Sponsorship Program:

Supporting Children and Families

DRAFT GUIDELINES: 2017/18

Introduction

The Mansfield & District Community Bank® Branch is operated by a community owned company, Mansfield & District Community Enterprises Ltd (MDCE). The Bendigo Bank products and services held at our Mansfield & District Community Bank®Branch generate our income. We dedicate a portion of the profits we make from these products and services to our Sponsorship Program, and as our business grows with banking support, our Sponsorship Program grows and we are in turn able to support more community groups.

The Sponsorship Program seeks to make targeted use of funds that are responsive to community needs. We sponsor projects and activities that offer clear public benefit to our community, contributing to development in community welfare, environmental, health, education and arts or cultural areas. We aim to support projects right across the Mansfield Shire.

Supporting Children & Families

For 2017/18, we are pleased to launch the overarching theme of our Sponsorship Program: Supporting Children and Families. The current round of the Sponsorship Program offers $20,000 in total, to assist projects, programs and initiatives that demonstrate clear benefits towards supporting children and families within Mansfield and surrounding districts.

We recognise that children and their families play an integral role within our growing community and we would like to demonstrate our commitment to support them through this sponsorship program.

What can be sponsored?

Projects, events and initiatives in the following categories are eligible under the Mansfield & District Community Bank® Sponsorship Program:Supporting Children & Families

  • public health programs and services
  • innovative community services
  • community capacity building projects
  • public education, school buildings and libraries
  • sporting, cultural and arts initiatives
  • environmental projects

Sponsorships for communities, events or initiatives must also meet the following criteria:

  • support the integrity and image of the Mansfield & District Community Bank®
  • beneficial to the broader community.

Applicants will be highly regarded if they demonstrate the following:

  • Encourage collaboration among and across different groups
  • Strengthen links across and connect different communities/areas in our region
  • Multiple funding/support sources

What cannot be sponsored?

  • Projects that do not directly relate to: Supporting Children & Families
  • Projects that benefit an individual rather than the wider community
  • Projects that support private businesses and commercial activities
  • Ongoing operational costs such as insurance, utilities or rent
  • Activities that are religious or political in nature, or support a religious or political cause
  • Projects or programs that denigrate, exclude or offend minority groups
  • Projects or programs associated with gambling
  • Projects or programs that create environmental hazards
  • Projects or programs that mistreat or harm animals
  • Projects or programs that may present a danger to public health or safety
  • Projects or programs that do not reflect community standards
  • Projects or programs that take place outside the Mansfield Shire boundary
  • Applicants that have outstanding final reports for previously sponsored projects
  • Any project retrospectively

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for sponsorship:

  • Requests must be able to demonstrate support to Children & Families within Mansfield & surrounding districts
  • Applicants must attend the Sponsorship Program Information Session
  • Applicants must be an Incorporated charitable/not-for-profit organisation
  • Applicants must have an ABN or ATO tax exemption, or partner with an auspicing organisation with an ABN.
  • Applicants must be located in the Mansfield Shire

If your group is not incorporated, you may wish to find another local, incorporated not-for-profit to auspice your application. An ‘auspice agency’ is an organisation that agrees to act as the trustee of your project’s funds and assumes financial responsibilities related to successful completion of your project. Yourgroup still manages the actual implementation of the project. This third-party organisation will also need to bank with the Mansfield & District Community Bank®.

Application process:

Step 1: Attend Information Session (end July) to receive information regarding eligibility criteria and application forms. This is an opportunity to discuss your project ideas and beginning your planning.

Step 2: Complete application form including project budget.

Step 3: Gather supporting documents – these could be reports demonstrating need for the project/program, letters of support, etc.

Step 4: Get the head of your organisation to sign the application

Step 5: Submit your application form by 5pm, 31 August 2017. Late applications will be considered in the following funding round – August 2018.

Post

Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Mansfield & District Community Enterprises Ltd

PO Box 65

Mansfield VIC 3724

Email

** If the application is $3,000 or over, you will be required to present your project idea to our Development Committee panel during September.

Sponsorship Round Dates

Information session6:00pm, 26thJuly 2017

Applications close5pm, 31st August 2017

Presentations (if over $3,000)during September 2017

Notification to Applicants mid-October 2017

Distribution of Funds14th November at AGM

Completed applications must be received by the CLOSING DATE.

Assessment process

All applications are assessed by MDCE’s Development Committee, against key selection criteria, using a scorecard assessment tool. Recommendations are then provided to MDCE’s full Board of Directors for final approval.

In all cases, final decisions will be made by mid-October, 2017.

The funding of successful applications will follow shortly after both parties sign the Sponsorship Agreement and a tax invoice has been received by the successful organisation.

Sponsorship Levels

Mansfield & District Community Bank® values being a sponsor to your organisation. It is important to know that we each achieve value through the sponsorship. This guide is for information about our expectations. Through a sponsorship, there are many ways you can enhance your relationship with us:

Donation

Including value of in-kind, donations,

  • There is a requirement of acknowledgement of ‘Mansfield & District Community Bank® branch of Bendigo Bank’ in any print or mediaannouncements.

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Bronze Sponsorship –up to $1000

Including value of in-kind /banners and marquees. There is a requirement of the following:

  • Club/organisation’s banking
  • Acknowledgement of Mansfield & District Community Bank® branch of Bendigo Bank in any print or media announcements
  • Signage on partnership board/venue wall
  • Acquittal report outlining the main outcomes and benefits of the project/ initiative including 3 – 4 high resolution images of the project/initiative

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SilverSponsorship –Over $1000 and up to $3000

All the inclusions of the Bronze Sponsorship. In addition, there is a requirement of the following:

  • Invitation to branch manager to attendclub/organisation main function event
  • Print advert in club/organisation newsletter on regular basis
  • Facebook link if applicable

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Gold Sponsorship -Over $3000 and up to $5000

All the inclusions of the Bronze and Silver Sponsorship. In addition, there is a requirement of the following:

  • Agreement to be bank of choice for the club’s members
  • Invitation for a representative (e.g. Branch Manager / Board Chair) to be guest speaker at your annual function.
  • Any advertising (print/ verbal/ media) must include direct acknowledgement of Mansfield & District Community Bank® branch of Bendigo Bank
  • Require prominent acknowledgement on the front cover and within the club/ organisation newsletter and/or program
  • Offered two (2) complimentary tickets to all organisation events

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Platinum Sponsorship – Over $5000

All above requirements, including:

  • A space in the venue (3meters by 1 meter) for an exhibition stand relating to Mansfield & District Community Bank® branch of Bendigo Bank’s services (only applicable foryour club’s main event). You will be consulted as to the content and style of the exhibition.

** Additional requirements may be added depending on type of project or initiative taken forward. These will be discussed with your organisation and built into the Sponsorship Agreement, before confirmation of the Sponsorship.

MDCESponsorship GuidelinesPage 1June 2017