Administered grants

If you are applying as an individual or group, you can have your grant administered if you wish. This does not affect how your application will be assessed.

An administered grant is one where a third party ‘fiscal sponsor’ takes responsibility for financial management of a grant.

Groups/ensembles/collectives, partnerships, unincorporated associations and other entities without legal status are not eligible to apply to the Australia Council. However, an individual may apply for a grant on behalf of an entity without legal status. In addition, entities without legal status may also administer a grant.

In all administrated applications, the name of the administrator (fiscal sponsor) must exactly match both the name of the ABN on the Australian Business Register and the name of the bank account into which funds are to be paid.

Examples of legally constituted organisations are incorporated associations, incorporated Aboriginal associations and companies limited by guarantee.

Individual applicants under 18 years of age must nominate an administering body.

If you require a fiscal sponsor you should choose one before submitting an application. The details of the fiscal sponsor should be included on the application form.

For more details on how and when an administering body is necessary, please contact us.

Fiscal sponsors are responsible for:

• counter-signing the Funding Agreement
• agreeing to administer the grant on behalf of the grant recipient
• paying funds to the grant recipient
• ensuring, to the best of their ability, that the grant is used for the purpose it was provided for
• providing the grant recipient with an itemised financial statement at the end of the project, which clearly shows how the grant was spent
• ensuring that funding of $250,000 or more is audited and certified by a qualified accountant in public practice.

A fiscal sponsor is not responsible for the artistic direction or the artistic quality of the project the grant was provided for.

The grant recipient is responsible for:

• negotiating the services the fiscal sponsor  will provide
• signing the Funding Agreement and ensuring it is counter-signed by the fiscal sponsor.
• overall management and artistic direction of the project
• advising the Australia Council of any proposed changes to the purpose of the funding or artistic or other personnel, the timing of the project or major changes to the budget during the course of the project
• providing the fiscal sponsor with the necessary information to allow them to complete an accurate financial statement at the end of the project
• completing and submitting a grant report that meets Australia Council guidelines, at the end of the project