Deadline: 09-Jul-2026
The Event Grants and Sponsorship Program supports innovative community events that promote participation, celebrate local culture, and strengthen community life on the Northern Beaches. The program funds both new and existing events that contribute to a vibrant local calendar, support social inclusion, encourage sustainability, and create economic, cultural, and community benefits.
General event funding is typically capped at $10,000, with average grants around $4,000. Larger grants of up to $50,000 may be available for major events that demonstrate strong economic, social, stakeholder, and community impact.
What is the Event Grants and Sponsorship Program?
The Event Grants and Sponsorship Program is designed to support community events on the Northern Beaches.
The program funds events that encourage local participation, celebrate culture, improve community wellbeing, and contribute to active villages and town centres.
It supports both new and existing events that add value to the local event calendar and create meaningful benefits for residents, visitors, local organisations, and businesses.
Main Purpose of the Program
The main purpose of the program is to strengthen community engagement through inclusive and innovative events.
The program aims to support events that bring people together, celebrate local culture, encourage participation, and create positive social, cultural, environmental, and economic outcomes.
It also helps local organisations build capacity and deliver events that can become more financially sustainable over time.
Focus Areas and Priorities
The program focuses on community participation, local culture, sustainability, and social connection.
Key focus areas include:
- Community participation
- Cultural and social events
- Environmental sustainability
- Community wellbeing
- Social inclusion
- Vibrant local economy
- Cultural development
- Event innovation
- Capacity building for local organisations
- Sustainable event delivery
- Responsible resource management
- Community belonging
- Social cohesion
- Local creative communities
- Events for all stages of life
Key Concepts Explained
Community Events
Community events are activities that bring people together and create shared local experiences.
These may include cultural events, festivals, performances, workshops, celebrations, public activities, community gatherings, local markets, creative events, or wellbeing-focused activities.
Event Sponsorship
Event sponsorship refers to financial or in-kind support provided to help deliver an event that aligns with Council priorities.
The support is intended to help events achieve public benefit, increase participation, and contribute to local cultural, social, environmental, or economic goals.
Sustainable Event Delivery
Sustainable event delivery means planning and running events in a way that reduces environmental impact.
This may include waste reduction, responsible resource use, sustainable transport options, reusable materials, energy efficiency, and environmentally conscious event design.
Social Inclusion
Social inclusion means ensuring that events are accessible, welcoming, and relevant to diverse community groups.
This includes people of different ages, cultures, abilities, backgrounds, and life stages.
Financial Sustainability
Financial sustainability means that an event becomes less dependent on grant funding over time.
The program encourages applicants to show how their event can develop future income, partnerships, sponsorships, ticketing, donations, or other support.
Funding Amount
Funding can be requested in different amounts depending on the event’s scale, purpose, and justification.
General event funding is typically capped at $10,000.
Average grants are around $4,000.
Higher funding of up to $50,000 may be available for large-scale events that demonstrate significant economic, social, stakeholder, and community impact.
Applicants should request a realistic amount based on the event budget, expected outcomes, and level of public benefit.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants may include organisations, individuals, businesses, and community groups that meet the program’s requirements.
Eligible applicants may include:
- Incorporated organisations
- Individuals with an ABN
- Businesses with an ABN
- Community groups supported by an eligible sponsor
- Community groups applying through an auspice arrangement
- Local organisations delivering public-benefit events
Applicants must demonstrate proper registration or entity verification.
Applicants must also meet Council’s eligibility, financial accountability, and grant compliance requirements.
Who May Need an Auspice or Sponsor?
Some community groups may not have the legal or financial structure required to apply directly.
In these cases, they may apply with support from an eligible sponsor or auspice organisation.
An auspice organisation usually receives and manages the grant on behalf of the group and helps ensure accountability, reporting, and compliance.
What Types of Events Can Be Supported?
The program supports events that provide clear community benefit and align with Council priorities.
Eligible events may include:
- Cultural events
- Social events
- Community festivals
- Local celebrations
- Creative and arts-based events
- Events that promote wellbeing
- Events that encourage social inclusion
- Events that support village and town centre activation
- Environmentally sustainable events
- Events that build local organisational capacity
- Large-scale events with strong economic and community impact
Strategic Priorities
The program is guided by strategic priorities that support a stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable Northern Beaches community.
Strategic priorities include:
- Environmental sustainability
- Community belonging
- Vibrant local economy
- Cultural development
- Social cohesion
- Sustainability leadership
- Inclusive participation
- Responsible resource management
- Opportunities for cultural and social life
Events should clearly explain how they contribute to one or more of these priorities.
What Council Looks For
Council supports events that are innovative, well-planned, inclusive, and aligned with community needs.
Strong applications should demonstrate:
- Clear community benefit
- Strong event planning
- Realistic budget
- Financial accountability
- Alignment with Council priorities
- Inclusive participation
- Environmental responsibility
- Capacity to deliver the event
- Positive cultural, social, or economic outcomes
- Pathway toward financial sustainability
How the Program Works
Applicants submit event proposals for funding or sponsorship support.
The proposal should explain the event concept, target audience, location, expected attendance, community benefits, sustainability measures, budget, and delivery plan.
Council assesses applications based on eligibility, strategic alignment, expected impact, financial accountability, and the applicant’s ability to deliver the event.
Funding is unlikely to cover full event costs unless the applicant shows a clear pathway to long-term independence and financial sustainability.
How to Apply
Applicants should first confirm that they are eligible to apply.
They should then prepare a detailed event proposal that explains the event purpose, community need, target participants, expected outcomes, and alignment with Council priorities.
The application should also include a clear budget showing total event costs, requested funding, other income sources, sponsorships, in-kind support, and any plans for future financial sustainability.
Applicants must ensure they have no outstanding debts or unresolved grant obligations with Council.
Previous grant recipients must have fully acquitted earlier funding before applying again.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that the applicant is an eligible organisation, individual, business, or auspiced community group.
- Check that the applicant has an ABN, incorporation status, or eligible auspice arrangement where required.
- Define the event concept, purpose, location, date, and target audience.
- Explain how the event promotes participation, culture, wellbeing, inclusion, sustainability, or local economic activity.
- Prepare a detailed event plan covering activities, logistics, staffing, risk management, and delivery capacity.
- Prepare a realistic budget showing the total cost of the event and the amount requested.
- Identify other income sources, sponsorships, partnerships, ticket sales, or in-kind contributions.
- Explain how the event will reduce environmental impact and manage resources responsibly.
- Demonstrate how the event will become more financially sustainable over time.
- Confirm that there are no outstanding Council debts, unresolved grant obligations, or incomplete acquittals.
- Submit the application through the official Council process.
Why It Matters
Community events help create active, inclusive, and connected local places.
They support cultural expression, social interaction, local pride, community wellbeing, and economic activity.
On the Northern Beaches, events can strengthen villages and town centres by attracting visitors, supporting local businesses, and giving residents more opportunities to participate in cultural and social life.
The program matters because it helps local organisations test new ideas, build event delivery capacity, and create sustainable events that benefit the wider community.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid submitting event ideas that do not show clear community benefit.
Applications should not rely entirely on Council funding unless there is a strong justification and a clear path toward future sustainability.
Applicants should avoid vague budgets or missing financial details.
Events should not ignore environmental sustainability, accessibility, inclusion, or responsible resource management.
Applicants with outstanding Council debts, unresolved grant obligations, or incomplete acquittals should resolve these issues before applying.
Community groups that are not eligible to apply directly should not apply without an eligible sponsor or auspice arrangement.
Tips for Strong Applications
A strong application should clearly explain why the event is needed and who will benefit.
Applicants should show how the event supports community participation, cultural life, social inclusion, wellbeing, or the local economy.
The proposal should include a realistic event plan and budget.
Applicants should explain how the event will be delivered safely, sustainably, and responsibly.
Large-scale event applications should demonstrate strong stakeholder support, economic value, social impact, and long-term viability.
Applicants should also show how the event can reduce reliance on grant funding over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Event Grants and Sponsorship Program?
The Event Grants and Sponsorship Program supports community events on the Northern Beaches that promote participation, celebrate local culture, strengthen social connection, and contribute to a vibrant local event calendar.
2. What types of events are supported?
The program supports new and existing events, including cultural, social, creative, community, wellbeing, sustainability, and local economy-focused events.
3. How much funding can applicants request?
General event funding is typically capped at $10,000, with average grants around $4,000. Large-scale events with significant economic, social, and stakeholder impact may be eligible for up to $50,000.
4. Who can apply?
Eligible applicants may include incorporated entities, individuals or businesses with an ABN, and community groups supported by an eligible sponsor or auspice.
5. What must applicants demonstrate?
Applicants must demonstrate community benefit, financial accountability, eligibility compliance, proper registration or entity verification, and alignment with Council priorities.
6. Can previous grant recipients apply again?
Yes, previous grant recipients may apply again if they have properly acquitted all previous funding and have no unresolved grant obligations with Council.
7. Will the program cover all event costs?
Funding is unlikely to cover full event costs unless the applicant provides a clear justification and demonstrates a pathway to long-term financial sustainability.
Conclusion
The Event Grants and Sponsorship Program supports innovative and inclusive community events that strengthen culture, participation, wellbeing, sustainability, and local economic activity on the Northern Beaches.
The program provides flexible funding for new and existing events, with general grants typically capped at $10,000 and higher support available for large-scale events with strong impact.
Applicants should present a clear event concept, strong community benefits, realistic budget, sustainability measures, and a plan for long-term financial independence.
For more information, visit Northern Beaches Council.
