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Guiding principles

The grants program works with limited resources to provide as much assistance to as many worthwhile projects as possible. In making decisions on the merits of individual applications, the Grants Subgroup considers the applicability of the following guiding principles:

Projectly we fund:

1. Innovation and practicality — ideas that translate into sustainable, practical solutions.
2. Partnerships and collaborations — which build expertise and learning.
3. Multi-purpose — to realise a number of the Foundation’s objectives.
4. Fostering networks — within and between the legal sector and the community.
5. Significant impact — measured either by the size of the audience or by the depth of impact for a small target group.
6. Efficient use of resources — doing ‘more with less’.
7. Accountability and evaluation — of processes and outcomes.
8. Balancing short- and long-term outcomes — necessary one-off, moment-in-time projects coupled with projects that can make a lasting contribution.
9. Leadership in public benefit best practice.
10. The ‘but for’ test — essential work which ‘but for’ the Foundation cannot, or would not, be undertaken.

Projectly we do not fund:

1. Academic research — or study to obtain a degree or diploma.
2. Interstate, national or international projects — that do not benefit the people of Victoria. Part of a project may be funded if a component primarily benefits the people of Victoria.
3. Core funding — for bodies established to provide services
4. Capital expenditure — for overheads related to the ongoing activities of an organisation.
5. Travel costs — both interstate and overseas, unless there is a clear and direct benefit to the Victorian community.
6. Conferences, symposiums or workshops — by sponsorship or subsidy, or for the attendance of individuals. However, we may be able to assist community organisations in conference organisation and securing free or low cost venues.
7. Profit-making projects — however, we may fund a repayable subsidy, which requires repayments to be made to offset the cost of the original grant.
8. Retrospective grants — to cover spending incurred before a decision on an application.
9. Litigation — of any kind.

The Victoria Law Foundation works with and supports grant recipients to ensure the success of projects. As a public benefit organisation, the Foundation is committed to the highest standards of financial accountability in the use of public funds, including the money expended through grants.

Successful grant recipients are asked to agree to, and comply with, the grant conditions in addition to any specific conditions set by the Foundation for individual projects.

The Grants Manager tel 9604 8115 at the Foundation is available to answer any questions you may have about the Grants Program.