Grants for the Community

Receive updates

To receive notification of upcoming grant rounds and funding opportunities, sign up to receive Community Grant e-updates. Send an email with the subject line subscribe me to Grants@whitehorse.vic.gov.au

Need a little more support?

Contact Council's Community Grants Officer on 9262 6116 or grants@whitehorse.vic.gov.au with any questions about the Community Grants Program.

Please ask for help as early as possible to ensure you get your application in on time.

Find out about Council's community grants.

A second round of Community Grants in 2021

Council recognises that many community organisations, clubs and groups in Whitehorse are at different stages of returning to operations following the ongoing impacts of the pandemic so in response will administer a second round of Whitehorse Community Grants in 2021.

Round 2 of the Whitehorse Community Grants will open on Monday 9 August and close at 5.00pm, Friday 27 August.

Successful applicants of round 2 will have until 30 June 2022 to expend their grant funding.

Two information sessions will be held about the progam and application process.

The grant guidelines are outlined below or you can download of the grant guidelines ( PDF 865.61KB).

Funding Categories for Round 2

Round 2 of the 2021/2022 Whitehorse Community Grants program will offer financial support via four funding streams that are outlined below.

Community Grant Category	Funding Range	Purpose
Whitehorse Seniors Participation Grant This category is only available to Seniors Groups that did not receive funding for this category in Round 1.	$0 - $1,000	To support seniors groups within the City of Whitehorse to provide participation opportunities that support the health and wellbeing of their members. Funding allocated is based on membership numbers. * For the purpose of this funding category, ‘Seniors Groups’ are classified as: “Groups whose sole focus is to offer participation opportunities for older members of the Whitehorse Community. These activities must contribute to health and wellbeing of members.
Small Equipment Grant	$0 - $1,000	Enable organisations to purchase small equipment items that will benefit Whitehorse residents, enhance the group’s ability to deliver the desired outcomes of the Community Grants program and/ or return to operations. Includes equipment required to ensure COVID-Safe measures are in place ie. PPE, cleaning supplies, and items required to manage social distancing (barriers/ cones/ tape, etc.).
Minor Grant	$0 - $3,000	To support programs, activities and initiatives that: Respond to community need and increase the opportunities for safe community engagement and participation post lockdown; and/or Help the community to reconnect ie. a project that enhances volunteering opportunities; and/ or Strengthen and respond to the needs of the Whitehorse Community and deliver the desired outcomes of the Community Grants program. (Includes seed funding for trial projects). Promotional/ marketing initiatives aimed at attracting participants, consumers and volunteers back into programs ie. advertising costs, social media campaigns and promotional material.
Major Grant	$3,001 - $10,000	To support larger scale programs, activities and initiatives as outlined in the ‘Minor Grant’ description above.

Important

Applicants may apply for more than one category, but it cannot be for the same project or activity. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions further down the page.
If two applications are deemed to be effectively the same during Council’s assessment process, only the application for the lesser value will be considered.

A separate application form for each grant category must be completed and submitted by the due date.

Round 2 Funding Priorities

The Community Grants program is a competitive application process. Applications that meet the following criteria will be prioritised:

Applications that have not received funding from the first Community Grants round.
Initiatives that address new and emerging priorities within the Whitehorse Community.
Applications that will increase the organisations capacity to reconnect with members and/ or bring members of the community together in a COVID-Safe way.
Applications for initiatives that will engage, support and connect with the hard to reach ie. CALD, people who are homeless, those socially isolated, etc.
Organisations that can demonstrate that their program, service, project, initiative or activity adds significant value to the City of Whitehorse and that their own contribution requires particular Council support.
Applications that clearly identify and address COVID Safe measures that will be in place.

The Community Grants Program is unable to fund all requests each year, therefore applicants should not consider the Community Grants Program as a recurrent funding stream.

Funding is provided for the term specified in the Funding Agreement. Applicants are to consider the future sustainability of their program or activity beyond the funding period in their program planning (for example, sponsorships or other fundraising activities).

Are you Eligible to Apply?

To be eligible for a Whitehorse Community Grant, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

Be a not-for-profit organisation and/or an incorporated association; or
Be auspiced by an appropriate organisation that meets either of the above criteria.
Be based within the City of Whitehorse and/or provide services, projects, programs initiatives or activities within the City of Whitehorse.
Have the majority of members or participants be Whitehorse residents.
Provide certificate of currency showing $20million public liability insurance coverage.
Provide a financial report for the previous financial year.
The application cannot request funding for purchases or activities that will take place prior to payment of the grant. (No retrospective funding)
The applicant must not have any outstanding debts to Council.

NOT funded by the Community Grants Program

Council will not fund the following:

Applications for individual pursuits.
Applications where the funding will not be used within the City of Whitehorse.
Applications where the majority of members or participants are not City of Whitehorse residents.
Organisations that cannot demonstrate genuine financial need.
Organisations that have an outstanding debt with Council.
Organisations that do not meet the definition of a not-for-profit or an incorporated association as detailed in the guidelines.
Organisations that do not submit all of the required paperwork/ documentation in the application form.
Salaries or wages for ongoing positions.
Capital Expenditure– fixed or permanent equipment, building maintenance or capital improvements that exceed $1,000.
Rental, lease or other costs associated with accommodation (Please note: if you are seeking support with the cost of venue hire, please refer to the information provided under the heading Discount Support – Hall Hire, or refer to the attached guidelines).
Operational costs and core business costs of the organisation e.g. salaries for permanent staff, office rent, fees, mobile phones, software licences, bills and insurance.
Projects that have a commercial purpose.
Political, religious or spiritual activities.
Programs, services, projects initiatives and activities that are the responsibility of other levels of government.
Expenses for projects, activities or equipment that has already been paid for (retrospective funding).
Event catering costs.
Uniforms.
Funding for competitions, trophies, prizes or awards.
Reimbursement of personal expenses.
Programs, projects, services or activities that cannot demonstrate the ability to provide safe working methods or adherence to relevant government restrictions.
Partnership Grant recipients are not eligible to apply for additional funding to undertake programs, services, projects, initiatives and activities deemed to be covered by the Partnership Grant or as the responsibility of the organisation.

The City of Whitehorse reserves the right to decline any application that is ineligible or does not meet the eligibility criteria. Canvassing or lobbying of Councillors or employees of the City of Whitehorse in relation to any grant application is prohibited during the application process. Failure to comply, will make the application ineligible.

Current Grants and Application Forms

Apply for Grants

Whitehorse Grant Finder

A full list of funding opportunities from by Federal, State and Philanthropic grant programs, all in one place.

Explore Grant Finder

Information & Support

To support community organisations with their application, Council will run two, free information sessions that will cover

The funding categories available
The essential criteria
The timeline - from application to acquittal
Using SmartyGrants.

Bookings are essential and can be made by clicking on the links below.

Session 1

Date: Monday 9 August
Time: 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Location: The Willis Room, Whitehorse Civic Centre
379-397 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading, VIC, 3131
Register: Book your ticket

IMPORTANT: this session will move to online (via Zoom) if restrictions are imposed. You will be notified by email if there are any changes.

Session 2

Date: Wednesday 11 August
Time: 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Location: Online (via Zoom)
Register: Book your ticket

Need Further Assistance?

Council’s Community Grants Officer is available to assist with using SmartyGrants. If you require some support with using SmartyGrants please contact Council’s Community Grants Officer by email at grants@whitehorse.vic.gov.au or phone 0477 320 873.

About the Whitehorse Community Grants Program

As part of the annual budget process, Whitehorse City Council allocates funding to the Community Grants Program to provide financial support to not-for-profit organisations and incorporated associations located and/or operating within the City of Whitehorse so that they can deliver programs, services, projects, initiatives and activities that:

Align with the community priorities and strategic directions contained in the Whitehorse Council Plan and contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community.
Identify and address emerging community needs.
Will be delivered within and directly benefit the City of Whitehorse Community.

The Community and Council vision is for a healthy, vibrant, prosperous and sustainable community supported by strong leadership and community partnerships and is implemented though the Whitehorse Council Plan ( PDF 1.96MB) in addition to other Council Strategic Plans and policies.

The current Council Plan which guides the work of Council contains five key strategic directions. All community grant applications must align with one or more of Council’s strategic directions:

To support a healthy, vibrant, inclusive and diverse community.
To maintain and enhance the built environment to ensure a liveable and sustainable city.
To protect and enhance open space and natural environments.
To provide strategic leadership and open and accessible government.
To support a healthy local economy.

Discount Support Program – Hall Hire and Free Tipping

Discount Support - Hall Hire

Discount Support Hall Hire Grants are open throughout the year to enable not for profit organisations and incorporated associations to book Council venues for meetings, activities and events at a discounted rate.

The first step in applying for Discount Support Hall Hire is to speak to the venue manager and seek availability and obtain a booking reference. The booking reference is required to complete the application form.

To apply for Discount Support Hall Hire, click on the ‘Apply for Grants’ button in the top right hand section of this page.

Council Owned and Operated Venues that offer Discount Support for Hall Hire

Box Hill Community Arts Centre
Box Hill Town Hall (excluding the Town Hall Hub)
Horticultural Centre
Blackburn North Community Hall
Strabane Avenue Hall
East Burwood Hall
Forest Hill Hall
Rentoul Hall
Willis Room (Civic Centre)

Each application is assessed based on the information provided. The level of Discounted Support granted cannot exceed the maximum percentage shown in the following table.

Type of Community Organisation	Maximum Discounted Support Available
Eligible not for profit and incorporated associations	50%
Service Clubs: Rotary, Lions, Apex etc.	75%
Senior Citizens Groups	90%
Fundraising Events	100%

Discount Support - Free Tipping

Council is committed to the responsible and sustainable management of rubbish and recycling in the City of Whitehorse. The Discount Support - Free Tipping grant is a voucher based grant provided to eligible not for profit organisations and incorporated associations to assist with the cost associated with waste disposal.

The budget for the 2021/2022 Discount Support – Free Tipping program has been fully allocated and Council is unable to accept further applications.

The next round of Discount Support Free Tipping will open in February 2022.

More information about the discount support free tipping program can be found in the grant guidelines.

Applying for a Grant

SmartyGrants

The first step in applying for a grant is to register with SmartyGrants. SmartyGrants is an electronic grants submission system used by many local governments and other funding bodies. It provides an efficient way for you to submit your application online.

Registering with SmartyGrants requires an email address and a password. We encourage applicants to use a general, organisation email and password (instead of a personal account) so that more than one person can access the application(s) and outcomes.

For assistance with using Smarty Grants refer to the step-by-step Help Guide. The guide will guide you through the various stages of your on-line application.

Pre-planning for your Application

In addition to information provided in the Community Grants Program Guidelines, we suggest you:

Find out more about the demographics of Whitehorse to inform your application.

Find out more about Council's priorities for the health and wellbeing ( PDF 2.45MB) of the people of Whitehorse.

Find out more about the 2017-2021 Council Plan ( PDF 1.96MB).

Access tools to assist you with planning your project:

Neighbourhood Houses may act as an auspice organisation if you are not incorporated. You will need to discuss this option direct with the House before making an application.

To become an incorporated association, speak with Consumer Affairs Victoria.

If you are seeking Discount Support for Hall Hire and do not have a minimum $20 million Public Liability Insurance, please read the Casual Hirers Policy - Information Sheet ( PDF 175.13KB). Please note that the Casual Hirers Policy is reviewed annually and is subject to change.

Required files and documentation

Frequently asked questions

1. Can I submit an application in more than one category?

Yes. You can apply for more than one grant category, but not for the same thing.

For example, your group needs a projector for weekly presentations and also wants to run a special event. You can submit an application for a Small Equipment Grant for the projector and either a Minor or Major Grant for the event.

You cannot apply for a Minor and Major grant for the same project in an attempt to secure more funding. If an application is made under two categories and is deemed to be for the same purpose, the application will only be considered for the lesser amount.

2. Can I apply for Round 2 if I received funding in Round 1?

3. What is a financial statement?

A financial statement is documentation that provides information on your financial status. The best, and most common way of providing this information is by submitting a copy of your organisation /club /group’s Annual Report. For the purpose of this year’s application we will require the 2019/20 Annual Report.

At the very least, Council requires the 2019/20 Profit & Loss statement, along with the Asset & Liabilities statement.

A statement from the bank showing the amount in your bank account will not be accepted.

4. How do I complete the budget table?

It is very important for the assessment and decision making panel to understand how your requested funding will be allocated. The budget table has been created to help applicants clearly show:

Where money is coming from (funding source)
How much money you have available, including what you are requesting in your application (income), and
How the money will be allocated (expenditure).

To see an example a budget table that clearly provides these details, please refer to Tip Sheet section - ‘Budget Table Example’.

5. When will I know the outcome of the application?

6. How do I register with SmartyGrants?

7. I have registered for SmartyGrants, but I have forgotten my log in details

The log in details consist of an email and a password.

If you know the email address you used but can’t remember your password, please refer to the tip sheet ‘How to reset your password’.

If you cannot remember any of your log in details please contact the Community Grants Officer for assistance via email: grants@whitehorse.vic.gov.au or phone: 0477 320 873 during business hours.

Tip Sheets

How to register with SmartyGrants ( PDF 452.7KB)

How to reset your SmartyGrants password ( PDF 155.93KB)

Budget Table Example ( PDF 432.68KB)

Finding Forms in SmartyGrants ( PDF 253.88KB)

You are here