Major event – over 5,000 patrons with grants of $10,000 & over:

• large scale event
• running longer than one day
• potential to attract substantial visitation from outside the region
• provide substantial economic and social benefit to the region
• grant cannot be greater than 20% of event budget
• assistance towards promotion, marketing & event development.

Regional event – between 1,000 to 5,000 patrons with grants from $5,000 to $10,000:

• potential to attract attendees from across the region and South-East Queensland.
• provide reasonable economic benefit and substantial social benefit to the region.
• grant cannot be greater than 20% of event budget.
• assistance towards promotion, marketing, event development & entertainment.

 Community event – up to 1,000 patrons with grants up to $1,500:

• being of interest to a local community or small segment of the region.
• assistance towards promotion, marketing, event development, entertainment & event infrastructure.
• encourage and support activity that captures the imagination and attention of the community.
• provide fun-filled exciting entertainment programs where entry is open to the public to attend free of charge or at a subsidised rate.

Organisations can apply for an event support grant if they:

• are an eligible community organisation or are under the auspices of an eligible community organisation as defined in the 2.59 Community Grants Policy
• are an organisation operates or provides services within the Toowoomba Regional Council area or be able to demonstrate that economic and social benefits arising from the event will be directed to and benefit the local community
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• are applying for a project that does not form part of the core business of public and private educational institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary including Parents & Citizens and Parents & Friends Associations) and demonstrates broader community benefit. 

Who can't apply:

• individuals
• for-profit companies, trusts and other organisations
• government, semi-government organisations and statutory authorities
• unions and student guilds
• research foundations
• professional associations
• an organisation that has been granted approval for support through a Toowoomba Regional Council funding program for the same project
• recipients who have previously defaulted on the conditions of funding ineligible activities / applications will include, but not be restricted to:
• • the purchase of land 
  • the core business or educational, religious and medical organisations 
  • events run solely for commercial profit 
  • an organisation that has not acquitted an overdue TRC funded grant application.

Priority will be given to applications that include one of the following initiatives:

• development of new events possessing the potential to becoming regular events
• development and revitalisation of an established event
• enhancement of the professional delivery to economically sustain an event
• social interaction within an isolated community.

Ineligible activities/applications will include, but not be restricted to:

• the purchase of land
• the core business of educational, religious and medical organisations
• events run solely for commercial profit
• payment of debt
• payment of insurance premiums (insurance premiums will usually be ineligible, however, provision is available for these payments to be considered on a case by case basis)
• political activities
• items included in another grant application or to top-up funding for a previous grant or any other Council funding
• a government agency or department of local, state or federal levels
• organisations with gaming machines and/or trade regularly with a liquor licence most days of the week
• operational costs including, but not limited to: Council lease costs, Council general rates and utility rates, on-going salaries, auditing, rent and other administrative expenses
• funding for prize money, prizes or trophies.

Other eligibility restrictions may apply to specific funding categories. Low priority is given to events that have received funding previously for similar events, excepting community events.

Applicants (not for profit organisations) must demonstrate:

• a genuine need for the project/activity
• linkage to the specific Corporate Plan objectives
• linkage to the specific aims and priorities of the selected event category
• the benefit to the area of the Toowoomba Regional Council
• evidence of consultation and community partnerships
• the capacity to successfully complete the project
• a balanced, realistic and complete project budget
• evidence of inclusive participation
• level of funding contributed by the applicant and/or others towards the project
• have appropriate insurance and adhere to sound Workplace Health and Safety practices
• have met all acquittal conditions of previous Council grants and have no debt to Council
• be able to demonstrate financial viability
• address specific event category priorities
• include required supporting documentation
• evidence of inclusive participation
• level of funding contributed by the applicant and/or others towards the project.

Other eligibility restrictions may apply to specific funding categories. Low priority is given to events that have received previous funding, except community events.

If an applicant donates profits from an event to charity, we require the retention of profits, equal to the value of the grant, for the running of the next year’s event. If it is a one off event, then the grant must be re-payed before any profits from the event are distributed. Failure to meet these requirements will render an applicant ineligible for future funding. 

Funding is limited and therefore, it is not possible to meet all requests.