Deadline: 6-Apr-25
The Whitehorse City Council has launched the Community Grant Program to support not-for-profit organisations, incorporated associations, local community groups, schools and other service delivery agencies that are located in, or deliver services to the people of Whitehorse.
The Community Grants Program supports the purchase of small equipment items, and the delivery of programs, projects and initiatives that meet the needs of the Whitehorse community. Council provides grants to many different groups in the community to fund initiatives that contribute to the health and wellbeing of the people of Whitehorse. Each year Council looks to fund eligible initiatives that aim to increase social connections, promote wellbeing and prevent lifestyle related diseases.
Objectives
- The objectives of the Community Grants Program are:
- To strengthen the Whitehorse community through the support of a diverse range of activities, services and programs that are responsive to the community needs.
- To create a resilient community that embraces the history and diversity of Whitehorse, as well as promoting learning, growing, thriving and inclusivity.
- To build the capacity of local organisations and strengthen partnerships within the Whitehorse community to support planned growth, collaboration and sustainability.
- To provide a transparent and rigorous process, to support good governance and the appropriate distribution of public funds.
Community Grant Categories
- Education Assistance Grant: Up to $400 per student
- This grant supports families experiencing financial hardship and their young people (aged 10 – 25) to remain engaged in education and training.
- Small Equipment Grant: Up to $1,000
- Enables the purchase of small equipment to support the operation of community organisations, enabling them to deliver services, programs and initiatives that are aligned with the strategic directions of the Whitehorse City Council Plan.
- Placemaking Grant: Up to $1,000
- This grant provides an opportunity for not-for-profit groups, including business associations, to host and deliver placemaking activations (activating community spaces) in Whitehorse’s activity centres. For example: Activation Pods, shopping malls, parks.
- Senior’s Participation Grant: Up to $1,000
- This supports seniors’ groups within Whitehorse to provide participation opportunities that support the health and wellbeing of their members.
- Seed Funding Grant: Up to $3,000
- This grant provides organisations the opportunity to test new initiatives, programs or services. It provides an opportunity for organisations to respond to emerging community needs/trends.
- Creativity Grant: Up to $3,000
- This grant focuses on the delivery of arts and culture initiatives including festivals, art classes, exhibitions, activations and events.
- Diversity and Inclusion Grant: Up to $3,000
- This grant seeks to foster social inclusion and increase the participation of diverse communities across Whitehorse.
- Environmental Sustainability Grant: Up to $3,000
- This grant will support organisations to improve their sustainability practices and / or promote sustainability in the community.
- Health and Wellbeing Grant: Up to $3,000
- This grant focuses on improving the overall health and wellbeing of the community through a range of initiatives. For example: healthy eating programs, active participation, mental health initiatives, supporting volunteers and vulnerable groups.
- Positive Ageing Grant: Up to $3,000
- This grant focuses on programs, services and initiatives that support positive ageing in the community. For example: intergenerational activities, initiatives to tackle ageism, social inclusion and digital inclusion.
- Artists in School Grant: Dependent on application and available budget
- This provides funding to schools to assist with the employment of a professional artist or curator to work within the school on a specific artistic project.
- Major Grant Category: Up to $10,000
- The purpose of this grant is to support larger scale programs, services, projects, initiatives or activities that will significantly benefit the Whitehorse community and deliver positive health outcomes.
- Discount Support Free Tipping: Voucher-based funding
- This grant provides free tipping general and green waste vouchers to dispose of waste through Council’s Recycling and Waste Centre. This is determined through a demonstrated need and the available budget allocation.
Eligibility Criteria
- All grants offered through the Whitehorse Community Grants Program are subject to the following eligibility criteria:
- The applicant must either:
- meet the definition as either a not for-profit organisation or incorporated association
- be auspiced by an appropriate organisation that meets this criterion or
- provide a program, service or activity that is primarily considered the responsibility of State or Federal Government where the initiative is outside of their core business.
- The applicant must be located in or operate within Whitehorse City Council.
- The funded project, service, program, initiative or activity must take place exclusively within Whitehorse City Council and directly benefit Whitehorse residents.
- The applicant must provide evidence of current $20 million public liability insurance coverage. Public Liability Insurance must be maintained for the duration of the funding period.
- All applicants must provide financial records to show financial viability and demonstrate genuine financial need.
- Each applicant must have a majority of Whitehorse residents as members or participants in funded project activities.
- Applicants must submit all supporting material when applying. Given the competitive nature of the grants program, no late submissions or supporting documents can be accepted.
- Successful applicants must fulfil the reporting requirements (acquittal) for all Whitehorse grant programs that have concluded, and have no outstanding debts with Whitehorse City Council.
- The application cannot be for a project that has already commenced. Council will not fund projects retrospectively.
- The application must demonstrate that the funding will be fully used by 30 June 2026.
- Each applications must align to at least one of the objectives outlined in the Council Plan and clearly demonstrate how the application is addressing a specific community need, interest or service gap.
- The applicant must either:
For more information, visit Whitehorse City Council.
