Hume City Council’s Community Grants Program

Deadline: 21-Jun-2024

The Hume City Council is pleased to announce the Community Grants to create a community that is resilient, inclusive and thriving, and shows the commitment to social justice, equity and civic engagement.

The Community Grants support:

Programs, activities and services that create opportunities for community participation and social connection
Programs, activities and services that celebrate and support the diverse cultures of Hume City
Groups to try new and innovative community programs and activities
Increased accessibility and inclusion for all
Community-led groups and volunteers

Grant Categories

Year-Round Grant
- Individual Development Grant
  - Grant Amount: Up to $750 (Open all Year)
  - Apply for this grant if you are a resident wanting support for skills development, professional development, networking and learning, and you will share what you learn with your Hume community.
  - Funding supports you with the costs to attend recognised opportunities that further your development. These opportunities must provide a clearly identified benefit to the Hume community.
  - Examples include:
    - Leadership and professional development opportunities that build the capabilities of the recipient to contribute to better community outcomes
    - Skills development and learning opportunities for people who volunteer with local community groups and are active in Hume’s community
    - Opportunities to participate in state, national and international forums that will bring new skills and knowledge to contribute to better health and wellbeing community outcomes
  - Grant amounts are as follows:
    - Victorian opportunities: $150
    - National opportunities: $400
    - International opportunities: $750
  - Eligibility
    - Applicants must:
      - Be a Hume resident
      - Apply at least two months prior to the date of your event or opportunity for which you seek funding
      - Demonstrate the need for this opportunity, and what benefit it will bring to the Hume community
      - Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
      - Have satisfactorily acquitted any previous funding received by Hume City Council
      - Applications for sporting events are ineligible but may be eligible for Council’s Sports Aid Grants
      - Please note:
        
        Applications are accepted throughout the year until funds are exhausted
        
        You will be notified of the outcome within 6 weeks of a fully completed application (one that includes all required supporting documents)
        
        You can only be funded only once per year
- Quick Response Grant
  - Grant Amount: Up To $1,000 (Open all Year)
  - Quick Response Grants support new community groups, and community groups with emerging or unexpected needs outside of the annual grant timelines.
  - They accept applications from:
    - Newly established community groups requiring support with start-up and establishment costs
    - Community groups with an urgent and unforeseen funding need that falls outside of the annual grants’ payment timeframes. You will need to explain why your application is urgent or unforeseen
    - Community groups that need defibrillators at public venues, that do not already have a machine in place
  - They do not fund past activities. Please apply at least six weeks before you need the funds.
  - They do not accept applications for activities that are ordinary operational costs, or costs that could (or should) have been planned for, as part of your ordinary activities.
  - Eligibility
    - Applicants must:
      - Be a not-for-profit community group or organisation
      - Explain the urgency of the need
      - Show they have minimal financial resources or a limited ability to fundraise for the activity or project identified in the application
      - Run the activity or project from a location within Hume and/or show that it will substantially benefit residents of Hume City
      - Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
      - Have satisfactorily acquitted previous funding received by Hume City Council
      - Be incorporated or auspiced
    - Please note:
      - Applications are accepted throughout the year until funds are exhausted
      - You will be notified of the outcome within 6 weeks of a fully completed application (one that includes all required supporting documents)
      - If you are a first-time applicant, you do not need to show proof of Public Liability Insurance when applying. If your grant is successful, you will need to supply a copy at time of contracting
      - End of Funding Reports are due within 3 months of funds being awarded, unless otherwise approved by Council
      - Successful applicants for Quick Response Grants are eligible to apply under any category in the Annual Grant Round
      - You can only be funded once per year
Annual Grant
Operational Grant
- Grant Amount: Up To $1,500 (Annual Grant)
- These grants support the day-to-day operational activities of community groups who help improve health, wellbeing and connection in the community.
- Examples include:
  - Incorporation fees
  - Insurance costs
  - Catering (small-scale ongoing catering, such as tea/coffee, not catering for one-off events)
  - Room hire fees
  - Small equipment purchases up to $1,500 (e.g. small sporting equipment for sporting clubs, kitchen equipment for social groups, gardening tools, musical equipment, laptops to support local groups, books and resources)
  - Volunteer registration costs
- Eligibility
  - Applicants must:
    - Be a not-for-profit community group or organisation
    - Meet in Hume City and/or show that the grant will benefit residents
    - Provide quotes for insurance, room hire, bus hire, equipment
    - Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
    - Have satisfactorily acquitted previous funding received by Hume City Council
    - Be incorporated or auspiced
Participation Grant
- Grant Amount: Up to $3,000 (Annual Grant)
- These grants support groups and organisations to run activities that encourage community participation and involvement, promote leadership and develop a strong sense of belonging. This includes health and wellbeing projects that improve and encourage active lifestyles.
- Examples:
  - Community forums and workshops focusing on community issues and priorities (e.g. social justice)
  - Community art project
  - Cultural events and festivals (e.g. NAIDOC Week, Reconciliation Week, Cultural Diversity Week, International Women’s Day)
  - Environmental sustainability projects
  - Youth projects, training and excursions
- A maximum of half the funding amount can be used for operational costs such as room and venue hire fees, insurance costs, catering, equipment related to the project etc.
- Eligibility
  - Applicants must:
    - Be a not-for-profit community group or organisation
    - Run the proposed activity or project from a location within Hume and/or show that it will benefit residents of Hume City
    - Be able to show that the applicant has minimal financial resources or a limited ability to fundraise for the activity or project
    - Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
    - Have satisfactorily acquitted any previous funding received by Hume City Council
    - Be incorporated or auspiced
Small Project Grant
- Grant Amount: Up to $5,000 (Open Twice a Year)
- Small Project Grants are designed to encourage new ideas, locally-led initiatives or projects and collaborations that provide benefit to the Hume community. Small Project Grants are not for day to day activities, and are only funded up to a 12-month period.
- Rounds are open:
  - Round 1: 13 May – 21 June 2024
  - Round 2: 3 February – 28 February 2025
- Applications should align closely with Hume City Council Plans, Strategies and Policies
- Small Project Grant proposals could include, but are not limited to:
  - Piloting a new service or program
  - Research to investigate an emerging need
  - Enhancing access to programs and information development
  - A feasibility study
  - A joint project between two community groups/organisations
  - Projects that raise awareness of harms caused by gambling
- Eligibility
  - Applicants must:
    - Be an incorporated not-for-profit community group or organisation
    - Discuss the proposal with the relevant Council Officer before applying. The Council Officer you have spoken to must be named in your application
    - Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
    - Have a proven project management ability
    - Run the activity or project from a location within Hume and/or show that it will benefit residents of Hume City
    - Have satisfactorily acquitted any previous funding received by Hume City Council
    - Demonstrate in kind or cash contribution that equates to half the value of the grant request. For example, if you ask for $5,000, you must show a contribution of at least $2,500 (cash or in-kind)
Large Project Grant
- Grant Amount: Up to $10,000 Per Year For 3 Years ($30,000 Total)
- Large Project Grants are for projects that clearly address a significant need and embrace the principles of social justice, healthy living, lifelong learning, environmental sustainability, community safety and inclusion.
- You can apply for a Large Project Grant if you are an established organisation with a proven record in the provision of quality programs and services. You must provide evidence of the need for the project and demonstrate your capacity to resource and deliver projects over multiple years.
- Applications must align closely with Hume City Council Plans, Strategies and Policies
- Proposals will:
  - Not duplicate an existing service
  - Give a detailed program budget and quotes
  - Be innovative and strengthen community wellbeing
  - Encourage inclusion and accessibility
  - Be of significant benefit and give valuable support to the Hume community
  - Be able to measure their impact
- Funding can be up to three years. To meet the funding criteria for subsequent years, applicants must provide both a mid-year and end of year report.
- Eligibility
  - Applicants must:
    - Be an incorporated not-for-profit community group or organisation.
    - Discuss your idea with the relevant Council Officer
    - Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
    - Demonstrate an ability to manage large scale projects
    - Run the activity or project from a location within Hume and/or show that it will substantially benefit residents of Hume City
    - Have satisfactorily acquitted any previous funding received by Hume City Council.
    - Give a detailed Project Plan
    - Demonstrate how the project will be made fully sustainable upon cessation of Council funding
    - Demonstrate in kind or cash contribution that equates to half the value of the grant request. For example, if you ask for $10,000, you must show a contribution of at least $10,000 (cash or in-kind)
Volunteer Engagement Project
- Grant Amount: Up to $10,000 (Annual Grant)
- The Volunteer Engagement Project Grant is for new and innovative services, programs, and projects that support local partnerships to help community organisations and groups to reengage, encourage and try volunteering.
- This grant provides funding to help increase volunteer participation and support community organisations/groups.
  - Engage volunteers. Projects may include ways to develop or enhance existing volunteer programs/committees, and projects that increase volunteering. e.g. training courses for volunteers, background screening checks, paying for volunteer insurance, or improving volunteer systems/ databases.
  - Diversify the volunteer base. This stream is for organisations who want to recruit more/new volunteers. Projects may include developing plans, resources and supports to reduce barriers to volunteering, and use a range of inclusive volunteer engagement practices to attract, recruit and support a diverse range of people. For example, engagement of a facilitator to develop or enhance volunteer marketing/recruitment plans.
  - Strengthen collaboration and partnership. Partnerships between organisations/groups, and services to build organisational capacity, community connections and pathways to volunteering. For example, showcasing how active engagement in partnership can assist organisations to attract, engage and support volunteers for a broad range of people.
- Eligibility
  - Applicants must:
    - Be an incorporated not-for-profit community group or organisation
    - Be able to immediately commence project activities
    - If you name another group/organisation or service, they must be aware of the application and provide a letter of support indicating their willingness to participate if the application is successful.
    - Include a monitoring and evaluation plan, and strategies on best volunteering practices
    - Be based in Hume and/or show that the grant will substantially benefit residents of Hume City
    - Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
    - Have satisfactorily acquitted any previous funding received by Hume City Council

What they fund?

First Nations People, Country and culture
Arts and culture
Community health, safety and wellbeing
Environmental sustainability
Families and children
Gambling harm awareness
Health promotion
Healthy ageing and seniors
Learning and skill development
Leisure and recreation
LGBTIQA+ inclusion
Multicultural groups
People with disabilities
Refugees and newly arrived migrants
Social inclusion
Sport and exercise
Young people (0-24 years)
Volunteering

What they won’t fund?

Alcohol licenses, tobacco, gambling related activities and activities at gambling venues
General fundraising and fundraising events, competitions, trophies, prizes or awards
Fixed/permanent equipment, building maintenance or capital improvements (such as heating or cooling systems, shade sails, gardening/landscaping, garden beds, solar panels, portable buildings etc.)
Activities that have already started and/or need retrospective funding
Shortfalls in funding from other sources
Activities, projects, programs and events that are owned, managed or already funded by Hume City Council
Personal expenses (i.e. petrol, utility bills, phone bills that aren’t in the group’s name or aren’t incurred by the group)
Applications that don’t meet eligibility requirements
Applications with incomplete or incorrect information or supporting documents
Activities that may compromise Council’s reputation, image, probity or ability to fulfill its functions and responsibilities
Applications that do not have Public Liability Insurance, unless you’re a first-time applicant for a Quick Response or Operational grant

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:
- Be a Not-for-Profit community group or organisation
- Be incorporated or apply through an auspice organisation
- Run the activity or project from a location within Hume and/or show that it will benefit residents of Hume City
- Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
- Have satisfactorily acquitted all previous Hume City Council grants
An incorporated organisation can auspice up to three community groups.

For more information, visit Hume City Council.