Annual Community Grants

Support for projects and activities that strengthen the community, promote resilience and leadership, lifelong learning, encourage partnerships and involvement in community life and develop a strong sense of belonging and identity. This also includes projects that involve participants in developing activities that improve and encourage healthy and active lifestyles. 

For example, projects and activities focussing on community issues and priorities such as community forums, exhibitions, sports day, youth-led activities, and activities that boost community volunteerism and promote social inclusion, access and participation. 

Here's the link to the guidelines and application form.

Support the community to implement projects that fall under the five themes of the Climate Emergency Plan: People Power, 100% Renewable, Green and Cool, Resilient Rebuild and Circular Economy. 

For example, community planting day at a conservation reserve, an up-cycling project where something new is created using recycled or scrap materials, establishing a circular economy initiative to encourage material or food waste reduction, a native species planting project to educate and support habitat gardening, small capital works such as installation of solar panels or electric vehicle chargers on organisation owned property.

Here's the link to the guidelines and application form.

This category is for projects, events or activities which benefit children and young people (aged 10-25 years). This category supports organisations to deliver a project that has elements of leadership from young people (for example co-design by young people) and positively impacts other young people in the Brimbank Community. 

For example, projects and activities co-designed or led and initiated by young people, such as forums, sporting activities, art exhibitions, performances, mentoring and hangouts.

Here's the link to the guidelines and application form.

Support Brimbank’s smaller groups and organisations to build a more connected and engaged community, through the delivery of small-scale festivals and events, primarily attracting local audiences. 

Examples include art, music, sporting or cultural celebrations, Reconciliation and NAIDOC week activities. 

Here's the link to the guidelines and application form.

Support festivals and events that showcase Brimbank’s diversity, places, talents, cultures or unique offerings. These larger-scale festivals and events enhance Brimbank’s reputation as a great place to live, work, visit and play, and attract more than 5,000 people. A single event or a series of events will be considered. 

Here's the link to the guidelines and application form.

This category is designed to support seniors groups in Brimbank towards their day to day operating costs. Groups must have 15 or more members and items that can be claimed include: 

• bus hire for day trips 

• catering 

• utility bills etc. 

Here's the link to the guidelines and application form.

To be eligible for the Brimbank Community Grants Program, applicants must: 

• be a not-for-profit organisation, or an incorporated community group, or apply through an auspice arrangement 

• have Public Liability Insurance cover for the duration of the project 

• have an Australian Business Number 

• be based in Brimbank, or demonstrate that the proposed project will substantially benefit Brimbank residents 

• have a new project or a new stage of a project, unless applying for a Festivals and Events Grant 

• have satisfactorily acquitted previous grants funded under the Brimbank Council’s Community Grants Program 

• be able to comply with State Government public health requirements

Choose the grant category which best fits your project, program, event or festival. You can find a list of the categories above.

Please read the Guidelines which is different for each category. You can find the documents above in the Community Grants Program categories. 

A requirement of the Annual Community Grant is that you must speak to a Council Contact Officer about your project before you put in an application. 

The staff on the Council Contact Officer List will be able to advise you on what to include in your application and assist with identifying potential partners. 

Subject Matther Expert Contact Officers are available to help with grant applications in a range of areas including arts and culture, environment, festivals and events, health and wellbeing, sport and recreation, seniors development, youth services and more.

Council officer contacts for Community Grants 2025-26

Before you apply, ensure that you have discussed your project idea with your group or organisation’s representatives. Make sure that leadership is aware and supportive of your project. As part of your application, you will need to formulate an Action Plan and Budget as well. 

Watch this video if you are wanting to turn your idea into a fundable project. 

Visit the Grants category section and select the category you wish to apply for. Once you are ready, click the 'Submit an Application' button to begin and save your progress every 10-15 minutes. 

Remember to clearly state: 

• What your project is 

• What you want to do 

• Why the project is needed 

• How you will deliver 

• How you will measure success 

Submit on time - late applications will not be accepted.

Watch this video if you need extra guidance on using SmartyGrants to make an application. 

You must provide your financial details using a form called the Supplier Financial Details Form (WORD 79kb). You must complete this form and attach it with your grant application.  

If you apply under an auspice (refer to Guidelines for details) you must complete an Auspice Organisation Authorisation Form (DOCX 280KB) at the time of grant application. 

If you are applying without an ABN, you must provide a Statement by Supplier form. 

Supporting documentation such as letters of support for your project. 

Here is an example of a grant application which answers all the questions, action plan and budget correctly. 

Example Application to Annual Community Grants 2025 

What is auspicing? 

Auspice organisations help small or new organisations who are not incorporated, or who do not have an ABN, to access grant funds. An auspice organisation must be a not-for-profit organisation, have an ABN and Public Liability Insurance. They accept legal and financial responsibility for the grant if successful. Applications can be submitted directly by groups being auspiced. However, the funding agreement for successful grants will be made between the auspice organisation and Council. The grant money will be paid directly to the auspice organisation. All applications through auspice organisations need to submit an Auspice Organisation Authorisation Form  (DOCX 281KB) at the time of grant application. 

Applicants are encouraged to include a copy of their certificate of currency document with their application. If the application is successful, Council requires that all grant recipients provide evidence of public liability insurance in the form of a copy of the certificate of currency with adequate coverage level before payment is made. Including the documentation to the application reduces waiting periods for receiving payments. Organisations being auspiced may be covered by the auspice body’s public liability insurance, and so will need to provide a copy of their certificate of currency.

Assessment Matrix 2024

For the following grant categories: Community Wellbeing and Strengthening, Climate Emergency and Youthtunities: Grants for Young People, applications are scored on how well they outline and explain the following:    

• Community Benefit = 30% 

• Community Need = 30% 

• Capacity to Deliver = 25% 

• Access and Inclusion = 10% 

• Sustainability = 5% 

For the grant categories: Community Festivals and Events and Major Festivals and Events, applications are scored on how well they outline and explain the following:                      

• Community Benefit = 35% 

• Community Need = 35% 

• Capacity to Deliver = 30% 

• Access and Inclusion = 10%

Receiving a grant 

• Successful applicants will receive a funding agreement that sets out the terms on which Council is prepared to make the grant available. 

• Establishment Grant applicants will be required to attend Community Governance training. 

• If you accept the offer, sign the funding agreement and return to Council. 

• Grant funding is paid by EFT (Electronic Fund Transfer). 

At the end of your project implementation, an acquittal (project and financial) report must be submitted. 

Council will require the grant to be returned if: 

• You use the grant on unauthorised expenses/payments. 

• You are unable to provide proof of expenses/payments. 

• The grant wasn’t used as set out in the funding agreement. 

Updating your project 

If you need to change your proposed project or activity, you need to complete a Project Variation Request Form. 

A Project Variation is an amendment to your funding agreement that must be approved by Council in writing prior to making any changes.  

To discuss any variation and obtain a Project Variation Form, please email CommunityGrants@brimbank.vic.gov.au. 

Running your project 

Some useful links to assist making your project a success: 

• Halls and meeting rooms for hire 

• Find out if your activities/events require a permit 

• List your community events for publicity on our website 

• Write a news article for publicity on our news website 

• Community Training Programs and support 

In the past, we have supported: 

• Community-led arts and culture projects 

• Digital training and upskilling initiatives 

• Youth and family support programs 

• Community festivals and local neighbourhood events 

• Sporting activities such as fun runs and family days 

• LGBTQIA+ inclusion and ally-ship workshops. 

To see more, please view Brimbank Community Grants 2024-25 Successful Grants (PDF 240KB)