Client: Kikoff Football
Project title: Soccer fields resurfacing, lighting upgrades, multi-sports playing arrangements
Category: Sport
The client
Kikoff Football is a Sydney-based sporting club operator providing FIFA-grade pitches that allow people of all ages to play football. With all-weather playing options and a range of junior and senior leagues, plus franchising opportunities, Kikoff is the destination for Sydneysiders’ who can’t get enough of the beautiful game.
The challenge
Kikoff had a strong desire to grow memberships and diversify its customer base, but to achieve these objectives would require overcoming a capital-intensive problem. Kikoff operates three aging facilities across Sydney and there was a growing perception in the community that Kikoff’s facilities were no longer competitive compared to alternatives.
It had become difficult to attract and retain members, but the organisation did not have access to sufficient capital to facilitate the critical upgrades. Kikoff also wanted to upgrade all three facilities concurrently which added extra complexity. In 2020, a timely opportunity presented itself in the form of the Greater Cities Sport Facilities Fund, which offered the financial backing needed to upgrade the amenities and help get the company back on a growth trajectory. Kikoff had numerous ideas for applying for a grant but lacked the specialist expertise needed to determine which activities would be eligible for funding. Along with showing alignment to the grant’s core objectives of growing participation in sports among women and girls and people with disability, Kikoff would also be required to show evidence of increased utilisation of its upgraded facility.
Our solutions
Kikoff connected with GrantHelper with plenty of time for us to conduct a thorough scoping of the project and define an investable application strategy. We determined which activities would be permissible within the grant guidelines and created a submission planner as part of our SOP, ensuring all responsibilities were clarified, and tasks were delegated to maximise efficiency.
As this entire application project took place during the Covid-19 pandemic, all communication was handled remotely, using Zoom, email and telephone to seamlessly bring the project together. Kikoff sent us the foundational information which we built upon in a process of refinement until we had a complete submission with a clear vision and a compelling story. We also verified that all the necessary supporting evidence was attached, including quotes, financials, letters of support, budget, project plan and an activity forecast.
Outcomes
We submitted a detailed, finessed application showing precise alignment to the criteria throughout our responses. While having the right strategy is always critical to succeeding with grants, crafting the narrative was equally important in this case; our story showed how the project would facilitate greater numbers of women, girls and people with disability playing football within an empowering sporting community.
What made this grant project a success?
The Kikoff team was receptive to our recommendations and flexible to adjusting the project scope for better alignment. Further, management ensured open lines of communication and regular availability, enabling us to hone our strategy across a series of collaborative Zoom meetings.
Because we had been given plenty of time to prepare this application, we were able to operate to the fullest of our capabilities, methodically bringing together a high-quality submission that we knew had a strong chance. The Kikoff team was also proactive in the all-important follow ups and removal of bottlenecks; they gathered quotes, letters of support and other documentation which underpinned our work on the responses and made for a successful final product.
Is your organisation eligible for a Sports Facility grant?
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