Strategic Community Investment Fund

What is the Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF)?

The AFL Victoria – Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) is a program that aims to respond to the local needs of clubs, leagues and regions to achieve strategic objectives, providing a platform for long-term, sustained success. It is a key pillar of the Victorian Community Football Initiative and is in addition to the AFL Community Relief Fund established to support local communities in fire-affected areas.

Funding

Grants available are:

For individual club projects: Generally, be in the range of $1,000 – $30,000.
For projects involving a commission/league and/or a collection of clubs: Up to $75,000 per project.

In exceptional circumstances, the AFL may consider requests above this amount, where the outcomes of the project justify a higher contribution and is considered to be of exceptional strategic importance.

A total funding pool of up to $1.5 million per year is available for three years starting 2020-21.

Eligible Activities

Applications must clearly demonstrate how the project will improve participation outcomes. Specifically, proposals should demonstrate how the project will increase or maintain participation and improve the health and wellbeing of the community.

Examples of potential projects include (but not limited to):

For individual clubs
- A program that engages and encourages participation by diverse communities (multicultural, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, all abilities) in a club environment including club cultural awareness training.
- Support to establish and/or grow new female teams.
- Provide short-term financial support to distressed clubs (i.e. where a natural disaster may have impacted on the club’s ability to operate). In these instances, it should be demonstrated that a sustainable long-term future can be secured with SCIF support.
- Accounting support to improve a club’s financial structures (i.e. financial software and financial service).
- Costs associated with the establishment of new or amalgamated clubs (i.e. new jumpers, incorporation, start-up funding, recruitment drives, accreditation of trainers).
- A junior recruitment drive to boost participation for a club with dwindling junior numbers.
- Club development program/training to support a club establish a strategic plan.
For commissions/leagues
- A program that engages and encourages participation by diverse communities (multicultural, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, all abilities) in a region to participate.
- Support to establish and/or grow new female competitions.
- Establishment of a junior coordinator to support clubs in an area of social disadvantage to increase junior participation.
- Training or development programs that address a collection of club needs (i.e. junior coach development, mental health programs, club sustainability strategies).
- Independent reviews of league/region competition structures that support informed decision making around those structures.
- An umpiring recruitment or development program for the region.
- Research into regional participation issues (i.e. youth retention).

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include clubs, leagues, umpiring groups and commissions affiliated with the recognised State and/or regional football body, with a focus on (but not limited to) those in AFL Victoria Country regions.

Timing

Applications close 15 April 2020.

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