Perpetual Trustee
Over $50 M is available each year for not for profit organisations.
About
Thanks to the generosity of our philanthropic clients, Perpetual is able to distribute more than $50 million each year on behalf of the charitable trusts that we manage. Non-profit organisations have the opportunity to apply for grants from those trusts through our annual funding rounds.
Applications close 14 December 2012
Eligibility
To be eligible for Perpetual Trustee funding from all trusts and foundations that are managed by Perpetual, your organisation must have at least one of the following:
- Australian Taxation Office Tax Concession Charity (TCC) endorsement
- Australian Taxation Office Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) endorsement and is covered by Item 1 of the table in section 30-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.
Application
Only applications made using the Perpetual Trustee online form (accessed at www.perpetual.com.au/fundinground) will be accepted. Organisations may submit three Perpetual Trustee applications in total, with no more than one application in any given state or territory. Universities, hospitals, and medical research institutions may submit one application per department, up to a maximum of four applications per organisation.
If submitting multiple Perpetual Trustee applications, each activity is to have a different title.
Any additional Perpetual Trustee applications received from your organisation above the maximum limit will be deemed ineligible for funding. If your organisation is a national organisation, university, hospital or medical research institute, please liaise and coordinate with your head office or central research office. Only Perpetual Trustee applications approved by your organisation’s central research or fundraising office will be deemed eligible.
Please ensure the Organisation Name entered in the application is your organisation’s trading name and the ABN registered name is the “Entity name” as per the Australian Business Register website (http://www.abr.business.gov.au/). Please note in most cases cheques will be made payable to the entity’s ABN registered name. It is in your organisation’s best interest that you ensure you supply us the correct entity details. If at any time after you have submitted the Perpetual Trustee application, your organisation secures funds from another source which changes the funding situation from that recorded on the application; please contact us via email, philanthropy@perpetual.com.au, with details of the change. Circumstances will be considered on a case by case basis.
Types of funding
Past Perpetual Trustee funding has been provided for a wide range of projects at different developmental stages including pilot and existing projects. Early career medical researchers should not be discouraged from applying.
Perpetual’s trusts and foundations recognise that for organisations to achieve their objectives, funds may need to be directed towards operational costs which are not necessarily project-specific.
The following will not be considered for Perpetual Trustee funding:
- deficit funding requests eg, funding of past activities, loan repayments, operational deficits
- fundraising appeals (excluding capital appeals)
- funding for individuals
Reporting
Failure to submit an acquittal report on activities funded in the past from a trust managed by Perpetual will result in your organisation being declared ineligible for funding in future funding rounds (until the report is received).
Period of funding
Perpetual Trustee funding is generally provided for a one year period. Multi-year funding will only be considered by invitation by Perpetual, and can not be applied for without invitation.
Size of gifts
As a guide, Perpetual Trustee funding is generally range between $10,000 and $100,000. In 2011, the average Perpetual Trustee grant was approximately $60,000. The maximum amount an organisation can request is $200,000.
Opening and closing dates for applications
The Perpetual Trustee application form will be available in early November 2012
Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria will be based on the governance of the organisation and the activity information. The applicant should seek advice from the most appropriate person in the organisation when answering all questions in the application. ‘ The assessment criteria will include the following:
1. Strategy. Evidence of strategic goals and objectives, as well as monitored, evaluated, and outcome-oriented measures. This also encompasses the organisation’s mission and the ability of the organisation to fulfil the mission through the activity for which funding is requested.
2. Outcomes. Evidence of realistic, measurable and achievable goals and outcomes, including societal impact.
3. Capability. The organisation’s demonstrated ability to achieve its objectives, evidence that the organisation is striving towards a sustainable business model, and effective and efficient business practises.
4. Leadership. Demonstration and willingness of the organisation to co-operate with other charitable and noncharitable organisations pursuing similar goals and the ability to leverage opportunities, including sharing learnings. Awareness of the external environment including public policy, government, other organisations working within the sector, and the community.
Focus areas
As a trustee it is our duty to ensure the funds from the charitable trusts and foundations we manage are distributed according to the terms of the founding document, eg a will or trust deed. In most cases, restrictions are placed on the trustee to provide funds:
- to a specific type of organisation
- for a specific cause or purpose
- to a specific geographical area.
You do not need to direct your organisation’s application to a specific trust. As part of our assessment process, we will match your organisation to all appropriate trusts and foundations.
Assessment of your organisation’s application
Please note the following with regards to the Perpetual Trustee application:
1. The application will be reviewed by Perpetual’s Philanthropic Services team who may contact you requesting additional information regarding the application. Please do not attach any additional information as part of the application for funds unless you receive a specific request to do so.
2. If necessary, the application may also be assessed by an appropriately qualified person/panel to make a recommendation to the trustees.
3. The application is then considered by the relevant committee or board of trustees.
Notification
The majority of Perpetual Trustee funding decisions are made by the Trustees between March and June each year.
You will be notified of funding outcomes, both successful and unsuccessful applications, by 30 June via email. Please do not contact Perpetual before this time about the progress of the application.
Please ensure the email address on the application form is correct.
We receive more funding requests from eligible organisations than there are funds available. Often trustees must decline applications even if they meet the stated criteria. We cannot provide individual feedback on applications at any point.
Successful applications
1. Gift recipients will receive a letter in July detailing the trust/s that have provided funding for the activity, together with the funding cheque and other important information such as reporting requirements.
2. The letter will be mailed to your organisation’s CEO as detailed on your application form. In some cases, a Perpetual representative may personally deliver the funding cheque.
3. While not a requirement or obligation, it is considered an appropriate courtesy to acknowledge the trust(s) or foundation(s) providing the gift in any publications or reports. If you would like to do this, please visit our website or contact Perpetual Philanthropic Services to obtain the corporate logo and appropriate trust or foundation name.
Terms
1. The decision of the trustees is final and is not subject to any appeal process.
2. Gifts to organisations will be given and should be used for the purpose stated in the application.
3. Funded organisations are required to provide a receipt, made out to the appropriate trust within 21 days after receipt of funds.
4. Funded organisations are required to provide an acquittal report by the date advised in funding correspondence.
5. Multi-year funding will, in most cases, be dependent on a further application being submitted.
6. Perpetual considers the funding provided to organisations as gifts that are freely given and would not ordinarily constitute consideration for taxable supply by the recipient.
7. As a general rule, Perpetual does not intend to include the GST incurred by an organisation for the purchase of equipment or provision of services to the community in any gifts. It is presumed your organisation is registered for the GST and therefore you are able to reclaim this amount.
Instructions for completing your organisation’s application
1. Read the instructions and guidelines carefully to ensure your organisation is eligible for funding.
2. Access the online application form via www.perpetual.com.au/fundinground
3. To submit an application you’ll need to first obtain login details. This gives you secure access to the application so that you can work on it over time, allowing you to save and return to it at a later stage. It also helps us contact you if there is a problem. If your organisation is a national organisation, university, hospital or medical research institute, please liaise and coordinate with your head office or central research office, to ensure your organisation does not exceed the application limit.
4. Complete the application form by typing in your responses directly into the spaces provided in the web form.
5. Please keep your answers as concise as possible as there is only limited space in the form to answer each question. Word limits have been provided in the form.
6. Please complete each answer in full i.e. do not use ‘as above’ or ‘refer to x section’.
7. Section 3 of the form only needs to be completed by Medical Research applicants.
8. Ensure the application is accurate and complete before you submit it. You will receive an automated email indicating that the application has been submitted.
9. Please do not attach any additional material at this stage, we will request further information if required
FAQ – Funding recommendations and trends
Q. Our organisation has many funding needs. What should we apply for?
A. We recommend that you apply for your organisation’s greatest need. Perpetual can not provide advice regarding which type of activity or project you should apply for.
Q. What does Perpetual fund?
A. As a trustee it is our duty to ensure the funds from the charitable trusts and foundations we manage are distributed according to the terms of the founding document, for example a will or trust deed. In most cases, restrictions are placed on the trustee to provide funds:
- to a specific type of organisation
- for a specific cause or purpose
- to a specific geographical area.
Q. What sectors are funded?
A. Charitable trusts and foundations we manage distribute to Social Welfare, Health, Medical Research, Conservation and Environment, Education and Arts and Culture.
Q. How much should our organisation apply for?
A. You should apply for the amount required for your organisation’s activity. The maximum amount an organisation can request is $200,000. As a guide, gifts generally range between $10,000 and $100,000. In 2011, the average gift was approximately $60,000.
Q. What are my organisation’s chances of receiving funding?
A. In 2011, we received over 1,100 applications, of which approximately 160 activities (around 15%) were funded.
Q. Do you have information available on past funding recipients?
A. You can read about some of the organisations that have received funding in the past, in Impact our philanthropy newsletter.
FAQ – Application form
Q. Can we submit multiple applications if we are a national organisation?
A. Organisations may submit three applications in total, with no more than one application in any given state or territory. Please refer to the 2012 Funding Round Intrsuctions and Guidelines for specific details. Any additional applications over the maximum limit will be ineligible.
Q. What do I do if my organisation does not come under one of the sectors listed in the application form?
A. Please choose the sector that is most closely related to your organisation. Your other answers throughout the application will provide us with the required information.
Q. How can my organisation secure multi-year funding?
A. Multi-year funding is by invitation only, and cannot be applied for without invitation.
Q. What happens if I make an error in the application form that has already been submitted?
A. The application you submit will be treated as your organisation’s final application, no further applications or additional information will be accepted. If key fields are missing or blank in the application form, your organisation may be ineligible for funding. It is critical to ensure the application has been correctly completed before submitting.
Q. Recent changes to legislation mean that some organisations do not need to have their financial statements audited, but can instead opt to have them reviewed by an appropriately qualified party. What is Perpetual’s view on this, and how should I indicate this in the application?
A. We will consider organisations for funding that choose to have their accounts reviewed rather than audited, provided they meet the criteria stated in the Corporations Amendment (Corporate Reporting Reform) Act 2010. If this applies to your organisation, you should include specific details under the question ‘Please provide any additional comments/information at question 2.13 on the application form, for example how your organisation qualifies and whether you have taken up this option for accounting’.
Q. What does the question ’Is your organisation a going concern’ mean?
A. It asks you to confirm your organisation’s ability to continue functioning as a business entity without the intention or threat of liquidation.
Q. My organisation’s Deductible Gift Recipient status is through a community partnership with another organisation, rather than being in its own right. Is my organisation eligible to apply?
A. Yes.
Q. Can I use the department name and address, instead of the univeristy details on the application form under “Organisation information”?
A. Yes, as long as there is sufficent infromation on the department to enable us to contact you, and the university name is noted somewhere on the form.
Q. Can I save a draft application and return later?
A. You can press ‘save’ at any point and log out. When you log back in, your draft application will be saved and you can start where you left off.
Q. Can more then one person work on an application?
A. A number of people can work on an application using the same log in details as long as only one person is working at a time. Ensure you save as you go.
Q. How will I know the application has been submitted?
A. The submit button is on the final page. You will not be able to submit your application until all the mandatory questions (marked *) are completed. When you submit the application you will receive an automated email indicating that the application has been submitted. This will be sent to the email you used to login.
Q. What should I do if I experience a technical difficulty with the application form?
A. If an error occurs, please contact Perpetual Philanthropic Services on 1800 501 227 during business hours or email philanthropy@perpetual.com.au and quote the application number.
FAQ – Registration
Q. Do I have to complete Perpetual’s Registration Form as well as submitting an application?
A. No, once you have submitted an application, you will be registered with us. We offer the registration process for organisations who miss out on submitting an application or who are not ready to submit an application this year. If you have submitted a funding application in the past, or have registered with us, we will have your details to notify you of future dates and events.
Q. What should I do if my organisation is not applying for funding this year, but would like to receive updates about future funding rounds and other activities?
A. You can register with us by filling out an online registration form.
2012 Funding Recipients
$12.5 million from Perpetual’s 2012 Funding Round was distributed to 187 organisations for activities across Australia and internationally, in the areas of health and medical research, social welfare and education, environment, arts and culture, and animal welfare.
Perpetual has announced $12.5 million in funding for not-for-profit (NFP) organisations during its annual funding round, which allocates money from its discretionary trusts to charitable organisations. This allocation is up from $9.1 million in 2011, demonstrating that despite the current economic environment, trusts are still able to provide a vital source of consistent funding.
Social welfare organisations received $4.6 million in funding, comprising 36.7 per cent of all distributions. The education sector received the biggest increase in distributions, up by over 200 per cent, to $1.7 million.
The Smith Family is a good example of an organisation providing important educational services nationally. This year Perpetual funded The Smith Family’s National Tech Pack Program, which provides disadvantaged families with a refurbished computer, 12 months internet access and the opportunity to participate in a basic computer training course. The aim of this program is to connect families to technology and increase their computer literacy skills. It will help them engage with their community and allows them to take advantage of the educational benefits of internet access,” he said.
The funding provided to charities during Perpetual’s annual funding yielded distributions from $4,000 to $200,000, with an average distribution of $58,000.
