The City of Parramatta Council offers a quarterly Grants program aligned with the financial year period. For the purpose of this Grant Program a social enterprise is defined as a business that puts people and planet first. They trade like any other business but exist specifically to make the world a better place.
Five global standards, set by the Social Enterprise World Forum, define what makes a social enterprise.
The five global standards are:
Purpose
Exists to solve a social and/or environmental problem.
Operations
Prioritises purpose, people, and planet over profit in day-to-day decisions.
Revenue
Has a self-sustaining revenue model, earning income through trade.
Use of surplus
Reinvests the majority of any surplus back into its purpose.
Structure
Chooses legal structures and financing that protect and lock in purpose long term.
This grant offers up to $2,000 and aims to:
- Assist existing local social enterprises to engage an external professional service that can assist with the ongoing operation and sustainability of the business (such as marketing, web design, and book-keeping).
- Provide funding for existing not-for-profit organisations who are at the concept development stage of a social enterprise project and need assistance in the research, development and writing of a social enterprise business plan.
Assessment Criteria
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CRITERIA
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To engage a professional service:
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Degree to which the Social Enterprise’s social, environmental or cultural mission is clearly described
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15%
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Degree to which the mission of the social enterprise aligns with an area of social, cultural, economic or environmental need in the City of Parramatta LGA.
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20%
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Degree to which the need for this proposal is clearly explained
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25%
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Degree that the professional service will assist with the sustainability of the social enterprise or assist with business planning into the future
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25%
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The extent that the cost of services provided in the quote(s)/budget is realistic in achieving intended outcomes
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15%
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Development of a social enterprise business plan:
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Degree to which the proposed Social Enterprise’s social, environmental or cultural mission is clearly described
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20%
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Degree to which the mission of the social enterprise aligns with an area of social, cultural, economic or environmental need in the City of Parramatta LGA.
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25%
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Degree to which it has demonstrated that a social enterprise model is the best model for the proposed organisation/activities
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20%
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Degree that evidence of business planning experience and relevant skills to undertake the project has been provided (this includes skills of internal staff if doing the plan in-house, or external specialists being engaged to undertake the work)
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20%
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The extent that the cost of services provided in the quote(s)/budget is realistic in achieving intended outcomes
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15%
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Application Timeline
Applications are accepted all year round by assessed on a quarterly basis. If successful, applicants will have up to 6 months to complete their project. Please note that the closing date for each quarterly funding round are as follows:
- 1st September 2026, Tuesday (end of day 23:59)
- 2nd November 2026, Monday (end of day 23:59)
- 1st February 2027, Monday (end of day 23:59)
- 26th April 2027, Monday (end of day 23:59)
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