Grant & Scholarship

Guidelines 2021

Please read carefully to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria and guidelines. 

The BWC Charitable Giving Program comprises a variety of ways that BWC and its members can be involved in championing worthwhile causes that support local women – through activities such as goods drives, distribution of a BWC grant and scholarship, specific fundraising activities and volunteer opportunities.

In the past, BWC has provided grants to a range of organisations and causes in Brisbane and its local surrounds[1], including A Brave Life, Suited to Success, Yalari Indigenous Scholarships, Women’s Legal Service, Friends with Dignity and to fund research projects for issues that impact women, such as ovarian cancer.

BWC Grant 2021 – CLOSED

Prior to the end of 2021, BWC will provide one grant of up to $5,000 to an organisation that supports Brisbane women (including local surrounds) in one or more of the following areas:

• Providing projects or support aimed at improving the lives of women;
• Mentoring and guiding women to achieve equal participation in the social, cultural, economic and political arenas of Australian life;
• Exercising leadership around issues affecting women; or
• Providing projects for women that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

BWC Scholarship 2022

In early 2022, BWC will also provide one scholarship of up to $2,000 to a registered charitable organisation that supports and endorses an individual who is personally carrying out activities or providing leadership that will help support and promote women in Brisbane (including local surrounds).

Further details regarding the application process for the BWC Scholarship 2022 will be released in early 2022, with the scholarship being granted before the end of 2022 financial year.

Enquiries or clarifications are welcome – please send to niki@bwc.org.au

[1] Local surrounds of Brisbane can include the following regional and city council areas: Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Somerset, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Redland and Gold Coast.

Brisbane Women’s Club (BWC) was founded in 1908 by Margaret Ogg, an extraordinary woman with a passion for improving the lives of Queensland women. Established in 1908, BWC has always had a strong social justice purpose, including past activities such as holding fundraising events for the establishment of the Women’s College at UQ, supporting the development of community kindergartens, actively campaigning for the pension and supporting single mothers.

Today, BWC financially supports a range of organisations, projects and activities aimed at empowering, educating and enabling local women to achieve their potential and greater gender equality.

In 2020, BWC provided grants to:

1. Good Samaritan Housing, to provide vulnerable women and children living in transitional crisis accommodation with opportunities to build living skills helping them transition to independent living in the community; and
2. 4 Voices, to fund a mobile van service equipped with laptops, telephones, printer/scanner/copier, TV and coffee machine visiting locations across Brisbane and providing women with a hub to drop in for much needed assistance with MyGov registration, opening email accounts, completing online forms, printing documents, writing their CV, searching for jobs, housing, medical or other support.

Eligibility

1. Applications for the BWC Grant 2021 and the BWC Scholarship 2022 are open to charitable organisations that are registered with the ACNC and have a valid ABN (however, it is not necessary to be registered for DGR status). Neither BWC Grants or BWC Scholarships will be awarded directly to an individual.  Applications must be submitted by eligible organisations.
2. The funds must be spent on projects that support women in Brisbane and local surrounds.
3. Project funding for the Grant and Scholarship must be spent by 31 December 2022.
4. All eligible applications will be assessed by the BWC Grants Committee on a merit basis, according to the relevant Guidelines.

BWC reserves the right to offer part funding to successful recipients based on information provided in their application.

Exclusions

Neither BWC Grants or BWC Scholarships will be awarded directly to an individual.  Applications must be submitted by eligible organisations.

BWC Grants and Scholarships will not be awarded to, or for:

• Political parties;
• Government entities;
• Commercial sponsorships;
• Religious groups (except for projects that support a non-religious purpose);
• Retrospective requests;
• Debt retirement, budget deficits, endowments or bequest programs;
• General fundraising appeals; or
• Organisations that have received a BWC Grant in the last two years.

Enquiries or clarifications are welcome – please send to niki@bwc.org.au

2021 Application process and timeline

Applications for the BWC Grant 2021 will be open Friday 1 October 2021.

Applications must be received prior to the closing date/time of 5pm Friday 22 October 2021.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their submission approximately six weeks after the closing date.

Approved funds will be transferred to the successful applicant shortly thereafter.

After project completion, we request that the successful applicant provide a brief report on completion so that BWC can include their activities in its Annual Report and share with BWC members, who have made this grant possible.

Enquiries or clarifications are welcome – please also send to niki@bwc.org.au.

Applications

We encourage your application. Please download the application form.

To apply, please complete the application form and send it to niki@bwc.org.au by the closing times stated above.

Enquiries or clarifications are welcome – please send to niki@bwc.org.au