Innovation and Ideas - Stage 1 - Ideas form

Application process  - Innovations and ideas

Before submitting a grant application, you can submit your idea for feedback. Stage 1 is an ideas form to pitch the initial thinking and concept behind your application, followed by stage 2 when you submit a formal application in future Summer or Winter rounds. You can submit an idea form all year round (must be at least 6 weeks prior to the upcoming Summer or Winter rounds). Formal applications can only be submitted during the fixed dates for the summer and winter grant rounds.

Stage 1 – Ideas form (current stage - optional)

• To receive guidance in this program, you’re invited to first submit a form outlining your idea.
• The ideas form is an opportunity for you to submit your initial thoughts or concept for feedback. This isn’t an assessment for funding and positive feedback doesn’t guarantee funding.
• One of our specialist team members will review your pitch. You can expect some feedback about how to develop your project, partners you should work with and your best options for funding.
• The ideas form should be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the upcoming Summer or Winter rounds.

Stage 2 – Formal application (future stage)

• A formal application should be submitted as part of the summer or winter grants round.
• It’s likely to be informed by feedback you received in stage 1.
• You can apply directly to the innovation and ideas grants program without first submitting a stage 1 ideas form. But the ideas form and feedback process is designed to help finetune your application and find the best grant program to suit you.

Before submitting an ideas form:

• Please read the Innovation and Ideas webpage and Grants and sponsorship program guidelines for comprehensive details about the program, including definitions of the eligible organisations.
• Strong ideas will align with one of the following: the City's social sustainability policy, environmental strategy and action plan, cultural policy, economic development strategy or open strategy and action plan 

These organisations can apply for an Innovation and Ideas grant, so consider this before submitting an ideas form:

• Eligible Not For Profit Organisation
• Incorporated Association
• Corporation
• Co-operative
• Trustee of a Trust

For-profit organisations are required to match funding with cash and/or value-in-kind when applying for a grant.

MOVING THROUGH THE IDEAS FORM

On every screen (page of the form) you will find a Form Navigation contents box on the left hand side, click the page title link to jump directly to the page you want.

You can also click Next Page or Previous Page on the top or bottom of each page to move forward, or backward, through the ideas form.

Do not use the Forward -> or Back <- buttons in your browser as you may lose your progress.

SAVING YOUR IDEAS FORM

Moving between pages using the Form Navigation, Next and Previous Page buttons will automatically save your ideas form. You can also click the Save Progress button as you go, just in case.

You can start your ideas form, save what you have done and return to it as many times as you like before the grant deadline. If you wish to leave a partly completed ideas form, press Save and Close and log out. When you log back in and click on the My Submissions link at the top of the screen, you will find a list of all ideas forms you have started or submitted. You can reopen your draft ideas form and continue where you left off.

You can also download any ideas form, whether draft or completed, as a PDF. Click on the Download PDF button located at the bottom of the last page of the ideas form.

REQUIRED FIELDS AND CORRECT FORMATTING

Questions with a red asterisk* are required fields.

Some questions require a correct format and you will not be able to submit your ideas form until all required fields are completed in the correct format.

For example:

• Number and Currency fields can only accept numbers and a decimal point, not text (one hundred) or punctuation (, and $)
• Dates must be in the Australian format DD/MM/YYYY
• Websites must be an active web address

ATTACHMENTS AND SUPPORT DOCUMENTS

Please label each document clearly

When uploading multiple attachments, wait for each file to upload before trying to attach another file. Files can be up to 25MB each however we recommend keeping files to a maximum of 5MB. The larger the file, the longer the upload time.

COMPLETING AN IDEAS FORMIN A GROUP OR TEAM

Several people can work on an ideas form using the same log-in details however only one person can work on the same ideas format a time.

If applicable, it's best to use a shared email address, like info@yourcompany.org.au or contact@yourcompany.com.au.

NEED HELP?

If you need more help using this form, please read the Help Guide for Applicants and Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's).

If you have questions, please review the guidelines or contact the grants team at communitygrants@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.