Deadline: 12-May-25
The City of Boroondara’s Annual Community Strengthening Grants Program provides funding to community organisations, groups and clubs for projects and activities that strengthen the community by encouraging participation in community life, addressing community needs, and improving the health and wellbeing of Boroondara residents.
Objectives
- The objectives of the Community Strengthening Grants are to:
- increase participation of residents in their community
- increase inclusion and representation of under-represented groups and issues
- develop innovative approaches to local issues
- assist groups and volunteers to develop skills and build capacity
- encourage the sustainability and better governance of community organisations
- encourage partnerships between local organisations and the development of local community networks.
Boroondara Community Plan
- There are seven key themes in the Boroondara Community Plan (BCP). The objectives of the Community Strengthening Grants Program align most closely with:
- Theme One: Community, services & facilities
- Theme Three: The environment
- Theme Six: Local economy
Grant Streams
- Not-for-profit community organisations and groups can apply for grants under 6 streams:
- Active Community – Sports and Recreation
- This stream is for recreation, sport and physical activity opportunities that meet the needs of the community (now and in the future) and enhance the functionality of public recreation spaces for a wide range of uses.
- Objectives:
- provide new, and innovative and/or equitable opportunities for local sport, physical activity and social connection
- enhance participation in both structured (e.g. team sports) and non-structured (e.g. walking and cycling) sport and recreation opportunities for a diverse range of resident’s participants e.g. females, LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse, older adults, people with disability etc.
- encourage clubs to be self-sustainable (e.g. specialist coaching clinics, club development programs, leadership training, sustainable sport club ideas, club governance or administration skills).
- Life-long Community – Opportunities for Over 55s
- This stream supports older people (aged 55 years and over) to develop opportunities that maximise quality of life, social connections, and the ability to participate and engage in the community through the provision of programs, activities, volunteering and community sharing projects.
- Objectives:
- enhance older peoples’ health, wellbeing and participation in the community
- improve older peoples’ access and mobility around the community
- enhance social cohesion, promote strong community networks of mutual support and reduce social isolation.
- Creative Community – Arts and Culture
- This stream is for diverse arts and cultural programs, festivals, events and activities that enhance arts, culture and heritage practice across Boroondara.
- Objectives
- Support the development and delivery of artistic and cultural activities that:
- promote health, wellbeing, safety and/or a sense of community within Boroondara
- offer life-long learning opportunities for Boroondara’s diverse community
- develop community stakeholder relationships (including arts and cultural organisations), which promote a sense of civic-pride
- empower local community members and stakeholders to contribute to cultural experiences and occasions for, and with, the community
- engage the Boroondara community at Boroondara facilities, open spaces or public realm across the municipality
- introduce a new or emerging art form or cultural practice to the Boroondara community.
- Support the development and delivery of artistic and cultural activities that:
- Healthy Community – Health, Safety, and Wellbeing, Youth, Children and Families
- This stream is for projects and activities that promote safety, good health and wellbeing of individuals, families and community groups, across all ages, abilities, multicultural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
- Objectives
- promote health, wellbeing, community safety, and prevention of all forms of violence
- build connected and inclusive communities
- offer learning opportunities for Boroondara’s diverse community.
- Sustainable Community – Environmental Sustainability
- This stream is available for projects and programs that build community capacity to live sustainably and ensure the natural environment is healthy and sustainable for future generations through the efficient use of resources, reduction in waste and the protection of the local biodiversity.
- Objectives
- increase community awareness and understanding of environmental sustainability
- showcase the natural environment as healthy and sustainable for future generations
- build community capacity to live sustainably through efficient use of energy and water, resource recovery and/or reuse of materials, supporting biodiversity, and renewable energy generation
- support initiatives and projects that demonstrate diverse environmental sustainability benefits, including:
- sustainable resource use (e.g. efficient use of energy and water, resource recovery, and renewable energy generation)
- reduction of waste generated and disposed of in landfill
- biodiversity protection and enhancement
- healthy waterways
- sustainable transport (e.g. walking and cycling)
- local and sustainable food production and distribution.
- Vibrant Retail Precincts.
- This stream is available to eligible community organisations to deliver initiatives, projects and activities that increase the vibrancy and functionality of retail precincts, enhance a sense of community and pride, and promote a ‘buy local’ ethos. Applications under this stream must be developed in consultation with, and supported by, relevant trader association/s (if not led by a trader association).
- Objectives
- increase visitation showcasing the retail precinct
- increase spending in local business
- strengthen the connection between people, local community groups and retail precincts
- encourage participation in community life and enhance health and wellbeing
- activate spaces to create memorable and social experiences where people feel a sense of belonging
- showcase the skills and talents of the local business community
- promote and expand the local night-time economy
- Active Community – Sports and Recreation
Funding Information
- Up to $10,000 is available per project or activity, with a maximum of $2,000 available for equipment purchases, within a project or as a standalone grant.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for an Annual Community Strengthening Grant, your organisation must:
- be committed to providing direct benefits to residents of the City of Boroondara (local organisations are prioritised)
- be a not-for-profit organisation as classified by the Australian Tax Office in the Income Tax Assessment Act (1936)
- be a registered legally constituted entity (e.g. a co-operative, incorporated association or company limited by guarantee) or have an auspice (unless requesting less than $1,000)
- be either: an incorporated entity (eg a co-operative, incorporated association, company or company limited by guarantee); or
- auspiced by an incorporated third party, (unless requesting less than $1,000)
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN), or complete a Statement by Supplier form, or hold an exemption from registration
- have a committee of management that accepts responsibility for the administration of the grant
- hold an adequate public liability insurance policy to cover the staff, members and the general public, as appropriate
Ineligibility Criteria
- The following will not be funded:
- individuals and private profit-making organisations
- organisations or groups that:
- own or operate poker machines
- explicitly promote sports betting
- meet in venues that have gaming machines
- funding requests that are considered by Council to be the funding responsibility of other levels of government
- primary or secondary schools (Council encourages partnerships between schools and community organisations, but the community organisation must be the applicant)
For more information, visit City of Boroondara.