About the fund
The CBDU Community Strengthening Fund is open to Deakin staff, students and alumni.
The fund is designed to make better, targeted use of funds by responding to our community needs, via a simple application process.
The Community Strengthening Fund offers financial assistance in two forms.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship is a mutually beneficial commercial arrangement or partnership between DUCB and another organisation. DUCB will contribute funds and/or services to a specified project, event or organisation in return for recognition, acknowledgement and/or other promotional activities. Sponsorship is not advertising, hospitality or return of favour, and does not include donations or grants.
Grants
Grants are a philanthropic activity, where DUCB decides, as part of its social responsibility program, to fund specific research that will enhance and provide tangible benefits to the Deakin Community, without any commercial benefit being returned to DUCB. Grants are also available to provide assistance to students suffering extreme financial hardship.
What we fund
We support fundraising and charitable activities specifically focused on our community.
Community strengthening investments will enhance the Deakin community for its staff, students and alumni. It may support scholarships so more students can follow their dreams, emergency relief funding for students in dire need, funding for researchers to become world leaders in their field, support for clubs and societies or projects that will make Deakin an even better place to study and work.
DUCB is conscious of the need to spread our funds across many groups within the University community, and across all campuses. While we'll tackle some big-dollar projects, they must be exceptional. Generally, in the shorter term, we encourage more modest applications.
Applications that address the following areas will receive priority:
- critical and innovative research projects
- public health, safety programs and services
- community capacity building projects
- innovative community services
- cultural and arts initiatives
- environmental projects.
We are unable to support:
- any politically or religiously motivated events, that is, events that are held solely to enhance the standing of a political or religious group. However, intercultural activities and celebrations of diversity will be considered on their merits.
- events or programs that denigrate, exclude or offend minority groups
- events that create environmental hazards
- programs that may present a hazard to the community
- programs sponsored by competitors
- events or organisations that promote weapons
- funding of individuals or families
- the payment of salaries
- the provision of food and/or drink
- funds towards the purchase of club uniforms.
Who is eligible for support?
The following groups are eligible to apply for a Community Strengthening Fund:
- Deakin University staff and alumni
- any research group with endorsed links to Deakin University and which is also led by Deakin University staff
- students (as individuals), but support is only granted on provision of invoices and/or receipts for agreed costs.
Upcoming meeting dates
The CBDU board meets regularly to assess applications. In 2024, we will be meeting on the following dates:
- 21 February
- 20 March
- 3 April
- 22 May
- 26 June
- 24 July
- 21 August
- 18 September
- 11 October
- 20 November
Community Strengthening Policy
Criteria
Sponsorships, Student assistance and Research Grants will be managed by the Community Bank at Deakin University Advisory Board (CBDUAB) and the Community Bank at Deakin University Customer Hub staff. Deakin University’s Manager Community Relations and Sponsorship will provide support and advice to Customer Support Hub Staff and DUCBAB as required.
In the instance of evaluating Research Grant applications the CBDUAB will co-opt an independent Deakin University-based research specialist to provide analysis of the application.
Community Strengthening Investments will:
- add value to the Deakin Community
- support projects undertaken within the Deakin Community
- reflect the value of the recipient to DUCB
- represent a tangible, positive benefit
- protect the integrity ofCommunity Bank® at Deakin University, the Community Bank® network, Bendigo Bank and Deakin University
- be relevant to the Deakin community
- be non-politically motivated
- be consistent with the statements made to the community during the initial community banking campaign.
We only support fundraising and charitable activities specifically focused on the Deakin Community.
Approval of an application should not be regarded as a precedent for any other application of a similar nature.
Awareness and funding event
Recipients may be invited along to a community funding event, where cheques are presented to the recipient by a staff or CBDUAB member. We will encourage recipients to attend the event to celebrate the support received and the impact of the contribution.
Definitions
Shared value
Shared value is defined as policies and practices that enhance the competitiveness of companies while improving social and environmental conditions in the regions where they operate. It is a business strategy focused on companies creating measurable economic benefit by identifying and addressing social problems that intersect with their business.
Sponsorship
Sponsorship is the purchase of tangible, potential rights and benefits associated with an event or organisation, which results in increased brand awareness, communication of key messages and increased customer base.
Student assistance
Funds given to students who are in dire financial need so that they can continue their education. These funds will be for specific items as requested and will be acquitted via the provision of receipts. This funding stream would not be advertised, but the existence of funding would be advised to student counselling services. The names and details of recipients would remain confidential.
Research grants
Are a sum of money provided to a Deakin-based research group for a specific research purpose. There will be appropriate promotional opportunities available for CBDU, which will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Deakin Community
Our community represents the following:
- Deakin students (including those studying online)
- Deakin staff
- Deakin alumni (on a select basis that supports Deakin University initiatives).
Apply now
Funding requests and applications for 2024 will be considered after 24 January 2024.
To apply for a Community Strengthening fund amount of $500 or less, please pop in and see our friendly staff at the Community Bank at Deakin University Hub at our Melbourne Burwood Campus. For applications over $500, you can apply now through the Community Bank at Deakin University funding application portal.
Download our community strengthening policy or funding application form.