Grant Overview

The purpose of the Bankwest Foundation Social Media Grants is to better equip Volunteering Involving Organisations (VIOs) to communicate via social media channels with the primary aim of attracting and retaining a strong volunteer workforce. This is a unique opportunity for NFP organisations in WA to participate in ongoing social media training, mentorship, development and support.

Program Overview

The program of support, valued at $10,000, spans one full year and focuses on building VIO social media capacity through strategy design, education and implementation. It will be delivered by Hancock Creative, an award-winning creative agency in Perth, who have specifically designed this program - in collaboration with the Bankwest Foundation and ASF - to help not-for-profits in an area they need it most.

The grant program will cover the following areas:

1. Strategy

Create ongoing capacity in your organisation by developing a strategy plan to ensure continual social media development.

• Initial one hour strategy session
• Fully documented strategy plan customised for your organisation, created in collaboration

2. Education

Develop the critical skills required to succeed in the digital landscape.

• 4 x Face to face training days with industry experts
• 6 x Online knowledge building workshops
• 12 x Social success email education sessions

3. Mentoring

Personalised help to ensure application of strategy and skills.

• 12 x 2-hour private mentoring sessions
• Reporting analysis

4. Community

Share and learn from others in the grant and wider 'Gain & Retain' program.

• Access to private Gain & Retain membership Facebook group

How your organisation will benefit:

• Increased profile of organisational brand from using social media
• Embedded social media strategies, including the development of documented procedures and/or policy
• Increased followers, posts, online activity
• Increased engagement with your supporters, donors and volunteers
• Ability to measure the effectiveness of social media campaigns
• Improvement on the attraction and retention rate of your volunteering workforce

Program Duration:

The program will run for a 12 month period, with the intention that all grant recipients will sustain and build on their social media strategy even once the training has come to an end. To get the most out of the program, participating organisations are expected to implement skills and strategies from the program consistently throughout the year via active social media account/s.

Organisational Commitment

Time Commitment:

Grant recipients will be required to commit the following to the program:

• 4 x full days to attend training events in Perth
• 1 hour to attend monthly webinar on Wednesday mornings
• 2 hours per month for mentoring
• Minimum 4 hours per month for planning/implementation
• Ongoing monitoring

Recipients will also be required to track and report their social media and volunteer numbers as a means of determining the grant's impact. 

Senior Management:

All organisations must have the ongoing and active support of their senior management, who will be required to attend the panel interview if the organisation is shortlisted and will be invited to attend various events / meetings throughout the year. The senior management must also:

• Write an endorsement letter in support of their organisation’s application, to be uploaded during the application process (more details below)
• Authorise a member of staff (such as the Social Media Manager) to post on behalf of the organisation on social media, guided by skills they learn through the Grant program
• Agree to the terms of the grant if selected for the program, and be accountable if the organisation fails to meet any of the Grant requirements

Grant Applications

Important Dates:

Who Should Apply:

The Bankwest Foundation Social Media Grants are designed for not-for-profit organisations that deliver programs or services with a broad community and geographical impact and are focussed on the attraction & retention of their volunteer workforce.