Public Exhibition - Grants and Sponsorship Guidelines

12/05/2025 - Public Exhibition - Grants and Sponsorship Guidelines

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council approve for public exhibition the draft Grants and Sponsorship Guidelines, as shown at Attachment A to the subject report, subject to the following amendments:

(i)         on page 48, section - Key Dates:

This program is open all year for applications. This program is by invitation only. Please contact our grants team to discuss applying to this category on 02 9265 9333 or email communitygrants@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

(ii)        on page 49, section – Application requirements and process

Application for this program is by invitation only.

We will advise an applicant of the requirements when they contact us before applying. as part of the invitation.

(iii)       on page 50, section – Eligibility These organisations can apply, when invited:

(iv)       section - How to apply:

This program is by invitation only.

(v)        at page 49 of the draft guidelines, amendment to the Assessment Criteria for the Major Grants, and to other grants where it also appears, as follows:

“You may be assessed against additional criteria based on the specific strategic outcomes identified in as endorsed by council in City of Sydney Strategic Plans and Strategies sought by us. These will be negotiated prior to any submissions”

(vi)       at page 28 of the draft guidelines - To the Creative Grant guidelines – 

Insertion of an additional funding priority that projects should “Increase equitable access to creativity and culture for our communities”

The intention of this amendment is to ensure that increasing equitable access to Sydney’s cultural life is a priority for the grant program. The current grant guidelines for this grant included a priority which read “increase access to creativity and culture for our communities”, which was removed in the updated draft.

(vii)      at pages 45 - 46 – To the Innovation and ideas grant –

Inclusion of a requirement to the effect that that “Research or reports funded through a City of Sydney grant should be made readily accessible to the public. Council may choose to vary this requirement as part of the grant conditions, where appropriate.”

The intention of this change is to create an expectation that, generally, research or reports supported through Council grant funding should be made readily available to the council and the public, unless there is a good reason not to;

(B)       Council note that the Grants and Sponsorship Guidelines, including any recommended changes, will be reported to Council for adoption following the exhibition period; and

(C)       authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to make minor editorial amendments for clarity or correction of drafting errors prior to the exhibition of the draft Grants and Sponsorship Guidelines.

The motion was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (7)     The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Arkins, Gannon, Kok, Maxwell, Miller and Worling

Noes (3)     Councillors Ellsmore*, Thompson* and Weldon*.

Motion carried.

*Note – Councillors Ellsmore, Thompson and Weldon abstained from voting on this matter. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 10.4 of the Code of Meeting Practice, Councillors Ellsmore, Thompson and Weldon are taken to have voted against the motion.

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