Friends of Grasslands Grassy Ecosystem Grants

Information for Applicants

In 2017, Friends of Grasslands (FoG) commenced its Supported Projects initiative with a grants program which offers a number of small grants each calendar year to support projects that promote its objectives and priorities in relation to the understanding, conservation and management of native grassy ecosystems. Grants are typically between $500 and $1,500 each. Any individual or organisation can apply. Over 20 projects have been supported since 2017.

However, no grants will be offered in 2024, while the team undertakes a review of policies and processes.

The nature of an eligible project can involve one or more of the following: education, research, surveys, monitoring, citizen science, on-ground work or training, publications and other media (physical or electronic), advocacy or policy development, publicity and awareness raising, collaboration and networking, Indigenous engagement, or other forms of communication (spoken or written word, visual, other sensory). See projects that have been supported to date  for examples.

FoG will publicise projects it funds and, will provide what in-kind support it can offer if this is sought. Successful recipients will typically be asked to keep FoG informed of progress, and to write up their projects for our newsletter or to nominate and provide another relevant output. These other requested outputs might include giving a talk to FoG, or before and after inspections or photos of the project study site, or providing a copy of any relevant project output, for example, an information brochure, educational video, photos of installed interpretive sign, or conference presentation.

Grant applications must be submitted by the requested date below using the current calendar year application form . This form is for entry of key information about an applicant and their project that FoG requires to evaluate a grant application. Before applying it is strongly advised that applicants first read the information provided in the sections listed below to familiarise themselves with FoG’s aims and what’s involved in the grant application and award processes:

For further information, registration of interest, or discussion of potential proposals applicants are encouraged to contact FoG at supportedprojects@fog.org.au.

1. Background and Context

FoG is a community group dedicated to the conservation of native grassy ecosystems (terrestrial, riverine, estuarine) including related native flora and fauna species. FoG advocates, educates and advises on matters to do with the conservation and management of native grassy ecosystems, and carries out surveys and other on-ground work. FoG is based in Canberra and its members include professional scientists, land owners, land managers and interested members of the public from across Australia.

The specific functions of FoG are:

a) to halt and reverse the decline of native grassy ecosystems; and

b) to give particular attention to doing this in Australia; and

c) to give special attention to areas, zones or issues identified as priorities from time to time.

FoG takes an ecological approach to native grassy ecosystems and hence covers matters relating to their ecology such as their structure, associated flora and fauna species, and functional relationships between these species and their habitat.

The purpose of the Supported Projects program

The Supported Projects program aims to support landholders, members of the community and researchers to undertake work that would not necessarily be eligible for funding through established government or Non-Government Organisation (NGO) funding projects. Through this program, FoG aims to enhance knowledge, appreciation, and conservation of native grassy ecosystems where they are most vulnerable as well as to encourage broader participation in the conservation effort.

To be eligible the projects must meet FOG’s objectives, as summarised in the Application Form, which are embodied in its constitution (FoG Rules 17 Mar 2015) at http://www.fog.org.au/statement.pdf.

FoG gives priority to natural temperate grasslands, grassy woodlands, grassy forests and other grassy ecosystems in south-eastern Australia. Many of these ecosystems contain threatened ecological communities. Although FoG's immediate focus is in the ACT and Southern Tablelands of NSW, it is also active in surrounding regions of NSW (e.g. Southern Rivers, Riverina, Western Slopes and Northern Tablelands) and it also works cooperatively with others in south-eastern Australia e.g. Volcanic Plains of south-western Victoria, and northern plains of South Australia. However, in line with FoG’s values and functions, projects with potential to advance the knowledge, management and/or conservation of native grassy ecosystems more generally, either in other parts of Australia or in other parts of the world, are also eligible for grant funding.

Threats to grassy ecosystems are many, and FoG gives a high priority to understanding, controlling, reducing or abating such threats. Threats include clearing and development, agricultural intensification (i.e. from grazing to cropping), weeds and pest species, climate change, lack of awareness, and poor and/or insufficiently resourced and implemented government legislation, policy and programs.

Another priority for FoG is supporting projects undertaken by or in partnership with Aboriginal custodians. FoG believes the implementation of traditional Aboriginal land management techniques has an important part to play in management and restoration of grasslands and other grassy ecosystems. FoG therefore encourages research into and application of such techniques.

2. Grant Application Process

No grants will be offered in 2024.

The grant application and project will be assessed based upon:

3.   Outcome Notification and Grant Award Processes

Each applicant will be notified in writing of the success or otherwise of their application. For an unsuccessful applicant the provision of feedback, including reasons for non-success, and entry into any further correspondence will be at the discretion of FoG.

Notification to a successful applicant will usually include an initial email message then followed by a formal Letter of Offer. The Letter of Offer will typically include:

(a) Note a FoG grant includes GST. This may have project budget implications if an applicant or their organisation is obligated to pay GST out of the grant to the Australian Tax Office.

Conditions for acceptance and acquittal are necessary for FoG to account for and justify funding of Supported Projects grants to its members and to meet FoG’s statutory reporting obligations. Given the modest amounts of funding on offer FoG will endeavour to keep grant acquittal requirements to the minimum possible. For example, requested information and deliverables are likely to include:

(b) This may be either as progressive payments or, if appropriate, as a lump sum as negotiated with FoG. FoG’s preference is to make progressive payments as grant related work items or project milestones are completed. However, we appreciate this may not always practical for grant recipients, either for administrative or other reasons. Applicants intending to invoice FoG for a full upfront lump sum grant payment will be requested to indicate why this is their preferred option. Regardless of whichever method of payment is employed FoG will be requiring that relevant supporting documentary evidence (e.g. copies of purchase receipts or service fee quotes or invoices) of grant related expenditure be supplied with any requests for payment.

Requested project deliverables to FoG typically comprise at least a minimum of:

Some suggested examples of options for other deliverables that can be offered by an applicant include: