Small and General Grants and Travel & Conference Grants - Ian Potter Foundation

The Ian Potter Foundation makes grants for general charitable purposes in Australia that advance knowledge and benefit the community in the areas of the arts, community wellbeing, education, environment and conservation, health, medical research and science.

The Ian Potter Foundation has stipulated that, research funds awarded to Universities and Research Institutions will only be directed towards major new developments. The Foundation does not support expenditure on projects or items of equipment that might be funded internally or by a Government agency such as the NHMRC or the ARC.

Small Grants

Small Grants apply to applications that are requesting less then $20,000 in funding for the areas of Arts, Community Wellbeing, Education, Environment and Conservation, Health & Disability, Medical Research and Science. 

General Grants

General Grants apply to applications that are requesting $20,000 or more in funding for the areas of Arts, Education, Health & Disability, Medical Research and Science.

If your grant application is for $50,000 or more, the primary contact for the project must speak to the relevant Program Manager at the Foundation prior to submitting the application.

A site visit and/or meeting may be required, so you are encouraged to submit your application as early as possible. If there is insufficient time to arrange a site visit prior to the funding decisions being made your application may have to be deferred to the following funding round.

There is a separate form to be used for grants between $20,000 and $50,000 in the Community Wellbeing Program area. There is a two stage process in the Community Wellbeing Program Area for grants over $50,000 and in the Environment and Conservation Program area for grants over $100,000.  Stage 1 is submission of an Expression of Interest; Stage 2 is an invited application. Prior to submitting your Expression of Interest [EoI] you should telephone the relevant Program Manager at the Foundation to discuss your proposal.

NOTE: All research applications must be supported by a covering letter, from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or delegate, indicating support for the proposal and that it is an initiative of substantial importance to Monash University as a whole. Applicants should supply a draft letter with their application to the Monash Research Office as this would assist the DVC (Research) or delegate in providing the Institutional letter of support required by the Foundation.

Researchers are encounraged to contact the Monash Research Office prior to the closing date to discuss their applications.

Applications must be submitted through the Monash Research Office. Applications sent directly to the Foundation will not be considered. Applications sent by fax or email will not be accepted.

Applications for developments other than research will need to come directly from the Vice-Chancellor.

Exclusions: The Foundation carefully considers all eligible applications to determine whether a project fits its current program interests and funding considerations. Unfortunately many more applications are received than can be supported, with approximately one in four applications resulting in a grant.

Guidelines, Forms and Other Instructions

Submission Requirements for Small and General Grants

• Monash Research Office Cover Sheet
• Original plus one copy of the application to the Research Office
• Email a copy of the application to dennis.batson@monash.edu
• Draft letter for DVC use, outlining why the proposal is an initiative of substantial importance to Monash University.
• Applications will be ranked prior to submission to the Foundation.

Travel & Conference Grants

Applications for travel and conference grants must be submitted through the Research Office. Applications sent directly to the Foundation will not be considered. Applications sent by fax or email will not be accepted. 

Travel Grants

The Foundation provides small travel grants, generally of between $2,000 and $3,000, to institutions to assist early career staff members with an appointment of at least three years, to attend travel for the purpose of professional development (for example, attending a conference) and to gain further experience and meet their peers in the international scene.

Travel Grant applications must adhere to the following requirements:

There are now separate application forms for Travel and Conference.

• Travel grant applications must be submitted to the Research Office at least 4 months prior to the intended departure date. The Foundation requires that the applicants intended departure date be no less than 3 months from the Foundation closing date. The applicant's intended departure date must be after the date indicated with each of the closing dates. Please check the web pages.
• The Foundation requires that the university demonstrate the value it places on the professional development of their early career staff member by stating in the application that they have already made a commitment from their own funds before requesting a matching grant from the Foundation.
• Applicants must provide proof of confirmed financial support from their Department/School or Faculty of at least the sum being requested from the Foundation.
• A letter of support from the applicant's Head of Department/School confirming the sum already committed by the institution.
• A succinct one or two page letter describing the proposed project and its objectives with details of proposed itinerary, including when the traveller intends to depart and return to Australia.
• A budget showing the approximate level of funding required, anticipated sources of assistance, committed contribution by the institution, and the contribution by the applicant.
• Whether the applicant is to deliver a paper, or to present a poster and evidence of acceptance by conference organisers.A copy of the accepted abstract must be provided.
• A brief CV including academic and employment history (with dates) and a publication list, with evidence for articles in press or submitted and under review.

Exclusions: The Foundation does not provide travel grants for Undergraduate, Masters, or Doctoral students; or retrospective grants for travel already undertaken in part or in whole.

New application forms
 
There are now separate application forms for Travel and Conference. The application and reporting forms have been revised to more clearly outline the Foundation’s requirements and expectations.
 
Note: All application and reporting forms are updated from time to time. To ensure that the applicant/grantee will meet all the necessary requirements, please ensure that the current version of the form is downloaded from the Foundation’s website when needed rather than saving a particular version.
 
Documents to be submitted with your application
As set out in the application form, all required documents must be submitted with each grant application. Please also note the following specific requirements for Travel grants.
 
Letter of support/confirmation
A letter from the Chief Executive Officer/Head of Department/Director confirming cash support committed by the applicant organisation must be submitted. It must include a specific cash amount.

• Example of acceptable format: “I/Institute/Department/School will commit $2,102 towards the cost of Dr X’s travel.”
• Example of unacceptable format: “I/Institute/Department/School will contribute 50% towards the cost of Dr X’s travel.”
   
  

In addition, this letter must also address:

• the importance of the conference
• the applicant’s professional potential, and
• confirm that the applicant’s appointment is for at least three years. It is important to be as specific as possible regarding details of the researcher’s tenure.
   
  

Note: Travel grant applications received without this letter, or with a letter that has insufficient information, will not be considered.
 
Tax status - Each application must include copies of your organisation’s Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) and Tax Concession Charity (TCC) notices.  Applications received without these notices will not be eligible for consideration.
 
Annual Report and Financial Report - As long as the Foundation has a copy of your organisation’s current Annual Report and Financial Report on file you do not need to send additional copies. However, you must confirm with our office that we have them on file prior to submitting your application.
 
Note: If the Foundation does not have current copies of your Annual and Financial Reports and applications are submitted without them, the application will not be eligible for consideration.

The Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grants - Reporting Requirements

The reporting forms have been revised to more clearly outline the Foundation’s requirements and expectations. Forms are updated from time to time. To ensure that the grantee will meet all the necessary requirements, please ensure that the current version of the form is downloaded from the Foundation’s website when needed rather than saving a particular version.

The Ian Potter Foundation has found that there are a few recurring issues with the acquittal of Travel grants.  Here is some guidance to help avoid/reduce any unnecessary to-ing and fro-ing at the conclusion of the grant period.

The Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grants - Reporting Requirements
 

Conference Grants

Grants are also made for conferences of international status (not domestic) to be held in Australia. Support is only given to assist with the travel and accommodation costs of an international key-note speaker at the conference.

There are now separate application forms for Travel and Conference.

Guidelines, Forms and Other Instructions

Submission Requirements for Travel and Conference Grants

Applications must be submitted through the Monash Research Office. Applications sent directly to the Foundation will not be considered.

• Monash Research Office Cover Sheet
• Original plus one copy to the Research Office
• Letter of confirmed financial support from the Head of Department.
• Email a copy of the application to dennis.batson@monash.edu