The Grants Program and application guidelines

Our Grants Program aims to make a difference to selected communities and causes through meaningful contributions and assistance.

In consultation with our employees, we have identified a strong commitment to focusing our grant resources in the general area of mental heath and wellbeing. For more information on our past and current partners view the Grant Recipient section of this site.

Applications for the 2009/2010 grant program are now closed and have been awarded. The 2010/2011 grant program will open in April 2010. To make an application please review the funding criteria, exclusions and Funding Limitations information below. If you qualify, go to the News and Publications section to read and download the application and detailed information on the process when available.

Funding Criteria

The MLC Community Foundation is particularly interested in funding not-for-profit organisations and programs that focus on mental health and wellbeing issues that:

• Are aligned to MLC's corporate principals and the MLC Community Foundation's themes as shown on this site
• Invest for the protection of future generations
• Are innovative and respond to community needs
• Promote skills and independence
• Are preventative in nature and address the causes of specific social issues
• Would benefit from, or require involvement from, MLC people to the benefit of the program (education, support, technical assistance, skills advice, volunteering)
• Will become financially sustainable in the long term, post funding
• Are measured and evaluated to show the progress of the program, its outcomes and impacts
• Can show credible, tangible, transparent and practical results
• Are run locally but impact or have the ability to connect nationally
• Resonate with, and are relevant to our employees, customers and the community.

Exclusions and Funding Limitations

The MLC Community Foundation would not usually fund:

• Capital funds and building works
• Recurrent costs or general operating expenses
• 100 percent of the costs of any program unless future post funding financial support can be demonstrated
• Emergency requests
• Government entities
• Overseas programs
• Retrospective requests, general fundraising appeals or commercial sponsorships
• Religious groups (except for programs that support a non-religious purpose)
• Debt retirement, budget deficits, endowments or bequest programs
• Travel, study or conferences
• Individuals