Community Grants

Grants are offered twice a year.

Groups/ organisations applying for Central Highlands Regional Council Grants are required to:

• Have the majority of members of the organisation/group reside in council’s local government area boundaries.
• Operate predominately within council’s local government area boundaries.
• Have acquitted any previous council grant satisfactorily.
• Be free of debt with  council.
• Be an incorporated ‘not-for-profit’ organisation or company limited by guarantee that has been endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) as a charity, tax exempt fund or deductable gift recipient. Note: religious organisations are not eligible.
• Unincorporated groups are eligible to apply, providing that their application is made through the appropriate incorporated body which supports the program, project or activity.
• Have relevant public liability insurance cover, except when the grant relates only to works being undertaken by a suitably insured contractor.
• Make the facility or resource available to community through membership or other means.
• Demonstrate a clear need for financial support and show that other avenues of financial support have been explored (e.g. other grant funding).
• Submit the organisation’s most current financial statement (as submitted to the Office of Fair Trading) or latest treasurer’s report including bank balances covering previous12 months.
• Submit a detailed budget for the program, project and/or activity and two (2) quotes from registered businesses, for all items to be funded for the grant (including where possible at least sourced in council boundaries).
• Provide in principle support from the landowner or trustee of the land prior to application submission
• Provide in principle support from the landowner or trustee of the land prior to application submission.
• Sought advice regarding building works and approval prior to application submission (if applicable).
• Have a signed Tenure Agreement if one has been offered in excess of six months from the application date. (This criterion is applicable if you are operating from council land/building).
• Be open for public membership.

IMPORTANT: Please read the grant guidelines and the form before applying.

Council staff involved in the administration of the Community Grants Program are available to provide general guidance to assist with the preparation of your application. Please contact the Customer Service Centre on 1300 242 686.

Community Grant Program Applications can be completed online https://chrc.smartygrants.com.au/

Alternatively, you can complete a hard copy of the grant, please contact a Grants Officer for this option.

Templates:

Community Grants Program – Project Plan-Template (1)

Community Grants Program-Strategic-Plan-Template

Community Grants Round 2 - 2022

Grant applications are assessed by the Community Grants Assessment Panel, which includes council staff, councillors, and community representatives.

The term for community representatives on the assessment panel hold a term for two years.

The next call for community representatives will be in mid-2024.

For more information abut being a community representative on the assessment panel, please read the assessment panel information sheet and nomination form.