Deadline: 18-Aug-2025
The Mildura Rural City Council’s Community Grant Program offers opportunities for not-for-profit community groups to deliver innovative local projects and programs. These initiatives support the Council’s vision of making the area the most liveable and people-friendly community in Australia.
The program aims to facilitate and support initiatives that strengthen the community through participation, development, arts, inclusion, environment, and sustainability. It supports areas such as health and wellbeing, community support, spirit, arts, history, culture, environment, and equity. The program also assists the Council in delivering identified objectives, priorities, and strategies aligned with the Council Plan.
Priority areas include supporting a cooler, greener environment, reducing waste and increasing recycling, and promoting renewable energy. It encourages revegetation projects and managing pests to protect biodiversity. The program seeks to increase community education on environmental issues like climate change.
Other priorities are reducing barriers to active community participation, creating connections and belonging, supporting children’s early development, and promoting safety. The program also supports diverse community and recreation services, vibrant arts and culture, community relief and recovery, gender equality to prevent family violence, community festivities, and reconciliation.
Grant funding is available in two categories: large grants ranging from $6,001 to $10,000, and small grants up to $6,000, both with a 12-month funding agreement.
Eligible applicants include legal, not-for-profit incorporated community groups or those auspiced by such groups, registered charities, public benevolent institutions, or those with Deductible Gift Recipient status. State government entities seeking funding beyond their usual responsibilities may also apply, including schools for non-infrastructure projects. Unincorporated groups can apply if auspiced by an eligible incorporated organization. Individual artists or arts-related businesses operating under an active sole-trader ABN are also eligible.
Projects are ineligible if they require recurring Council funding or are recurring programs, events, or activities. Those that charge fees without subsidies or are profit-generating will not be funded. Projects fully fundable by other sources, or those by organizations with significant infrastructure unless unique and meeting high community need, are excluded. Projects that fall under other government responsibilities or involve cost shifting are not eligible.
Other exclusions include projects funded by another Council grant program, management or administrative support costs, salary contributions, operational expenses unrelated to the project, general computer equipment, replacement of consumables or equipment, politically motivated projects, or religious purposes unless broadly beneficial. Funding will not be provided to individuals, commercial enterprises, government entities, or projects aimed at commercial manufacturing without broader community benefit.
Campaigns supporting gambling, alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, and funding for travel, study, conferences, or feasibility studies are also excluded. Applicants who have not properly acquitted previous grants or propose projects replicating existing community services (unless complementary or expanding existing services) will not be considered. Projects starting before funding is announced and costs related to grant application preparation or quote sourcing are ineligible. Finally, projects on private property are not funded.
For more information, visit MRCC.
