South Gippsland Community Grants Program (Australia)

Deadline: 31-Mar-2025

The South Gippsland Shire Council is seeking applications for the Community Grants program to support community initiatives that enhance the quality of life, heritage, recreation and cultural opportunities for South Gippsland residents.

Grant Categories 

• The Community Grant Program funding is available under the following categories;
  • Minor Projects & Equipment
  • Planning & Development Reports
  • Major Projects & Equipment
  • Festivals & Events

Funding Information

• Funding up to $10,000 is available under the following categories;
  • Minor Projects & Equipment ($1,000-$5,000 – up to 50% of the total project cost)
  • Major Projects & Equipment ($5,000-$10,000 – up to 50% of the total project cost)
  • Planning & Development Reports ($5,000-$10,000 – up to 75% of the total project cost)
  • Festivals & Events ($1,000-$10,000 – up to 50% of the total project cost)

Who can apply? 

• Applicants to the South Gippsland Shire Council Community Grants Program must be;
  • A community group or organisation managed by a volunteer committee of management Organisations must be one of the following;
    • A Section 86 Committee (no longer delegated after September 2020), or a Community Asset Committee of Council
    • A properly incorporated body under the
    • Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012
    • A Company Limited by Guarantee (Corporations Act 2005) or Social Enterprise in Victoria, directly managed by a volunteer committee/board of management, that exists to benefit the community, not owners or shareholders (as defined in organisation constitution or replaceable rules)
    • Auspiced by a third body that is incorporated under
    • the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012
    • Based within the South Gippsland Shire LGA, or able to demonstrate that they service a significant number of residents within the South Gippsland Shire and proposing a project/activity that will operate within the South Gippsland Shire.
    • Government funded agencies such as schools and hospitals are not eligible for the South Gippsland Shire Council Grant Program. This includes Registered Training Organisations such as TAFE. There are some exemptions to this rule such as funding for projects that are of benefit to everyone in the community and outside the scope of the usual funding of these agencies. Please speak to the community grants team for advice.
    • Community Houses, Kindergartens or Preschools that are directly managed by a volunteer committee/board of management, are eligible
    • to apply for projects that can demonstrate a broad community benefit. Contact with the Grants team to determine project suitability should always be made prior to submission.
    • Unincorporated Organisations – must have their application auspiced by an eligible incorporated organisation. Information on the auspicing body is required in the application including their ABN details and a completed Auspice Agreement. If the applicant is successful, the auspicing body is legally responsible for the funds and grant payment is made into their bank account.

Who cannot apply?

• The following would be considered ineligible for assessment under the South Gippsland Shire Council Grants Program:
  • Projects to assist with the ordinary ongoing operation of an organisation such as insurances and utilities.
  • Applications that are received after the advertised deadline
  • Incomplete applications
  • Applicants that have not filed an approved acquittal with Council for any previous grant or in any other way not complied with the conditions of funding, until said acquittal is satisfactorily filed or such conditions of funding are met.
  • Applications for projects over $5,000 that have not discussed their application prior to submission, or provided the required ‘approval to submit’ with their application.
  • Applications that have not supplied evidence of approval by the relevant land owner and/ or lease for where the project is located on land that is not owned by the applicant.
  • Applications seeking retrospective funding, i.e. funding for projects already commenced or completed and equipment/invoices that have been purchased and paid for before the application submission.
  • Applications that do not adhere to the Trade
  • Practices Act and National Competition Policy.

Selection Criteria 

• To ensure all applications are assessed fairly, all eligible applications will be assessed against the response to application questions and other information provided in the application.
• Further assessment may also be made against the following criteria;
  • Level of financial and other support already provided by Council for the project seeking support.
  • Level of financial support previously provided by
  • Council to the applicant.
  • Level of demonstrated financial and/or inkind contribution by the applicant.

For more information, visit South Gippsland Shire Council.