Community Grants

Northern Grampians Shire Council is seeking suitable applications from local community not-for-profit groups and organisations in alignment with the following expected outcomes of our Community Grants Program:

  • Increased social connectedness for all Northern Grampians Shire residents

  • Creation of safe environments that are inclusive of the growing diversity across communities in the Northern Grampians Shire 

  • Increased capacity of residents to support members of the community who show early signs of, or are living with, mental health problems

  • Increased resilience within the community. 

Purpose of the program

The Community Grants Program, in line with the program outcomes, will support initiatives that: 

  • Strengthen volunteering programs and/or opportunities to build organisational capacity (e.g. volunteer software, workshops strategic planning, grant writing, web-site creation). 
  • Provide opportunities for connection and participation within the community for First Nations people, young people, older people, people living with a disability, LGBTIQ+, or migrant communities. 
  • Provide options to improve the health and wellbeing of communities, e.g., Mental Health First Aid training, purchase of a defibrillator and training in how to use it.  
  • Obtain minor equipment/assets that support the delivery of activities and programming focusing on social connection and/or physical activity within community facilities.

Availability

Applications for Community Grants can be up to $5,000.  

Grants are now closed.

 

Eligibility

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for Community Grant funding, applicants are required to: 

  • Be a not for profit or incorporated body with an ABN or be auspiced by a not for profit or incorporated body with an ABN and able to provide documentation demonstrating the auspice agreement.  

  • Be based in, or demonstrate their project has a direct benefit to the residents of, Northern Grampians Shire. 

  • Be able to demonstrate financial viability and competence. 

  • Not already receiving substantial support from council. 

  • Be able to demonstrate compliance with council’s regulatory requirements.  

  • Provide evidence of Liability Insurance. Events, activities, or construction that have a likelihood of causing damage or personal injury must have public liability insurance (of at least $20 million). Other amounts will be considered where there is no likelihood of damage or injury. 

Applicants will not be eligible if:
  • Organisations or groups are based outside the Northern Grampians Shire, unless the project can be proven to still have benefit to residents of Northern Grampians Shire.  

  • Applicants have already received substantial grants funding within the same financial year. 

  • Applicants are an individual applying for funds.  

  • Funds are contributing towards operating costs e.g., wages/utilities 

  • The funding is clearly the responsibility of spheres of other Government i.e., Department of Health & Human Services or Department of Education. 

  • Projects duplicate other locally available services or resources.  

  • The project or initiative has commenced prior to the date on which the funds are released.  

  • Applications are for ongoing or recurrent funding. 

  • Previous funding received from council has not been acquitted satisfactorily. 

Resources

Writing a grant application can be daunting. This section provides a range of documents and information that will assist you with the grant writing process.  

Helpful hints for grant writing(PDF, 225KB)

Community Grants Auspice agreement.pdf(PDF, 148KB)

Community Grants Auspice agreement word.doc(DOCX, 114KB)

Project plan template(PDF, 126KB)

Apply

Application Form

Before submitting your Community Grant application, it is helpful if you:

  1. Check that you meet the eligibility criteria.
  2. Speak to a member of the council's Community Development Team to ensure you are applying for the most suitable grant.
  3. Read the program guidelines to understand the application process and your obligations. 
  4. Read through the 2022/23 Community Grant application form preview

     

If you are ready to apply, please fill out the 2022/2023 Community Grant application form.

-----> Please note that grant applications are not being accepted at this time. 

Acquittal

Acquittal 

The appropriate acquittal form will be available in your Smarty Grants account once you have received your funds. The form is due one month after the specified completion date detailed in your application form.