The state government of Victoria offers various grants for community groups to support projects and activities that benefit local communities. These grants aim to empower community organizations to deliver positive change and address local needs. There are grants available for different purposes, such as infrastructure and equipment, skills development, events and celebrations, improving accessibility and inclusion, and more.
Who can apply for the community grants in Victoria?
The grants are open to not-for-profit community organizations based in Victoria. This includes:
- Incorporated associations
- Cooperatives
- Voluntary committees of management
- Social enterprises
- Charitable and benevolent organizations
- Universities (for community projects only)
- Municipal councils (for community projects only)
Individuals are not eligible to apply. The organization must have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or be willing to provide a Statement by Supplier form.
What types of projects are eligible for funding?
The grants support a wide variety of community-based projects. Some examples of eligible projects include:
- Upgrading community facilities such as halls, libraries, parks, gardens, and creative spaces.
- Improving accessibility of community venues and activities.
- Providing training, upskilling and employment pathways for disadvantaged community members.
- Delivering health promotion and disease prevention programs.
- Celebrating diversity and promoting inclusion.
- Purchasing equipment to support delivery of community services and programs.
- Hosting community events, festivals, and activities.
- Digital infrastructure for community organizations.
- Sustainability initiatives such as community gardens, renewable energy, recycling, etc.
The projects should demonstrate wider community benefits beyond the applicant organization. They should aim to address local needs, build stronger communities, improve participation, and create opportunities for disadvantaged Victorians.
What are the available grant programs?
There are several recurring community grant programs offered by the Victorian Government. Key programs include:
Community Infrastructure and Cultural Precincts Fund
Supports improvement, renovation and development of community facilities, creative spaces and cultural precincts. Grant amount: $10,000 to $300,000.
Community Safety Infrastructure Grant
Funds security infrastructure for local community spaces and buildings. Grant amount: $10,000 to $250,000.
Living Libraries Infrastructure Fund
Upgrades public libraries to provide innovative community infrastructure. Grant amount: $10,000 to $200,000.
World Game Facilities Fund
Develops facilities for football, cricket and other world games. Grant amount: $100,000 to $500,000.
Community Sports Infrastructure Fund
Improves community sport facilities like lighting, surfaces, change rooms. Grant amount: $100,000 to $500,000.
Inclusive Sports Fund
Makes regional sport and recreation facilities more inclusive for people with disabilities. Grant amount: $100,000 to $300,000.
Multicultural Festivals and Events Grant
Supports cultural festivals, events and activities that promote diversity. Grant amount: $5,000 to $40,000.
Creating Liveable Communities Program
Funds projects that improve public spaces and amenity. Grant amount: $50,000 to $300,000.
There are also one-off and periodic special grants announced by the government for various community initiatives.
What are the key dates and timelines?
Most of the community grant programs invite applications once a year. The typical timeline is:
- Grant announcement: Programs are announced via state government websites, publications and community networks.
- Applications open: Organizations can submit grant applications once the round has opened. This is usually in the first half of the calendar year.
- Applications close: Closing dates are specified in the grant guidelines, usually around 8-12 weeks from opening date.
- Assessment: Applications are assessed against specified criteria by departmental review panels.
- Announcement of outcomes: Successful applicants are notified, usually in the second half of the year.
- Funding period: 12 months from the date of grant payment.
- Project completion: Activities to be completed by the scheduled end date.
- Reporting: Grantees must submit project and financial reports at completion.
Organizations should plan proposal development and submission well in advance of closing dates. It is advisable to consult the grant guidelines as soon as they are published to commence preparations.
What are the eligibility and assessment criteria?
Organizations must meet standard eligibility criteria to qualify for community grants. This includes:
- Being a not-for-profit legal entity based in Victoria.
- Holding an ABN and being registered for GST if required.
- Proposing a project that aligns with grant objectives and meets community needs.
- Having satisfactory financial management procedures.
- Obtaining all appropriate approvals, permits and licenses.
- Having appropriate insurance for project activities.
Assessment criteria focus on project merits and organizational capability. Typical criteria include:
- Community need: How well the project addresses a demonstrated community need or gap in local provision.
- Project plan: Feasibility of the proposal plan including activities, timeframes and budget.
- Community engagement: Level of community input and partnerships in project design and delivery.
- Access and inclusion: Strategies to maximize participation from diverse community members.
- Outcomes and impact: The scale and significance of expected project benefits.
- Capability: Relevant experience, skills and capacity of the organization to deliver the project.
- Financial viability: How project costs are appropriately budgeted and co-funding/in-kind contributions are leveraged.
- Sustainability: Strategies for ongoing viability of the project after grant funding.
Applications are assessed competitively against these criteria. Only projects demonstrating strong community impacts and organizational abilities are approved for grants.
How much funding is available for community organizations?
The total funding pool varies across different grant programs. Some examples of recently available funding amounts are:
| Grant program | Funds available |
|---|---|
| Community Infrastructure and Cultural Precincts Fund | $30 million |
| Community Safety Infrastructure Grant | $10 million |
| Living Libraries Infrastructure Fund | $8 million |
| World Game Facilities Fund | $15 million |
| Community Sports Infrastructure Fund | $10 million |
| Inclusive Sports Fund | $10 million |
| Multicultural Festivals and Events Grant | $4 million |
The government allocates a certain amount of funding towards community development grants in its annual budget. The total pool is distributed across various programs catering to different project types. Organizations should check available funding for specific programs when applications open.
What is the application and approval process?
Organizations interested in the community grants program generally follow these steps:
- Identify suitable grant program: Explore which grant aligns with the organization’s project concept based on purpose, criteria and funding levels.
- Review guidelines: Read the program guidelines and fact sheets in detail to understand requirements and eligibility.
- Discuss project proposal: Develop a project plan and work with stakeholders to refine activities and budget.
- Prepare application: Address all required sections and criteria in the application form/template.
- Attach relevant documents: Include necessary attachments like quotes, financials, permits, plans etc.
- Submit application: Lodge the complete application package before the closing date.
- Assessment process: Proposals are evaluated by the grant review panel based on merit.
- Outcome notification: Applicants are informed about success or rejection after assessment.
- Funding agreement: Successful applicants sign a contract accepting terms and conditions.
- Receive grant payment: Upfront funding is released for the project as per agreement schedules.
- Deliver project: Organization implements project activities within designated timeframes.
- Acquittal and reporting: Provide progress and financial reports to acquit the grant.
Detailed grant guidelines provide information about specific requirements for the application and approval process. Sufficient preparation and planning is necessary to submit a competitive and compliant application.
What are some useful resources for community grants?
Some useful resources for organizations considering Victorian community grants are:
- Grant Programs page: Consolidated information about different community programs on the Victorian Government website.
- GrantConnect: Federal grants database that also lists some Victorian Government grants.
- Our Community: Provides grant writing resources and updates through its funding centre.
- Grant Guru: Subscription service providing alerts and grant writing tools.
- Council Community Development Teams: Local councils often have staff to assist community groups with grant queries.
- Grant writing workshops: Free or low-cost workshops run by NGOs and networks.
- Peer organizations: Connecting with similar organizations who have successfully applied.
Doing thorough research using these resources can increase an organization’s chances of preparing a strong, compliant grant application.
What are some tips for writing a successful grant application?
Some useful tips for developing a compelling community grant application include:
- Clearly articulate project rationale by demonstrating how it addresses community priorities and needs.
- Engage stakeholders like partners, beneficiaries and community leaders to shape project direction.
- Set measurable targets for participation, activities and project outcomes.
- Back claims with evidence like data, quotes, letters of support or past activities.
- Develop a logical and detailed activity plan with realistic timeframes.
- Show value for money through appropriate budgeting and justification of costs.
- Highlight organization’s experience, skills and networks relevant to delivery.
- Outline strategies for inclusion, access and diversity specific to target participants.
- Propose practical approaches to ensure sustainability beyond the grant term.
- Check and double check compliance with all grant guidelines and requirements.
Investing sufficient time in planning, research, writing and review helps craft a compelling application aligned to evaluation criteria.
What are common mistakes to avoid when applying?
Some key mistakes that community groups should avoid when applying for grants include:
- Missing the application deadline due to delays in preparation.
- Basing the proposal on unsound assumptions or inadequate community input.
- Submitting proposals that are not aligned with grant objectives and criteria.
- Unclear or unrealistic activities, timeframes or budgets.
- Focusing too much on organizational needs rather than community benefits.
- Failing to demonstrate need for the grant funding.
- Neglecting to get appropriate permissions, licenses or insurance.
- Copying applications without tailoring to the specific grant.
- Submitting an incomplete application with missing attachments.
- Not reviewing the draft application for errors and improvements.
Avoiding these common missteps and developing proposals strategically based on grant requirements improves the chance of success.
Conclusion
The community grants program provides vital support for local organizations to undertake projects and activities for the benefit of Victorians. There are diverse grant streams available to fund priorities ranging from events and festivals to infrastructure and services. Interested not-for-profits should actively monitor state government announcements, discuss project proposals with stakeholders, and prepare high quality submissions addressing all grant criteria. Investing time to plan and write successful applications is key to accessing these important funds for community development.