Community Grants

This grant is provided to organisations to deliver programs, projects and activities that benefit Stonnington residents and align with Council priorities and strategic direction.

We will fund up to $15,000 for these types of activities: 

• Social and cultural activities and events.
• Minor equipment purchases (less than $2,000).
• Environmental initiatives and programs.
• Health and wellbeing activities.
• Activities that increase opportunities for organised and passive physical exercise.
• Programs addressing priorities announced by Council as part of releasing the community grants program (eg. disaster event, significant social issues etc.)

This grant applies to programs carried out from July 2023 to June 2024.

Please read our guidelines(PDF, 338KB) for more information. 

This grant provides subsidised use of Council venues and community transport services to eligible groups and organisations.

Community Grant Guidelines: In-kind Venues / In-Kind Transport 

Council venues for hire:

• Malvern Town Hall
• Malvern Banquet Hall
• Malvern Community Arts Centre
• Malvern Library Meeting Room
• Chris Gahan Training Room (Google map)
• Phoenix Park Community Centre
• Prahran RSL
• Prahran Square
• Prahran Aquatic Centre
• Grattan Gardens Community Centre
• Orrong Romanis Recreation Centre
• Harold Holt Memorial Swim Centre

Community transport services for hire:

• Regular rostered services with a driver
• Community Group Organised Day trips – with a driver
• Casual bus booking for mini-buses – without a driver^† 

Our Community Transport roster is based on a calendar year (January to December).

Please book your venue or transport service before applying for the grant and attach the booking confirmation to the online grant application. Read our guidelines(PDF, 259KB) for more information on in-kind venue hire and transport services.   

^† Only mini-buses can be booked under this service.

The Quick Response Grant program is available to provide eligible organisations with limited capacity to self-fund and support the delivery of activities or events in response to unforeseen issues or unexpected opportunities that benefit the Stonnington community.

The maximum cash amount offered through this stream is $1,000. As part of the application process, organisations can also apply for in-kind support if the proposed initiative requires the use of a Council venue or community bus. If approved, in-kind support is in addition to the cash grant.

Types of activities that we will fund:

• Unforeseen events or urgent issues posing a risk to existing community groups, programs or events.
• Unexpected initiatives that need Council's support and benefits a community group and/or the wider Stonnington community.
• Groups requiring small assistance to get a new project running or host a small community activity.
• Groups that have missed out on annual grants due to circumstances beyond their control (e.g., incapacity of the person in charge of grants application due to illness).

There will be a limit of one application per group per financial year. Applications close once funds are exhausted.

Please read our guidelines(PDF, 309KB) for more information. 

Applications open August 2023. 

Partnership Grants provide support for 3 years. These are not open for application this year.

Partnership Grants provide funding on a triennial (3 years) basis to support the planning and delivery of community based services, programs and activities. This funding will also support community organisations to plan longer term, attract resources and build strategic partnerships with other organisations in Stonnington.

Eligibility 

To qualify for Community Grants, you must:

• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or an Auspice Organisation with an ABN and written consent.
• Be not-for-profit and incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act or enacted under legislative provisions for charitable purposes; or supported by an Incorporated Association that is deemed to be a not-for-profit, as classified by the Australian Taxation Office (section 103A(2) (c) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936).
• Comply with Victorian Child Safety Standards and attach a Child Safe Policy to the grant applications if you provide services and facilities for children (anyone under 18 years old).
• Have current Public Liability insurance of no less than $20,000,000.
• Have acquitted any previous Council grants and have no outstanding debts to Council.

In addition, applications will only be considered if they:

• Propose an activity that will commence and conclude in the financial year of the grant.
• Propose an activity which takes place within the City of Stonnington boundaries or is part of a broader project that has a clear benefit to the Stonnington community.
• Have beneficial outcomes for the Stonnington community.
• Offer accessible and inclusive activities and programs without discrimination or restrictions.
• Have supplied all financial and other information that is requested.

Please note that organisations in auspice arrangements are not permitted to apply for Partnership Grant.

Ineligibility

• Commercial enterprises.
• Individuals or a project that supports an individual.
• Business as usual – staff salaries and operational expenses except where there is substantial evidence the program would otherwise not operate without funding support.
• Groups with access to revenue from electronic gaming machines.
• Recipients of previous Community Grants who have not returned an acceptable completed acquittal form.
• Proposals from current City of Stonnington employees or contractors.
• Hire of venues of a commercial nature.
• Carnivals, fairs and festivals (please refer to Arts and Cultural Grants Program).
• Political, religious or spiritual organisations where the key focus of the program is to promote their beliefs (this does not include community celebrations of cultural festivals).
• Activities that are considered the responsibility of State or Federal Government to fund (eg. core school curriculum activities).
• Activities that duplicate an existing service or program provided by City of Stonnington.
• Projects that have detrimental environmental impact or produce large quantities of waste.
• Buildings’ structural improvement, refurbishment, building maintenance.
• Retrospective funding (ie. funds for expenditure that has already commenced or occurred).
• Projects/events outside the grant financial year.
• Projects that have already been approved by the Council under another funding program.

Attend our information session to find out about the grant program's application process, selection and assessment criteria, and to have your questions answered:

Community Grants information session

In-person information session:

• Monday, 27 March 2023 - 10.30am to 1.30pm Malvern Town Hall Banquet Room

• Monday, 30 March 2023 - 10.30am to 1.30pm Malvern Town Hall Banquet Room

Online information sessions

•  Monday, 31 March 2023 - 12.3030 to 1.30pm on Zoom

Applications open: Monday 27 March 2023

Applications close: Monday 17 April 2023

Online support sessions

We also offer online support sessions for applicants who may need assistance with the Smarty Grants system and application process. We can support up to 10 people for each virtual session. 

Register your interest by contacting Nat Bachiega on 0438 790 116 or nbachiega@stonninton.vic.gov.au. Zoom links will be sent once you register. 

If your program uses Council venues or community transport services (In Kind Grant), you must book your venue or transport service before sending your application.

Attach your booking confirmation to your online application at Step 5.

• Australian Business Number (ABN)
• Certificate of Incorporation or evidence of legislative provisions for charitable purposes
• Current Certificate of Currency – Public Liability Insurance
• Annual operating budget with full details
• Copy of Annual General Meeting minutes
• Council venue booking confirmation letter (if you're applying for In Kind Grants)
• Auspice organisation's letter of approval (for auspice applicants)
• Copies of quotes for minor equipment or capital works
• Any extra support documents

Grants received by the due date and via the Smarty Grants portal will be assessed. A pre-eligibility check will be undertaken to ensure applications meet the eligibility criteria.

Applications will be assessed against a pre-determined criteria by Council Officers across various areas of Council, then a Council Working Group with a recommendation made to Council for decision. The assessment criteria for each grant program is stated in the guidelines:

• Community Capacity Building Grants(PDF, 338KB)
• Partnership Grants (not open for 2022 - 2023)
• Quick Response Grant(PDF, 309KB)
• In Kind Venue and Bus Hire(PDF, 259KB)

Please view the Community Grants Policy here.(PDF, 367KB) 

An organisation is eligible to apply for the Community Grants if it is a not-for-profit and incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act or enacted under legislative provisions for charitable purposes.

Note that a not-for-profit organisation is an organisation that provides services or undertake activities for the community’s benefits and does not operate to make a profit for its members.

Yes, it can apply for the Community Grants if it enters into an auspice arrangement with an incorporated not-for-profit organisation and provides a letter of approval from the organisation auspicing the project.

Auspice means the incorporated organisation is agreeing to the management of the grant funds on your behalf. If your application is approved, the money will be paid to the named auspice organisation to manage the funds on your behalf.

Organisations in auspice arrangement are not permitted to apply for the Partnership Grant (triennial).

Only two applications will be supported. If an organisation has an existing partnership grant and is due to receive its second of three years of funding, this will be counted as one application.

Yes, as long as it applies for funding for different projects.

No.

Note that the Community Grants Program can fund the purchase of equipment up to $2,000.

This will depend on the proposed project or program, including the issue you are seeking to address. Please read the Grant Guidelines carefully. Community Capacity Building Grants can provide project funding and in-kind support, where in-kind support provide for use of a venue or community transport.

You can submit an application via the Smarty Grants portal from 27 March 2023. Community Grants closed 17 April 2023.

No. If it is for the same project, there is one application required to be completed whether you are applying for Community Capacity Building grant, In-Kind Grant or both.

Depending on the grant/s you are applying for, the form will automatically highlight the sections that must be completed in your application.

No. You may only apply for an in-kind grant at the locations listed within the Community Grants program Guidelines In-kind (facilities hire).

No. Funding will not be considered for Community Capacity Building grants for the hire of a venue for commercial purposes. 

Grants are assessed by a panel of Council Officers against the assessment criteria (see grant guidelines). Council makes a final decision on whether to endorse the grant.

Applicants will receive their assessment outcome in late July or early August.