Community Development Grant Program (Australia)

Deadline: 28-Jul-2025

The Northern Beaches Council is excited to announce its Community Development Grant Program to support projects and initiatives that focus on improving equality in the local area and reducing disadvantage and deliver direct benefit to local people, communities and the environment of the Northern Beaches Local Government Area.

Purpose

The Community Development Grants Program builds the capacity of local groups and organisations to make the Northern Beaches more safe, inclusive and connected.

Priorities

Small Grants:
- One-off projects that enable small community groups to:
  - pilot new initiatives or help establish new groups
  - increase the sustainability of existing initiatives or groups
Community Development Grants:
- Projects that increase safety and/or inclusion for the following priority populations:
  - young people
  - older people
  - people from diverse backgrounds
  - people experiencing mental ill-health
  - people who are socially isolated

Funding Information

The total pool of funding is $120,000 shared between the following two grant categories:
- Small Grants: up to $5,000
- Community Development Grants: up to $10,000

Expected Outcomes

Small Grants:
- Supports groups or projects that contribute to one or more of the following project outcomes:
  - increased community safety and inclusion
  - increased social connections and participation in community life
  - improved access to information, services, programs and facilities
  - increased community capacity to care for self and others.
Community Development Grants:
- Projects should achieve one or more of the following project outcomes:
  - increased skills/knowledge
  - improved access to community information, services, programs, facilities
  - increased participation in community life
  - increased sense of safety and support

Eligibility Criteria

Small Grants:
- Community groups and unincorporated associations that are not-for-profit, are predominantly run by volunteers and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches Local Government Area. Or
- Incorporated entities that are not-for-profit, are predominantly run by volunteers and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches Local Government Area; and have an annual revenue (for example, revenue from donations) of $500,000 or less
Community Development Grants:
- Incorporated entities that are not-for-profit and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches Local Government Area.

Ineligibility Criteria

Ineligible applicants include:
- State or Federal Government organisations
- political parties or projects supporting political parties or agendas
- individuals
- for-profit organisations.

Assessment Criteria

Clear project purpose and evidence of local community need.
Describes what the project is and how it will be delivered in alignment with funding priorities.
Describes how the project contributes to one or more program outcomes.
Value for money with a detailed budget showing how funding will be used.
Demonstrates organisational capacity to deliver the project.

Application Requirements

Applicants will be asked to provide the following documentation with their online application:
- A copy of public liability insurance or quote for public liability insurance which would cover the proposed project to the value of $10 million.
- Quotes for expenses of $2,000 or more. For internal costs, such as staff time, clearly explain your assumptions (e.g., “staff hours x hourly rate”).
- Child protection policy (if the proposed project involves children or young people under 18 years of age).

For more information, visit Northern Beaches Council.