Community Events Funding Grant
Criteria & Guidelines
Introduction
Ashburton District Council believes it has a role to play in supporting new community
events, and/or building capacity of existing events, to become established in the
District. Each year Council allocates funding for the ‘Community Events Funding Grant’.
Experience Mid Canterbury administers the ‘Community Events Funding Grant’ on
behalf of Council based on the criteria and guidelines provided here.
Purpose
The purpose of providing Community Events Funding Grant is to support new events
and/or build the capacity of existing events in the district that are open to the public,
and which enhance the community by contributing to its social and economic wellbeing.
The events must have a wide public appeal and aim to attract significant numbers of
visitors to Mid Canterbury (based on the Ashburton District boundaries of the Rakaia
and Rangitata Rivers).
Ashburton District Area Boundaries
Event Eligibility
In order to be eligible to apply for funding, all events must meet the following criteria:
1 Take place within Mid Canterbury (Ashburton District boundaries of the Rakaia
River to the Rangitata River from the Southern Alps to the Pacific Ocean).
2 Aim to bring visitors into the District (for the purposes of this funding, ‘visitors’
means someone who crosses either the Rangitata or Rakaia Rivers’).
3 Be a new event to the District. Funding may be given to an event for up to two
years, subject to event results and reporting requirements being met.
4 The event must take place after the application has been made.
5 The general public must be able to participate in, or watch the event.
6 Must have secured at least 50% of the total cost of the event for which they are
applying.
7 Must not coincide with another major event in the District, unless compatible.
8 Be a smoke-free event, be sun-smart and working towards ‘zero waste’.
9 Provide a detailed budget, including what the requested funds will be used for
(refer to the ‘Funding’ Section).
10 Provide a detailed marketing / promotional plan, with the target market clearly
identified.
Funding
Community Events Funding Grant is set for the 2015/16 financial year at $20,000.
Funding will be capped at $5,000 per event, or 50% of the events’ overall budget,
whichever is the lower.
Experience Mid Canterbury reserves the right to alter funding levels if the granted
funding is not used as agreed in the Terms of Agreement.
Grant funding may only be used for the following:
 Promotion (including but not limited to: advertising, signage, printed materials,
online presence)
 Traffic Management Plans
 Waste Management Measures
Grant funding cannot be used for the following:
 Salaries
 Liquor and Food Licensing
 Entertainment Fees
 Public Liability Insurance
 Equipment Hire
 Event Running Costs (including power, water, phones, ticketing, IT charges)
Funding Priority
Priority will be given to events that have a focus on the following area/s:
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Family events
Multi-cultural events
Sporting events
Agricultural events
Applicant Eligibility
Applications are preferred in the name of a non-commercial legally registered entity
(such as an incorporated society or trust).
Applications from individual and commercial organisations will be considered, but
expected revenue from the event must be included in the detailed budget.
All applicants must demonstrate the skills and experience to deliver the event
successfully.
Ineligible Events
The following events are ineligible for funding:
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Events that have minimal community or economic benefit for the District
Conferences / Annual General Meetings as these are generally not open /
available to the general public
Events solely run for commercial purposes that do not add to the community’s
social or economic wellbeing
Events where the main purpose is to fundraise
Events promoting religious or political purposes
Terms of Agreement
Experience Mid Canterbury will not provide the granted funding until the event has
taken place.
If an event is successful in receiving funding, a Confirmation Letter, Terms of
Agreement and Final Reporting Form will be sent.
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The Terms of Agreement (ToA) form must be completed and returned to EMC
before the event takes place. In signing the Terms of Agreement, the
organisation is agreeing to meet the stipulated conditions. Please ensure these
are able to be met before submitting the ToA.
Before payment is made, EMC must receive the following:
 An invoice to EMC for the funding amount awarded as per the confirmation letter
(GST is not applicable on Community Event Funding Grant)
 Copies of the relevant paid invoices
 Completed Reporting Form
 Final Income and Expenditure Report
Failure to provide the information requested will affect future funding applications.
Promoting Experience Mid Canterbury
The support of Experience Mid Canterbury must be acknowledged on publicity material
(logos, banners / in-stands are available from the EMC office).
Successful events will be included on EMC’s online event calendar
www.midcanterburyevents.com
Disclaimer
The final funding decisions are made at the discretion of the Experience Mid Canterbury
Board.
Funding Application Dates
Experience Mid Canterbury will review applications during the first week of each month
(except January, as no meeting is held).
Experience Mid Canterbury is available to answer any queries regarding CEFG criteria
or application.
Completed applications must be received by EMC no later than the 20 th of each month
prior.
Experience Mid Canterbury
East Street, PO Box 482, Ashburton 7740
Ph: (03) 308 2669 Fax: (03) 308 2665
events@midcanterburynz.com
www.midcanterburyevents.com