Grants and Funding

One of the highlights of Council's annual Budget, the Community Grants Program supports projects, events and initiatives organised by Gannawarra Shire-based community groups.

Applications are accepted in August each year, with successful projects announced in October. Applications are currently closed.

As a guide, the 2022 Community Grants Program accepted applications via the following streams:

• Community Event: Up to $5,000 per application to support local events.
• Community Support: Up to $5,000 for application to support local projects and activities.
• Major Community Project Fund: Between $10,000 and $125,000 per application to develop infrastructure projects on non-Council owned or managed land.

FUNDING GUIDELINES 

To assist with future applications for this popular program, it is highly recommended that you read the funding guidelines. The guidelines are now available to assist with understanding what is required as part of any potential application. 

Community Support funding guidelines(PDF, 2MB)

Community Events funding guidelines(PDF, 2MB)

Major Community Project Fund guidelines(PDF, 2MB)

To support interested applicants, Council hosted a Community Grants Forum online in 2021. This forum was designed to support our community to better understand the process of applying for a Community Grant, as well as support you to feel more confident in sourcing and applying for grants from a range of organisations. Council did not host a forum on 2022, however the content of the 2021 forum is still current. 

To watch a recording of the forum please click this link: 2021 Gannawarra Community Grants Forum

FURTHER SUPPORT

Council have developed a 'help sheet' to assist potential applicants in developing their applications. To view this, please click here(PDF, 366KB)

WHAT DOES A BUDGET NEED TO LOOK LIKE?

One of the most common mistakes is applications containing incorrect budgets. To assist in making this area a bit easier to understand, please refer to the help sheet. The Help sheet contains examples of what a budget might look like for your application.

2021 Community Grants Budget Help Sheet(PDF, 295KB)

PAST RECIPIENTS

To learn more about past projects supported by Council's Community Grants Program, please click on the links below:

• 2022 program recipients
• 2021 program recipients
• 2020/21 Major Projects Grants recipients
• 2020 Community Grants program recipients
• 2019/20 Major Projects Grants recipients
• 2019 Community Grants program recipients

Applications for Council’s Community Resilience Grants Program are currently closed.

Grants of up to $3,000 were available to not-for-profit community groups or groups that are auspiced by an incorporated not-for-profit group.

To view the guidelines for this program please click here. 

Regional Development Australia - Murray's website has a range of resources available, including grant opportunities. To view this resource, please click here.

Defibrillators increase the chance of survival by 62 per cent if a person in cardiac arrest is defibrillated by a bystander before an ambulance arrives.

Council encourages all community groups to install a Defibrillator and consider applying for a grant where possible.

We encourage those who successfully receive funding for a defibrillator to register with Ambulance Victoria within two months of receiving funding.

This section will be regularly updated to share external grant opportunities available.

Community Defib Project - Click here 

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) strengthens rural, regional and remote communities working in partnership with philanthropy, government and business.

FRRR often have a range of available funding opportunities available to communities, and they are outlined online or by phoning 1800 170 020.

Sport and Recreation Victoria provides various grants to support sporting clubs and organisations.

To see what grants are available and to apply, please click here.

Sustainability Victoria offers grants for sustainability initiatives. Click here for more information and to see which grants are currently available.

Regional Arts Victoria offers a number of funding opportunities for artists, art organisations and presenters of arts projects.

Any groups or individuals who have creative ideas are encouraged to make contact with Lorraine Little who is the Manager of the Swan Hill/Gannawarra region for Regional Arts Victoria via email or phone 0476 353 856.

To see current funding opportunities available through RAV please visit www.rav.net.au

Change Our Game - a Victorian Government initiative - aims to increase the number of women and girls participating in sport and active recreation, from grassroots through to leadership roles.

A number of grant opportunities are available. For more details, please visit the Change Our Game website.

The Victorian Government offers a range of grants to support and commemorate veterans and to preserve war heritage. For details, please visit the Victorian Veterans Grants Program website.

This program aims to provide support for groups or individuals undertaking projects that will make a positive difference to the natural living environment, in land, sea or air, rural or urban.

Grants between $1000 and $10,000 are available. 

Eligible community organisations will be able to apply for grants from October 2019 to fund energy generation and storage projects.

Groups that are eligible for funding include:

• Community football and netball clubs;
• Scout or Guide groups;
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community groups;
• Surf lifesaving clubs;
• Community-owned kindergartens;
• Welfare centres;
• Men's Sheds;
• Community centres;
• Women's associations;
• Country Fire Authorities; and
• Community-owned child care centres.

Grants will be made available to eligible applicants on a first come, first served basis.

For further details, please email contact@kigenergy.com.au

The On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Support Grants program will assist farmers undertake infrastructure development projects to help in the management of current drought conditions and enhance the preparedness and longer-term viability of the farm.

Rural Aid is proud of its support of farmers and rural communities suffering the effects of drought, flood, fire or natural disaster.

Farmers can register for a one-off payment of $1500 for fodder, financial assistance and more.