Apply for Community Grants

Up to $10,000.  Three grant streams are available to cater for a variety of projects - Arts & Heritage, Festivals & Events and Community Development.  The maximum grant amount available in each category is $10,000

Council is committed to promoting child safety and ensuring compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards. As a Child Safe organisation, Council requires projects or programs which involve direct or incidental contact with children to have appropriate measures in place.

Applicants will be stepped through what’s required as part of the online application process.

Applicants are expected to provide a budget aligned with outcomes for the project duration. Budgets need to demonstrate considered planning, be realistic and justifiable for the proposed application.

Yes, for all individual expense items which exceed $500.00

Whilst not mandatory, co-contributions (including cash or in-kind) will be considered favourably. Full and confirmed details of any co-contributions must be outlined in your application.

Examples of other contributions may include you as the applicant; individuals contributing skills or time; state government funding; not for profit organisations; or local business sponsorship.

It is Council's expectation that grants are used only for the approved project and not to contribute to the grantee’s general overheads, administration or other indirect costs. However, Council also recognises that some indirect, overhead and administrative costs may be directly attributable to the project or activities being funded. In such cases, consideration will be made to fund these expenses to a reasonable level. 

Decisions will be made on a case by case basis.

For all application enquiries please call the Community Partnerships Team on 1300 368 333 or your designated Council contact. 

Alternatively you can email grants@yarraranges.vic.gov.au  (Please include your application reference number in the email subject heading)

Support letters are well regarded and helpful. Ensure letters are relevant to the application and support your case for funding.

A community group that is not incorporated must have their application ‘auspiced’ by an incorporated organisation. The auspicing body is legally responsible for the funds and enters into the Funding Agreement with Council.

Please note that information on the auspicing body will need to be provided in the application, including their ABN, financial report and contact details. Grant applicants can allocate a small auspicing fee as part of the application.

Read more about auspicing arrangements.

View an example of a Memorandum of Understanding between Auspice Organisation and Applicant document.

You will receive an automated email acknowledging your application has been lodged.  All applications undergo a pre-assessment eligibility check by a Council officer before being assessed by an independent panel of relevant Council staff and community representatives.

Panel members review applications before putting forward recommendations to Council for approval.

No. The application process is competitive and it is anticipated that requests for funding will exceed the funding available. Successful applications will be those which best meet the grant program objectives and can demonstrate community benefit, impact and strategic value, and capacity to deliver the project in response to the selection criteria.

No. Successful applicants are not guaranteed to receive the full amount of funding requested. Council reserves the right to recommend grant amounts which may differ from the amount requested.

Up to 12 months. The Grants for Community program covers the calendar year, 1 January – 31 December.  

No. Due to the high volume of interest late applications cannot be accepted.

Generally, the process of evaluation, assessment and approval takes approximately 3 months from the funding round closing date. Funding announcements are usually made in November. 

Incorporated not-for-profit organisations or community based groups/individuals that have no outstanding debts or acquittals with Council.

No, however project outcomes must benefit the Yarra Ranges community. 

It is possible to vary your project, but this must be discussed with the appropriate Council officer as soon as possible.

Yes. If your group has a new or developed project that fits the selection criteria, it will be assessed.

If you are seeking to fund a recurrent Festival or Event, your application will be again assessed on its merit in conjunction with all other applications.

You MUST have also completed an acquittal report for your previous grant.  Any future grants application will NOT be considered if the acquittal report has not been completed.

Specialist equipment may be purchased as part of a broader project. Outcomes must provide broad, ongoing, community benefit.

This should be clearly communicated to your designated Council officer as soon as possible. If you are facing challenges or difficulties in implementing your project get in touch and we will support where we can.

Yes, an opportunity for feedback exists and will be offered as part of the unsuccessful notification process. 

No. Infrastructure based projects are not eligible.  Council's Capital Development Grant may be able to provide support for specific capital projects related to recreation.  For further information, please contact the Recreation and Active Living Team by calling 1300 368 333. Find out more about capital development grants