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.

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

Community Development Grants - CLOSED

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.

In 2024, Council provided community development grants of $137,548 to organisations to support projects in our community.

Applications for the 2025/2026 round open on Monday 3 February 2025 and close on Monday 3 March 2025.

Grant Guidelines

Assessment of applications

Applications received by the closing date of 3 March 2025 will be assessed and applicants notified of the outcome in early May 2025.

Community Event Grants - NOW OPEN

Council's Event Grants Program helps not-for-profit groups in the municipality deliver inclusive community events for our Horsham Municipality.

Applications opened 1 May 2025 and close Monday 2 June 2025.

Funding Guidelines

People are encouraged to read the new Program Guidelines(PDF, 989KB).

The HRCC Community Event Grants Program allocates funding to local not-for-profit organisations and groups.

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

Grant Timing

There are two funding rounds each year to seek Community Events grants. The first assessment round will consider applications received by Monday 2 June 2025, with the grant notification date set for 30 June 2025. The second round (pending funding) will assess applications received by 30 November 2025, with grant notifications due In January 2026.

Please note that if all grant funds are allocated in Assessment Round One, there will be no second round. Successful projects must take place within eighteen months of the grant notification date, providing a longer time-frame to support the planning of the event.

Program Objectives

The program has several key objectives. Events must align with the HRCC Council Plan and aim to increase the range of diverse, inclusive, and vibrant events. They should demonstrate social benefits that support our community, increase economic stimulus through event attendance, and deliver participation opportunities for our community.

Details

Who can apply? To be eligible for the HRCC Community Events Grants Program, you must:

Be a not-for-profit group.
Be incorporated or have an auspice body.
Have public liability insurance covering your proposed event.
The event must be held within the Horsham municipality.

For more information, please contact Council on 5382 9777 or email events@hrcc.vic.gov.au or visit Council’s website.

APPLY NOW

List of 2024 successful applications

A total of 25 events have received funding totaling $69,960.

List of events funded(PDF, 53KB)

Youth - NOW OPEN

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 start 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.

APPLY NOW

Youth Grant Guidelines(PDF, 633KB)

Quick Response Grants - NOW OPEN

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.

APPLY NOW

Quick Response Grants Guidelines(PDF, 970KB)

How to claim a successful 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.