Round One decisions: questions and answers
The Community Response Fund is a short-term fund established to address immediate cost and demand pressures the economic downturn is placing on community-based critical social services.
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How much money is available in Round One?
The Government is making up to $104 million available to the Fund over two years.
The maximum amount of funding that will be awarded at any one time is $50,000, excluding GST, although there is facility for more to be granted in exceptional circumstances.
Applications to the Fund can be made at any time and will be considered by Regional Panels three times during the year. $40 million has been allocated in 2009/10 with funding distributed in three tranches.
When do applications close?
Applications for the first round opened 8 June and closed 3 July 2009. The first distribution of funding will be made in September 2009. The second round of applications is currently open and closes 25 September at 5pm.
What are the components of the Fund?
The Fund has two key components:
Financial Crisis Funding
This is for providers of critical social services who are experiencing severe financial difficulty and are unable to maintain the level of their services as a direct result of the impact of the economic downturn on their funding.
Demand Funding
This is for providers of critical social services who:
- are experiencing significantly increased demand for their services from families, children, young people and older people as a direct result of the economic downturn; or
- take an innovative approach in meeting service demands with substantially new initiatives. Working in collaboration with other critical social service providers is encouraged.
Who were on the panels considering Round One applications?
Twelve regional panels assessed applications in Round One. Panel members included representatives from the Ministry of Social Development, other government organisations and community representatives.
Local networks from within government and across the NGO and philanthropic sectors were used to identify people that could serve as community representatives. These people had a good knowledge of the local social services sector and no undisclosed vested interest in the organisations making the applications.
How were the applications evaluated?
The evaluation of applications to the Fund was conducted by Regional and National Panels comprising of key government, community, philanthropic, Maori and, where appropriate, Pacific and ethnic representatives.
The aim of the Panel process was to evaluate and moderate each application utilising panel members knowledge and the context in which they operate.
Panel scores were finalised through a process of robust debate and discussion. These reflected different knowledge and expertise brought to the process by panel members.
Panel members were expected to consider all the material in the application in its entirety when checking whether a particular criterion has been met. For example, information pertaining to a particular question may have been found in the answers to other questions, and needed to be considered.
Rating by criteria
The critical services and reason for application criteria are the key evaluation criteria that must be answered and evidenced throughout the application in order to progress the evaluation process.
If applications did not adequately address the key criteria- being a critical social services or the reason they were applying – then the evaluation of the application went no further.
very application received by National Office was sent to the relevant panel for evaluation. No short listing process was undertaken to ensure regional recommendations were made in the regions where the applicants and their services were being delivered.
How many applications were received in Round One?
Two hundred and ninety-three applications were received in the first round with a total of $16.1 million in funding requested by the applicants.
How many applications will receive a grant in Round One?
One hundred and sixty-four applications out of the 293 applications, or 56%, received grants in Round One.
The total amount granted is $8.8 million.
Unsuccessful applicants are able to apply for funding in Round Two which closes on 25 September 2009 providing they meet the Fund criteria.
What was the breakdown of applications approved for Demand Funding and Financial Crisis Funding?
- 64% of all funding recommended for approval is for increased demand for services
- 32% of all funding recommended for approval is in response to funding crises
- 2% of all funding recommended for approval were innovative responses to increased demand
| Panel | Increased Demand | Financial Crisis | Innovation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northland | 69% | 30% | 0% |
| North Shore / West Auckland / Rodney | 46% | 54% | 0% |
| South Auckland/ Central Auckland | 62% | 38% | 0% |
| Hamilton | 48% | 41% | 11% |
| Rotorua / Tauranga | 66% | 34% | 0% |
| Taranaki / Wanganui | 64% | 36% | 0% |
| Hawke's Bay / East Coast | 74% | 26% | 0% |
| Palmerston North / Manawatu | 77% | 23% | 0% |
| Wellington | 72% | 28% | 0% |
| Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast | 69% | 31% | 0% |
| Canterbury / Kaikoura | 44% | 42% | 14% |
| Otago / Southland | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| National | 72% | 28% | 0% |
| Totals | 64% | 34% | 2% |
What types of services applied for funding in Round One?
Critical social services from all parts of New Zealand applied for funding. This included 30% of organisations not currently funded by the Ministry of Social Development.
Applications came from youth organisations, services for older people, family support services, family violence services to name a few. There were also a number of organisations that provided whole family support where one of their members has a disability.
The majority of successful applicants provide services across more than one critical service and, therefore, ticked more than one category in their application.
However, of the $8.8 million, we estimate that over
- $1.8 million is to support family violence services
- $550,000 is to support to Budget Services
- $175,000 is to support sexual violence services for adults
- $1.6 million is to support families under stress
- $350,000 is to support early intervention for vulnerable and at risk
- $1.4 million is to support services addressing child abuse and neglect
- $850,000 is to support vulnerable and at risk younger people
- $126,000 is to support vulnerable and at risk older people.
How many successful applicants identified themselves as Māori, Pacific or ethnic critical social services providers?
- 23% of applicants identified as Māori providers and 12% were successful
- 8% of applicants identified as Pacific providers and 3% were successful
- 5% of applicants identified as ethnic providers 2% were successful
What were the reasons given by organisations for an increase in demand for services?
The main reason given for increased demand for services was an increase in the number of referrals for services.
These were for such things as more at-risk behaviours such as gambling and drug abuse and increased family stress around job uncertainty and family violence.
Organisations also reported an increase in the intensity and complexity of the issues they are dealing with.
What were the reasons given by organisations for financial difficulties?
The main reason given for organisations in financial crisis was a reduction in income, either from investments or from philanthropic or other community organisations.
What does an innovative response mean?
Providers who are applying for funding under the increased demand component of the Community Response Fund are encouraged to submit proposals that are innovative. This means providing responses about how they are working differently to meet increased demand in a more efficient and effective manner.
This may mean working collaboratively with other services, sharing resources, or improving systems to better meet demand within resources available.
Were there any innovative responses submitted by applicants in Round One?
In Round One, only two applications were received under the demand criteria of innovative responses to increased demand.
The two applications approved were submitted by Presbyterian Support Upper South on behalf of Right Service Right Time and Coromandel Independent Living Trust together with a number of NGOs.
What are the main reasons organisations were declined a grant?
Forty-four per cent of all applications were declined. This is a result of applications that:
- were out of scope, for example, those from health-based services without a family support component looking to replace funding lost from other government agencies (eg DHBs)
- may have been in scope but provided insufficient evidence to make a successful case for funding.
Although the criteria for the Fund was strictly applied, the panels were as flexible as possible, taking into account that organisations only had four weeks to complete their applications.
Do you expect the applications to rise in the Second Round?
A number of providers have told us that they are waiting till the second round before making an application. The number of applications in the first round may be explained by:
- the short period of time of only four weeks (8 June to 4 July 2009) for applications and, therefore, some NGOs waiting until subsequent rounds before applying
- a lag effect for the demand for social services as a result of the recession, for example, there is often a delay between families losing employment or income and seeking help from social service organisations
- some providers may be adopting a “wait and see” attitude.
What was the Regional breakdown of funding?
Funding Granted
| Panel | Recommended | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| Northland | $ 566,442.00 | 6.4% |
| North Shore / West Auckland / Rodney | $1,112,130.00 | 12.6% |
| South Auckland/ Central Auckland | $1,204,911.00 | 13.7% |
| Hamilton | $ 454,074.00 | 5.2% |
| Rotorua / Tauranga | $ 814,668.00 | 9.2% |
| Taranaki / Wanganui | $ 225,000.00 | 2.5% |
| Hawkes Bay / East Coast | $ 419,671.00 | 4.8% |
| Palmerston North / Manawatu | $ 452,584.00 | 5.1% |
| Wellington | $ 431,534.00 | 4.9% |
| Nelson / Marlborough / West Coast | $ 161,000.00 | 1.8% |
| Canterbury / Kaikoura | $ 698,500.00 | 7.9% |
| Otago / Southland | $ 182,655.00 | 2.8% |
| National | $2,076,420.00 | 23.6% |
| Totals | $8,799,590.00 | 100% |
What region had the most applications approved?
Central and South Auckland received the highest number of applications and granted the most funding approved.
Did any national organisations apply?
Four national organisations successfully applied for funding. These were Women's Refuge, Barnardos, Cystic Fibrosis and Relationship Services.
Nationally contracted organisations which currently operate within a single national contract and whose finances are managed nationally were able to submit a consolidated application to the Community Response Fund.
They are still subject to the same Fund criteria and reporting requirements, but do not go through a regional panel. They can apply either regionally or nationally but not both.
The principle applying to a maximum grant of up to $50,000 per local office for applications made to regional panels will apply similarly to national applications. The level of grant that may be made will have regard to the impact of the economic situation on the financial viability and/or local demands specifically faced by each of the offices covered by the national application.
Did any applicant get more than $50,000. Who were they and what for?
Two organisations received more than $50,000. These were Wakatipu Abuse Prevention Network in Southland , Queenstown Lakes Centre Families First
Both these organisations demonstrated a huge increase in demand for their services.
All successful national organisations received over $50,000 in funding. However, their applications included a number of local branches.
The Trust, Right Time, Right Place (Presbyterian Support Upper South) collaboration also received over $50,000 to support their innovative response.
What was the average amount of funding granted?
The average amount of funding granted to organisations, excluding national applications, was $40,995.
Will you consider applications who were declined in the next round of funding?
Organisations that were declined in the first round of funding are encouraged to reapply in the second round as along as they can meet the criteria and provide relevant evidence.
A series of regional briefings will be held in September to help organisations better understand the criteria and what evidence they need to provide to meet them.
The application process is also being made easier in Round Two. We are streamlining the application form and allowing providers to apply online.
How much is left in the Fund for the 2009/10 year after Round one?
$104 million has been made available to the Community Response Fund over the next two years. $40 million has been allocated to the first year.
8.8 million has been granted in the first round leaving $31.2 million available if needed. We are expecting an increase in applications in Round 2 and 3 as the effects of the recession start to hit families.
