Australia: Community Grants Program

Deadline: 20-Mar-23

The Latrobe City Council is seeking applications for its Community Grants Program to support participation and facilitate projects, events and improve facilities to assist the addressing of the recreational, social and cultural needs of the Latrobe Valley community, contributing to the overall development of the municipality.

Latrobe City Council has a proud history of working in partnership with the community to meet local needs. One of the ways Latrobe City Council supports community groups is through the Community Grants program, which delivers funding for projects that:

• Reflect their community’s priorities and vision as set out in Council and Community Plans;
• Strengthen communities and provide opportunities for enhanced participation in public life and community groups;
• Provide benefits to the local community;
• Improve accessibility or inclusion for minority groups (including cultural, disability or LGBTQI);
• Provide health, wellbeing and safety to the community; and
• Contribute to the social, cultural, environmental and economic development of their community.

Types of Grants

• Minor Capital Works Grant
• Minor Equipment Grant
• Community Wellbeing Grant
• Community Events – Minor
• Community Events – Significant

Funding Information

• Minor Capital Works Grant
  • Examples of projects: Upgrades to lighting at sporting grounds, renovation of shelters, refurbishment of facilities, electrical upgrades, fixed equipment etc
  • Maximum grant amount: $7,000
• Minor Equipment Grant
  • Examples of projects:  Sporting equipment, furniture to fit out building, portable seating, defibrillator, Community Christmas decorations, IT infrastructure and communication software etc
  • Maximum grant amount: $2,000
• Community Wellbeing Grant
  • Examples of projects: Group outings, programs offered to the wider community, bulletin and newsletter production etc
  • Maximum grant amount: $2,000
• Community Events – Minor
  • Examples of projects: Smaller community events which encourage participation from the wider community and events that wish to develop an existing event.
  • Maximum grant amount: $5,000
• Community Events – Significant
  • Examples of projects: Larger community based carnivals, festivals and cultural events. Events that provide an economic return to Council.
  • Maximum grant amount: One off seed funding of $10,000 (subject to annual application)
  • Triennial Funding: $10,000
    • Funding is available for a three-year period:
      • Year 1: $10,000
      • Year 2: $10,000
      • Year 3: $10,000

What will not be funded?

• General maintenance expenses. This includes the ongoing care of an existing asset E.g. painting, new roof, fence repairs etc
• Sponsorship signage and sponsorship agreements;
• Requests for the purpose of raising funds for other groups. Including fundraising projects with the primary purpose of fund raising for other organisations or individuals;
• Funding for trophies, awards, scholarships, subscriptions, prizes, and honorariums;
• Projects that deliver a religious or party political message where the purpose is to advance the organisation’s religious beliefs, irrespective of what those beliefs or positions might be; Projects or events at venues where there are gaming machines, gambling and betting; unless there is no appropriate alternative venue and the applicant has considered the potential impact to participants;
• Purchase of alcoholic beverages.
• Retrospective costs. This includes reimbursement of costs already incurred and funding for projects which have already taken place or began prior to the application being approved by Council;
• Payment of debts or loans;
• General operating expenses – funding will not cover expenses such as electricity, lease or rent payments, telephone, wages, salaries, project management costs etc. that are ongoing organisational expenses;
• Projects that are only designed for group members to attend and are not designed for the broader community;
• The purchase of land;
• Repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where the incident should reasonably be expected to be covered by insurance; and
• Applications for projects that engage in activities which promote discrimination, violence or antisocial behaviour.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible to apply, applicants must:
  • Be a not-for-profit, properly constituted legal entity or be auspiced by such a body which is able, and willing, to accept legal and financial responsibility for the project;
  • Be free of debt to Latrobe City Council and have no outstanding Acquittals from previous Latrobe City Council grant applications;
  • Hold appropriate public liability insurance; and
  • Be based within the municipality of Latrobe City or provide services or benefits primarily to the Latrobe City Community.
• To be eligible for Triennial Grants funding, applicants must demonstrate:
  • The sustainability of the event by providing a three year budget. Successful grant recipients are expected to be financially self-sufficient by the end of year three.
  • The Economic benefit the event will provide to Latrobe City.
  • The Community Capacity – Applicants must indicate the number of attendees expected at the event. To be eligible for triennial funding, the number of attendees must be over 2,000.
  • Applicants must demonstrate their capacity to deliver a long term event. (3+ years)

For more information, visit Latrobe City Council.