Community Grants Program

Central Park Tennis Club members Sharon Clough and Keith Starick (web).png

The HRCC Community Grants Program allocates funding to enhance and support the many different not-for-profit community groups in the HRCC municipality.

Our Grants program has changed for 2024/2025

Community Grants will be allocated through four (4) separate grants streams, each with unique funding rounds, guidelines, application forms and reporting requirements.

Please make sure you read the new guidelines before making an application.

Grant funding streams

1. Community Development Grants - OPEN NOW

This stream allocates funding to help not-for-profit groups in the Horsham municipality to improve facilities and work together for more engaged and healthy communities.

PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATIONS SEEKING EVENTS GRANTS MUST APPLY UNDER THE NEW EVENTS FUNDING ROUND WHICH WILL OPEN IN MAY 2024. 

The maximum allocation per organisation is $10,000, although the majority of successful applications range between $500 and $5,000.

Applications for the 2024/2025 round open Thursday 1 February and close on Monday 4 March 2024. 

Grants guidelines(PDF, 2MB)

Submitting an application

All applications must be submitted online.

APPLY NOW

The application form asks for additional information and templates are provided for your use:

If you have any questions after reading the grant guidelines or require help to complete your on-line application, please contact the Community Grants Team on 53829777 or visit Customer Service at the Civic Centre, 18 Roberts Avenue, Horsham.

The maximum allocation per organisation is $10,000, although the majority of successful applications range between $500 and $5,000.

Assessment of applications

Applications received by the closing date of 4 March 2024 will be assessed and successful grant applicants will be notified in early May 2024.

How to claim a successful Community Grant allocation

Grants of less than $1,000 will be automatically paid to the grant recipient in October 2024.

Grants of $1,000 or more require a Completion Report with the following documentation attached and forwarded to Council:

  • Substantiation of your group’s expenditure on the project in accordance with the grant application (for example, a copy of a supplier’s invoice to your organisation)
  • An invoice from your organisation to Horsham Rural City Council requesting payment of the grant.  Your organisation’s invoice should not include GST as the contribution is considered a donation under GST law
  • A photograph of your completed project.

Please submit the Completion Report online here.

If you have any queries regarding payment of your grant, please contact Karen Maybery, Coordinator General Accounting Unit, on 53829733 or karen.maybery@hrcc.vic.gov.au.

Please note all donations must be claimed prior to 30 June 2024.

2. Community Event Grants

Horsham Rural City Council (HRCC) Events Grants Program helps not-for-profit groups in the municipality deliver inclusive community events for our Horsham Municipality.

There will be two funding rounds each year in May and December to support community events, with the first round of funding to open in May 2024 and grants to be available from 1 July 2024.

Grant Guidelines and Application form are currently under development - WATCH THIS SPACE.

3. Youth

Youth grants aim to support community activities and projects that benefit young people who live, work or study in our municipality.

Grant funding through this stream will commence from 1 July 2024.

  • Minimum grant request is $200.
  • Maximum grant request is $2,500.

The funding priorities for the Youth Grants stream align with Council’s Youth Strategy. 

Grant Guidelines and Application form are currently under development - WATCH THIS SPACE.

4. Quick Response Small Grants

The Quick Response Small Grants stream aims to support urgent and short-term requests for funding support from not-for-profit groups within our community.

Applicants should first consider if they can apply within the timelines of other grant programs (refer 1, 2 or 3 above). If these timelines are restrictive, applicants may apply for a Quick Response Small Grant.

  • Minimum grant request is $200
  • Maximum grant request $1,000

The funding priorities for the Quick Response Small Grants stream align with the key priorities of the current Council Plan, Youth Strategy, Community Inclusion Plan and Age Friendly Communities Implementation Plan.

Grant funding through this stream will commence from 1 July 2024.

Grant Guidelines and Application form are currently under development - WATCH THIS SPACE

Upcoming Community Grant Information Session and Capacity Building Workshop

Find out all the details of Council's revised Community Grant Programs by attending an Information Session in February.

The sessions will also include a Capacity Building Workshop for community organisations led by Keith Whelan "The Grants Guy".

Workshop 1

Monday 19 February from 6pm to 8pm at the Horsham Civic Centre, 18 Roberts Avenue Horsham.

Workshop 2

Tuesday 20 February from 6pm to 8pm at Natimuk NC2 (Old Council Chambers), 62 Main Street Natimuk.

Please RSVP by Monday 12 February if you are planning to attend one of these workshops by email to susan.surridge@hrcc.vic.gov.au or 53829777

About the Keith Whelan workshop:

Keith Whelan The Grants Guy.png


Keith works with groups from the Private and Public sector across Australia and teaches grant writing courses for the University of Sydney and the University of Adelaide. Keith has a wealth of practical experience and tips for small community organisations on capacity building and grant seeking.  For further information on the workshop.

Topics covered include:

  • Volunteer Management – How to Attain, Retain & Maintain Volunteers
  • Using your Community’s Strengths
  • Identifying Opportunities
  • Effective Community Leadership
  • Advocacy with Government
  • Maintaining the Momentum
  • Change Management and succession planning
  • Good Governance
  • Grants and Funding Opportunities.

This is a great opportunity to hear about grant seeking and capacity building from one of the best in the business.