Community Grants

The City of Greater Bendigo's Community Grants Program provides an opportunity for not-for-profit groups or a registered business to develop projects that complement areas identified as priorities in the Community Plan 2017-2021.
 

Community Grants Policy and Program Review

The City of Greater Bendigo's Community Granting Policy (2018) and Program is undergoing a review to help shape the program for the future.   The community engagement period for this review is now complete, and the City extends it appreciation to everyone who participated.  The feedback and learnings from the engagement period are now being analysed, and the outcomes of the review will inform the development of a new draft policy. The City is planning on asking the community for feedback on the draft community grants policy towards the end of this year.

Love Your Local Volunteers – Community Group Reactivation Grants (temporary until December 31, 2021)

In response to the impacts of COVID-19, the City has established temporary Community Group Reactivation Grants. To be eligible for these grants, you must be an incorporated not-for-profit community group or organisation.

The Community Group Reactivation Grants are for initiatives that encourage a reactivation of volunteers, members and community participation. It also hopes to increase community connections and networks during the COVID-19 recovery.

Open grants

• Community Group Reactivation Grants - up to $3,000
  • Closes December 31, 2021 at 5pm
  • Apply for a Community Group Reactivation Grant
  • Enquiries [email protected]
• Community Group Essentials grants - up to $3,000
  • Round now open
  • Apply for a Community Group Essentials grant
  • Can apply at any time
  • Enquiries [email protected]
• Small grants - up to $3,000
  • Round now open
  • Apply for a Small Grant
  • Can apply at any time
  • Enquiries [email protected]
     
• Town Hall Community Use Subsidy Program
  • Round now open
  • Apply for a Community Use subsidy
  • Can apply at any time, but has to be six months prior to event
  • Enquiries [email protected]

Closed grants

• Medium grants - up to $10,000
  • Opens November 1, closes on Tuesday November 30 2021 at 5pm (no late submissions will be accepted)
  • Apply for a Medium Community Grant
  • Enquiries [email protected]

• Great Ideas grants
  • Under review 
• Large grants – up $25,000 
  • Under review 

Preparing your application

Online tutorial

This short online tutorial assists groups and organisations who are considering applying for a City community grant. The tutorial contains information on how to address grant criteria and clearly articulate your project (the what, why, how and who), information on eligibility, and general grant writing tips and information.

View the City's online grant writing tutorial.

Resources to assist with grant applications:

• Community Grants – Guidelines - 2018-2021
• Applying for a Community Grant Tutorial
• Successful Grant Application Tutorial
• Great Ideas Grant - Guide 
• Event Management Plan
• Community Grants Budget Template
• Greater Bendigo Community Plan
• Greater Bendigo Health and Wellbeing Plan
• Active Living Census

Evaluating your project

If you are a recipient of a grant you are required to submit a project evaluation within 60 days of the completion of your project. Go to the Community Grants Project Evaluation Form.