If you are developing an innovative sustainability project then there’s a good chance that you are always on the lookout for a grant to boost the business case. Many funding programs are competitive. As the applicant, you have the difficult job of translating complex project details into a concise and succinct document that measures up well against all the merit criteria.
Our team has project managed many grant applications for a wide range of organisations, from large corporations seeking $100M+ for major projects, to NGO’s seeking a small amount for a new idea. We’ve gathered some key elements that applicants should consider when applying for these grants.
Two grant programs in Australia which are closing soon are the Re-tooling for Climate Change program, and the Big Green Idea program.
This government grant program is targeted at sustainable manufacturing projects. To be eligible, the applicant must be a manufacturing company with a turnover of less than $100M, and the project must improve the energy or water efficiency of the production process. Grant amounts range from $10k to $500k, with a 1:1 funding ratio.
The current round closes on November 30, 2009. A future round is planned for March 2010. A good application should:
- Show that your project will tell a good story. Explain how the project could be repeated by other organisations, and that you have a plan to communicate your experience and results.
- Provide evidence that proves the project is beyond business-as-usual. The grant is not intended for upgrades or changes that would have happened anyway.
- Clearly explain what the manufacturing process looks like today, what the planned changes are, and what the process will look like afterwards. Use schematics, Sankey diagrams, and other visual aids. Clearly show how energy or water flows through your process, and how the project changes these flows.
- Demonstrate credibility in the project budget and in the estimated outcomes. This can be achieved by supplying an independent consultant’s report, an independent engineering report, references to supporting documents, or additional background materials. Letters of support may also be beneficial.
- Explain the net environmental impact. Show that you have considered how your project might effect upstream or downstream processes. For example, if the project improves the efficiency of your process, but also requires more pre-processing of your inputs or feedstock, then you must expand your scope to also account for the extra energy expenditure that your suppliers must invest to provide you with the higher-grade feedstock. The net environmental impact must be positive.
- Show that you have the staff, the skills, the contractors, and the funding to deliver the project.
- Don’t underestimate the amount of effort required to prepare a competitive grant application.
This is a $10k grant offered by The British Council. The program is intended for eco-entrepreneurs with an idea that improves sustainability in the urban environment.
The guidelines are clean and straightforward. The idea basically has to have tangible outcomes (not just research or information dissemination) and needs to find matching 1:1 funding. You don’t need to have the other $10k on-hand, you just need to have a plan to get it, and it appears the British Council is willing to help the winner raise matching funds. The program is aimed at individual entrepreneurs rather than organisations, and it seems that a strong community focus is important.
Projects should be repeatable and scalable, and winners are expected to have a media strategy to tell their story and attract attention to their achievements.
Applications close on December 4, and the winner will be announced on Dec 18.
Feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss any aspect of these or other grant programs.
