There is more than $3.9 million available to assist the community, arts, events, cultural, sporting, recreation, heritage, and environmental sustainability sectors.
Distributed across 13 different grant streams, funding ranges from small grants of $500 to assist grassroots activities, through to $350,000 to help shovel-ready community infrastructure projects.
A total of $2.7 million in Community Infrastructure Grants will be available for improvements to community facilities, such as open spaces, recreation and sports facilities, arts and cultural facilities, community centres, early years facilities and meeting places.
There are grants of up to $10,000 to support community projects, events, programs, activities or equipment purchases across the areas of arts, environment, and community health, well-being and connections.
The Climate Change Partnership Grant, running for the second consecutive year, has a total funding pool of $130,000 for groups with the experience and capacity to deliver larger-scale projects with a range of stakeholders, various income sources and longer time frames.
The First Nations Cultural Heritage Grant this year has a funding pool of $90,000 for projects that recognise, restore, protect and preserve both tangible and intangible, Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.
The Geelong Heritage Grants are for heritage building or streetscape projects that contribute to the visual character of the city's streetscapes and public space and/or provide community amenity. Up to $40,000 is available per application to assist with conservation works, with a total funding pool $90,000.
Community grants opportunities and key dates
Opening on 3 June 2023 - closing on 24 July 2023
- Arts Projects – (up to $10,000)
To help deliver arts and cultural projects for those working in all art forms.
- Community Events – (up to $10,000)
To support moderate-sized public events that provide economic and community benefits.
- Environmental Sustainability – (up to $10,000)
To support projects that enhance our natural environment and drive environmental sustainability, as well as small environmental capital works up to $10,000 and equipment grants up to $2,000.
- Healthy & Connected Communities – (up to $10,000)
To help projects that will improve the health, wellbeing and capacity of our community. Also includes equipment grants up to $2,000.
- Climate Change Partnership – (up to $50,000)
Partnership Grants for community led projects and activities to support the greater Geelong community to achieve net zero community emissions and increase resilience to the impact of climate change.
Opening on 3 June 2023 – closing on 31 July 2023
- Geelong Children's Week – up to $500
Grants for not-for-profit community groups to run activities and events during Children's Week held annually in October.
Opening on 3 June 2023 – closing on 21 August 2023
- Community Infrastructure
Grants for not-for-profit community groups for the planning and delivery of infrastructure projects.
- Planning (up to $50,000): Costs associated with facility development planning, concept designs and detailed designs for future infrastructure projects that demonstrate strong community benefit
- Capital Works (up to $350,000): To assist with cost of ready to go community infrastructure projects. Infrastructure projects must be openly accessible to and have strong community benefits.
- Geelong Heritage
Grants for conserving heritage buildings – including feasibility or planning studies - that have an identified historic value
- Conservation works (Up to 70% of eligible project costs with a maximum of $40,000): Building or streetscape projects that are visible to the public and focus on presentation to a street or public space and have an identified historic value.
- Planning (Up to 100% of eligible project costs with a maximum of $10,000): Feasibility and investigation projects to provide technical, planning, and project scoping advice for future restoration projects
Opening in August 2023 – closing in November 2023
- First Nations Cultural Heritage Grants – (up to $90,000)
Grants for projects that recognise, restore, protect and preserve Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
Grant information sessions
- Wednesday 7 June 2023 at 5:30pm for a 5:45pm start
Q&A session for the Arts Projects, Environmental Sustainability, Community Events, Healthy & Connected Communities and Children's Week Grants.
- Wednesday 14 June 2023 at 5:30pm for a 5:45pm start
Q&A session for Community Infrastructure Grants
Grant writing workshop
- Tuesday, 20 June 2023 at 5:30pm for a 5:45pm start
Fun and practical grant writing workshop
Learn how to clearly explain your project and its benefits, respond to assessment criteria, prepare a budget. Includes tips for a successful application
