Grants program

One-off grants up to $2,000.

Applications are now open.

Available to: Not-for-profit organisations and community groups seeking funding for projects, programs, celebrations, equipment and/or start-up support.

Grants are awarded monthly and applications are assessed within four weeks until funding exhausted.  Each applicant can receive a maximum of one grant per financial year

Community small grants

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Community small grants - Start up

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One-off grants between $2,001 and $10,000.

Available to: Not-for-profit organisations, community groups and artists looking for projects, programs, small events and minor capital works funding.

Applications for funding consideration for the 2025/26 financial year:

Each applicant is eligible to receive a maximum of one bi-annual grant per financial year.

Round 1: 20 January to 28 February 2025 (closed)
Applications for Round 1 were considered at Council meeting on 23 June 2025, applicants notified.

Round 2 : 14 July to 10 August 2025 (closed)

Applications for Round 2 will be considered at a Council meeting on 15 December 2025, and applicants will be notified soon after. 

Next round will open January 2026.

These grants provide up to three years of funding in various categories.

Available to: Not-for-profit organisations and community groups. Applicants are eligible to apply once per financial year.

Applications closed.

Funding was determined at Council meeting on 23 June 2025, applicants will be notified.

Multicultural & Seniors

Applications closed.

Neighbourhood Houses & Community Centres 

Applications closed.

Specialist Community & Welfare Services

Applications closed.

Community Interest Organisations 

Applications closed.

Grants of up to $25,000 annually for up to three years.

Available to: Not-for-profit organisations and community groups to support community festivals and events. Applicants are eligible to apply once per financial year.  

Applications closed.

Funding determined at Council meeting on 23 June 2025, applicants will be notified.  

One-off grants of up to $600.

Applications for Individual Development Grants are now open.

Available to: Individual Kingston residents to compete, perform or represent at a state, national or international level in their chosen discipline.

Applications are assessed every two to four weeks until funding is exhausted.

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What is changing?

• All applications will be asked to show how they support the Council and Wellbeing Plan 2025–29.
• The way grants are assessed has been simplified, so it’s clearer how decisions are made.
• Some grant categories have been renamed to make them easier to understand:
  • The Operational & Partnership – Specialist Community & Welfare Services Grants will now be called Welfare Services Grants.
    • Welfare Services Grants will now include new categories for Emergency Relief and Welfare Support.
  • Community Festivals, Events & Creative Activities will now be called Community Events Grants.
  • Start-up Support grants will now be called New Group Start-up Support.
• Community groups can now apply for any amount up to $10,000 in Community Bi-annual Grants (no lower limit).
• The funding formula for Community Centres & Neighbourhood Houses will be updated after these organisations are consulted.
• The qualitative component of the Multicultural & Seniors category funding formula will  no longer require review by the Kingston Grants Program Assessment Panel.
• Eligibility for Community Interest Organisations is clearer outlining who can apply.

Additionally, Council will look into whether businesses that provide clear community benefits can be supported with grants. Findings and recommendations will be reported in December 2025 with the updated Kingston Grants Program Policy.

Why are these changes taking place?

Council introduced a new Grants program in January 2024. To ensure the program is delivering maximum community benefit, Council evaluated the new program and has made some additional changes based on community and stakeholder feedback.

What are the new Kingston Grants Program grant streams?

• Individual Development Grants
• Community Small Grants
• • Community Projects & Programs
  • Community Celebrations
  • Small Equipment
  • Capacity Building
  • New Group Start-up Support
• Community Bi-annual Grants
• • Community Projects & Programs
  • Small Community Festivals & Events
  • Minor Capital Works
  • Arts Projects & Programs
• Operational and Partnership Grants
• • Community Centres & Neighbourhood Houses
  • Welfare Services
  • • Emergency Relief
    • Welfare Support
  • Community Interest Organisations
  • Multicultural & Seniors
• Community Events Grants

When will the changes come into effect?

Changes to Individual Development Grants, Community Small Grants and Community Bi-annual Grants will take effect from 1 January 2026.

Changes to Community Events Grants and Operational & Partnership Grants are taking effect from 1 July 2027.

Will this affect my current grant?

No. Existing grant funding and applications for funding will not be impacted

Where can I find out more?

Please contact the Kingston Grants Team with any enquiries on 1300 653 356 or community@kingston.vic.gov.au.

My group/organisation/club meets in a venue that has pokies, am I eligible to apply for a grant?

Council won’t fund:

• Organisations that receive a direct income from gambling activities, undertake or promote gambling
• Activities that undertake or promote gambling
• The lease/hire or use of a venue with gaming machines or other forms of gambling, unless the venue offers a unique setting and there is no viable alternative.

My group/organisation/club has a liquor license, am I eligible to apply for a grant?

Yes. However, your funding cannot be spent on alcohol.

My group/organisation/club is no longer eligible for a partnership grant, can we still apply for a grant?

You may be eligible to apply for other grants. Please see grant eligibility criteria in the grants program guidelines 2025-26 for each grant stream.

We received less funding than last year, are we able to apply for more from another grant stream?

Applicants can apply to multiple grant streams for different activities.

Do not-for-profits need to be registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria, or is being a legally incorporated association acceptable?

Organisations must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be legally constituted as an incorporated association, company limited by guarantee, or Aboriginal Corporation, or auspiced by another legally constituted organisation (auspice) for the activity proposed in the application.
• Be not-for-profit and managed by a volunteer board/committee of management, or auspiced by a not-for-profit managed by a volunteer board/committee of management.

Please contact Council’s Social Inclusion Officer on 1300 653 356 for support with not-for-profit registration.

What is the eligibility criteria for minor capital works?

In addition to other eligibility criteria, applicants to the community bi-annual grants – minor capital works category are required to provide:

• Approval in principle from Council for Council-owned property.
• A letter of approval from the property owner for non-Council property.

You may also be required to provide a co-contribution. Please see grants program guidelines 2025-2026 for further information.

I want to apply for funding for a small community event, which grant stream should I use?

If you are requesting $2000 or less, you can apply to the community small grants.

If you are requesting between $2001 and $10,000, you can apply for a community bi-annual grant.

Can I submit multiple applications?

Multiple applications for different grants streams may be submitted from the same applicant to request funding for different activities. If multiple applications are submitted for the same activity, no more than one application can be funded.

What If I submit an incomplete application?

Applicants are required to submit a complete application within the advertised application opening period, including attachments or other supporting information requested by Council.

Council officers will make contact to advise applicants of incomplete applications prior to the closing date. It is the responsibility of the applicant to supply all necessary information by the closing date, or assessment commencement date, to be eligible for assessment.

Late applications due to exceptional circumstances can be approved/declined for assessment by the Manager Inclusive Communities. Exceptional circumstances do not include illness, leave, or holidays of one community group/family member.

What can and can't be funded under each stream?

Please see grants program guidelines 2025-2026 for descriptions of what can/cannot be funded under each grant stream.

What if I receive event funding and the venue I planned to use is no longer available? If I book another venue, will Council fund the gap?

Council will only fund the amount requested in the funding application. Receipt of a grant does not constitute or guarantee a venue booking. It is the applicant’s responsibility to book the venue and ensure the grant application covers all venue hire costs. A change in venue or increase to venue hire costs after the grant is awarded, will not result in an increase in funding.