Ruth Whyte Bequest Memorial Grant Guidelines

1. Grant Amounts

Grants may be awarded for any amount up to $5,000.

2. Panel Discretion

Following receipt and review of applications, the panel may, at its absolute discretion:

  • determine ‘benefit’ to the region;
  • decide not to award any grants;
  • make any number of awards as it sees fit;
  • award less than the amount applied for, where it is satisfied that the project would not be jeopardised by a partial grant;
  • make payments at such times and in such manner as it determines;
  • defer an application to a future funding round (subject to future funding availability); or
  • make a grant conditional upon confirmation of other funding.

3. Eligibility

Applicants and the project or other purpose for which funding is sought must or principally benefit the Albury-Wodonga region.

The Albury-Wodonga region is defined as the Albury City and Wodonga City local government areas. Applicants may be based either within or outside the region, and project activities may occur within or outside the region, provided the primary benefit of the funded project is to the Albury-Wodonga community.

4. Purpose of the Grant

In accordance with the terms of the Will of Ruth Whyte, grants must be used for the advancement of music within the Albury-Wodonga region. This covers any genre of music and may include, but is not limited to:

  • facilitating public performance;
  • the acquisition, development or accessibility of instruments to be made available for music-making in the region; and
  • musical education not otherwise available in the region.

5. Previous Grant Recipients

An application will not be considered if the applicant has previously received funding from the Ruth Whyte Memorial Bequest Grant and:

  • has not submitted an acquittal report;
  • has not expended the funds in accordance with the approved grant purpose (or any variation approved in writing by the panel); or
  • has not expended or acquitted the funds by the designated reporting due date.

6. Other Funding Sources

Applicants must disclose all other sources of funding applied for or received in relation to the project and advise whether those applications have been successful.

Grants may be combined with funding from other sources. Where an application seeks only part-funding of a project, the applicant must identify all other funding sources, including contributions from the applicant organisation, and indicate whether such funding has been confirmed.

Priority may be given to projects that have not already secured substantial grant funding. The panel may, at its discretion, decline an application, defer it, or make funding conditional upon confirmation of other funding sources.

7. Ineligible Expenditure

Grant funds must not be used for:

  • capital expenditure;
  • debt reduction;
  • ongoing operating expenses; or
  • indirect expenses that cannot be directly attributed to the approved project.

8. Assessment Criteria

Applications will be assessed on their merits, having regard to:

  • the capacity of the project or other purpose of the grant to advance music in the Albury-Wodonga region;
  • the audience reach of the project or other purpose of the grant;
  • the impact of the project or other purpose of the grant on the Albury-Wodonga region; and
  • the applicant's capacity, financial and otherwise, to successfully undertake the project.

Applications should be for projects or purposes that could not reasonably be funded through other means. The panel may also take into account the capacity or appropriateness of the applicant to obtain funding from other sources.

9. Variation of Grant Purpose

The panel may, at its absolute discretion and with prior written approval, permit the approved purpose of a grant to be varied, provided the revised purpose remains consistent with the objectives of the grant program.

10. Panel Decisions

The panel is solely responsible for decisions relating to the allocation of grant funds. In making decisions, the panel may have regard to the benefit of the project to the Albury-Wodonga region and other relevant considerations.

The decision of the panel is final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding funding decisions.

11. Publicity

Applicants agree to any reasonable publicity requirements determined by the panel to acknowledge the assistance of the Ruth Whyte Memorial Bequest.

12. Applications and Supporting Information

Applications must be submitted via the prescribed online application form. Applicants agree to provide any additional information reasonably requested by the panel to assist in assessing the application.

13. Acquittal Requirements

Successful applicants must provide documentary evidence demonstrating the expenditure of grant funds and completion of the funded activity within one month of project completion.

Applicants who have not satisfactorily acquitted a previous Ruth Whyte Memorial Bequest grant will not be eligible for further funding.

14. Further Assistance

Applicants seeking assistance with an application may contact the Charles Sturt University Community Relations Officer at engagealburywodonga@csu.edu.au.

Applications are open from 6.00am Monday 24 August to 6.00am Monday 21 September.

Submit an application