Module 4.1: Mastering the Criteria Questions — Community Benefit
This is where good applications become great ones. The criteria questions are your opportunity to make a compelling case for your project — and how you answer them can make all the difference. Take your time here.
“How will the application benefit your organisation and the community?”
THIS IS THE SIGNLE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION IN YOUR ENTIRE APPLICATION! — Don’t underestimate it.
Assessors aren’t just looking for what your organisation will gain — they want to see the ripple effect into the broader community. A strong answer demonstrates wide-reaching, meaningful impact.
When crafting your response, think beyond your organisation and consider:
- Disadvantaged or vulnerable groups — does your project support people facing hardship or barriers?
- Age diversity — will it benefit children, youth, adults, and seniors?
- Gender inclusivity — does it support all & or underrepresented genders in your area or industry?
- Local need — can you back your case with relevant statistics? For example, the number of women participating in sport in your region, or the percentage of disengaged youth in your area?
The broader and more clearly evidenced your community benefit, the more favourably your application will be viewed.
For examples of how winning applications have answered this question, refer to your Practical Tips & Expert Advice Guide — it includes multiple real examples with identifying information removed.
“Which category best describes the people to be assisted by your application?”
This one is straightforward — simply select the category that best describes the people who will benefit from your project. Choose the option that most closely aligns with your target group and the community you serve.
“Will this application provide benefit to more than one not-for-profit organisation, if successful?”
If the answer is yes — say so clearly, and make the most of it! — This question carries on from the previous ‘Community Benefit’ question.
Applications that demonstrate benefit beyond a single organisation carry more weight and more likely to be approved. To answer this well:
- Name your partners — identify other not-for-profits or community groups that will benefit
- Be specific about how — shared facilities, joint events, improved services, access to resources
- Think about referees — partner organisations you list here can also be suggested as referees to strengthen your application further
The more organisations you can show will gain from your project, the stronger your case becomes. Don’t leave this to the assessor’s imagination — spell it out.
For real examples of how successful applicants have answered this question, head to your Practical Tips & Expert Advice Guide.
Community benefit isn’t just a criteria question — it’s the heartbeat of the entire fund. The more clearly you can show your project makes a genuine difference to real people, the more your application will stand out.
Up next: Module 4.2 — continuing through the key criteria questions.
