and rural Australian communities to connect with their local certified forests. Responsible Wood believes that through the building of new and or enhancing existing connections with forests communities become stronger, healthier and happier.

Specifically, the 21-22 Community Grant program is designed to support local communities better access or experience their local forest. This may be through the construction of bike or walking tracks, improved signage within a forest, construction of picnic facilities, rehabilitation or habitat improvement of forest areas, bushfire related commemorations, commissioning and or installation of art along existing forest tracks.

Responsible Wood is encouraging groups such as, registered charities, Men’s sheds, local incorporated groups, sporting clubs, Art groups, Councils, Education institutions, registered bike or bushwalking clubs, Indigenous organisations, Landcare, or local environmental organisations to come up with some creative ideas about how to better access,enjoy and or improve forests and submit a grant application.

The funding available per project is between $5 000 and $15 000. Each year, the applications open on 1st September and close on 31st October with the project to be completed by 31^st May of the following year.

Application process

To apply for the grant, you need to complete four steps:

Check your eligibility by completing the Eligibility Check list.
Seek support of your local Responsible Wood certified forest manager or certified Chain of Custody supplier for your project. Click here to download the list of certified Responsible Wood members.
If you and your project is eligible, please download and complete the application form.
Submit your application, by email both the signed application form and eligibility checklist to communitygrants@responsiblewood.org.au by the 31^st October 2021.

If you have questions regarding your project application, please review the FAQ and if still unsure, contact Megan at communitygrants@responsiblewood.org.au

FAQ

What are the aims and objectives of the 2021 Responsible Wood Small Grants program?

The Responsible Wood Community Grants Program aims to enhance the connection between local community groups and certified; forests, forest growers and wood products, by

Linking community and Responsible Wood certified forest growers or timber product producers who have Responsible Wood Chain of Custody certification.
Supporting communities undertake projects or activities that better enable physical connection of people and forests or wood products.
Providing an opportunity to promote to local communities the value and benefits of sustainably managed certified forests and wood products.
Providing an opportunity for communities to leverage funding from a variety of sources to complete forest access or timber utilisation projects that otherwise would not be possible.
Supporting the forest industries through promotion of Responsible Wood certification.

Is there a Key Selection Criteria?

Yes, there is a Key Selection Criteria. It is important that you carefully consider and provide answers to the Key Selection Criteria in your application.

Key Selection Criteria

Project idea – What is your idea?
What value does your idea bring, to your group and or the wider community?
What is the name of the local certified forest that you want to either; access, support, improve or promote?
Has the local Responsible Wood certified forest grower or Chain of Custody producer supported this project? If so, please describe their support.
Why do you want to undertake this project?
Are you able to complete your project by May 31^st 2022?
Is your project likely to develop any Intellectual property or products?
How will you promote the project to your community and beyond?
Budget – please list all budget items.
Are you working with any other community groups to deliver this project? If so, please describe.
Is this grant part of a co-contribution from another funding source, if so, please describe.

How will my application be judged?

The grant will be judged in a competitive process by three leaders in the forest and timber industries. Where each judge will assess each application and score them based on how your application meets the Responsible Wood project aims. The scores will be compiled, and the highest scoring projects will be awarded the grant funding. The judges’ decision is final. The judges will score each application using the following scoring rubric.

Is there an eligibility checklist?

Yes. Providing a completed signed and dated application checklist is a requirement of the application process. It must be completed and signed by the individual or if an organisation, the organisations president, treasurer or secretary. The checklist can be downloaded here.

What are the Terms and Conditions of the project?

Successful project applicants will need to accept and abide by the project Terms and Conditions. They are included in the Application form.

How are any conflict of interests managed?

A judge must disclose any potential conflict of interest when assessing applications to the other judges. The conflict may include a current membership of the group or living/working close to the forests/communities that may benefit.

A judge who declares a potential conflict is excused from assessing that application as well as the group discussion of that applicant. Where this occurs, the final combined score will be based on the average score of the remaining judges and weighted accordingly so that the applicant will not be disadvantaged.

Who owns any Intellectual Property or other property which is created from the prize?

Any intellectual property or other property which is created from the grant will be owned by the project applicant.

Are projects that can attract funding from other sources encouraged?

Yes, projects that can attract a co-contribution are encouraged.

What can’t be funded?

There are a number of items that can’t be funded, and these are included in the Application form.

What happens if I don’t have the support of the local Responsible Wood certified Forest Grower or Chain of Custody certificate holder?

Support from either your local Responsible Wood certified Forest Grower or Chain of Custody certificate holder is one of the Key Selection Criteria and is important and will be included in the judging of your application. For a list of the Forest Growers and Chain of Custody producers, please refer to the Responsible Wood website.

Are there any additional requirements that successful applicants must adhere to?

The successful grant winners will be required to provide evidence of the project’s completion and photographs that can be used by Responsible Wood and the forest growers to promote the project and Community Grants Program through their marketing channels.

Any intellectual property or actual property / items created through the program will remain the property of the group or individual and not Responsible Wood. Responsible Wood will reserve the right to promote the project and market any project outcomes.

Any promotion of the project must acknowledge Responsible Wood and the certified forest grower or chain of custody certificate holder.