Frequently asked questions

To be eligible the applicant must be:

• an incorporated organisation with not-for profit objectives and
• be based within the JCCBF's jurisdiction.  This jurisdiction is the geographic region defined from the Qld/NSW border to the northern boundaries of the Central Queensland shires of Boulia, Winton, Aramac, Belyando and Broadsound.  For further information see Jurisdiction Map.

Applications for funds are considered up to a maximum of $150,000 for a one-off project which is in line with the JCCBF Trust's objectives: 

• To achieve participation by organisations which have a beneficial influence in the community.
• To achieve a measure of community acceptance and/or involvement in approved projects
• To be attuned to the needs of the community
• To approve general or specific projects providing facilities which have an obvious community benefit.

The following are outside of the JCCBF’s guidelines:

• Individuals
• Government or semi government organisations such as public hospitals and libraries
• Private Hospitals
• Playgroups, child care/minding centres, kindergartens, pre-schools, special education units
• Public and private educational institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary) including Parents and Citizens and Parents and Friends Associations
• Auxilaries
• Service clubs applying for funds for a project for/on behalf of another organisation ie Apex, Lions, Rotary, RSL.
• Organisations based outside of the JCCBF jurisdiction
• Organisations who have received previous grants for which final acquittal documentation has not been provided
• In addition, organisations not eligible to apply for a grant in their own right cannot apply for a grant through an eligible organisation.

Funding has been provided for a variety of projects by the Board of Trustees.  Grants funds have been used in the past (amongst other things) towards: 

• Purchase/construct/modify/upgrade premises and facilities
•  Purchase specialised equipment
•  Purchase office equipment/furniture
•  Purchase vehicles and buses to transport disabled, elderly, handicapped and those in isolated areas
•  Equip vehicles/boats
•  Fund the appointment of staff and associated costs to conduct pilot programs
• Fund the cost of running limited time community training and or education programs.

The above listing is used for example only.  Applicants should access further information on eligible and ineligible projects, which is available in the JCCBF Funding Guidelines prior to lodging an application for funding or contact the Secretariat if required.

Applications to the JCCBF are accepted at any time.  There are no set closing dates.  Under Fund guidelines organisations need to allow approximately six months from the date of submission for an outcome for their application to be determined.

Grants from the JCCBF are announced quarterly in March, June, September and December of each year.  On average the Fund receives and processes up to 600 applications on an annual basis with the total funds requested usually exceeding $20 million.

Depending on the levies received from the Jupiters and Treasury Casinos, funds available to the JCCBF to allocate through grants varies from between four (4) to six (6) million dollars a year

• demand for funds. On average the request upon the Board of Trustees is over five (5) times the amount which is available to allocate from the levies provided. As a result, a number of projects in each round are not able to be funded despite being assessed by the Board of Trustees as being in line with the funding criteria and providing a community benefit.
• increase in applications. Applications to the JCCBF have increased in recent years which has added to the competition for funds.
• recent grant received. If your group has received previous funding (particularly within the previous twelve months), then applications from groups who have not received a previous grant will be prioritised.
• insufficient funding submission. When insufficient information is provided in the funding submission, the Trustees will automatically prioritise other projects which provide sufficient information to allow them to make a considered assessment.
• lack of community support. Applications which fail to provide evidence of community support for their proposed project through insufficient support letters being provided.
• incomplete accountability documentation. Accountability documentation for previous grants not being provided.
• organisational funds. Organisations who have sufficient funds to finance the requested project according to the audited figures supplied and have not provided an explanation for the purpose of such invested/surplus funds.
• capacity questioned. Organisations that have insufficient funds in the bank to undertake the project if the cost of the project rises or the ongoing viability of the organisation to maintain the funded item is questionable, due to the overall financial position.

In addition to the Jupiters Fund, there are three other Community Benefit Funds in Queensland, the Gambling Community Benefit Fund, Reef Hotel Casino Community Benefit Fund and Breakwater Island Casino Community Benefit Fund.

Each of these Funds are separately administered and whilst the JCCBF has contact with each they all have different guidelines, committees and areas of jurisdiction.

Yes.  Applications are only considered by the Board of Trustees in one round.  If you receive notification that your application is unsuccessful, you will need to resubmit a new application.  Before doing so, it is recommended that you contact JCCBF staff to obtain feedback on your application which may identify issues to be addressed to increase future chances of funding for your project.

No. All applications and the associated attachments must be forwarded to the Fund in hard copy format. Applications must be mailed to GPO Box 2796, Brisbane Queensland 4001.