Grants program

Community Small Grants

One-off grants up to $2,000.

Available to: Not-for-profit organisations and community groups seeking funding for projects, programs, celebrations, equipment and/or new group start-up support (see separate application for new group start-up grants).

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

For more information about eligibility and how to apply view our Community Small Grants Guidelines(PDF, 378KB).

Apply now

Community Small Grant - New Group Start-up

Funding is available to assist new not-for-profit community groups to become established and incorporated.

Eligible costs include:

• Incorporation and insurance fees
• Stationery, materials or equipment
• Member recruitment activities
• Hire of meeting spaces

Groups can be unincorporated at the time of application but must become incorporated and provide a bank account in the group's name for the grant payment and provide evidence of incorporation in their final acquittal report. Each applicant can receive one small grant per financial year.

Apply now

One-off grants up to $10,000.

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

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

For more information about eligibility and how to apply view our Community Bi-annual Grant Guidelines(PDF, 411KB) .

Round 2

Opens 22 June 2026 at 9am and closes 19 July 2026 at midnight.
Applications for Round 2 will be considered at a Council meeting on 14 December 2026, and applicants will be notified via email soon after.
The total funding available for Round 2 is $98,000.

Apply now

Local Business Community Impact

If you are applying for the Local Business Community Impact category, apply below.

Apply now

Round 1

Closed 1 March 2026
These applications will be considered at Council Meeting 22 June 2026 and applicants will be notified via email.

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

Available to: Not-for-profit organisations and community groups.

For more information about eligibility and how to apply view our Operational and Partnership Grant Guidelines(PDF, 730KB).

Multicultural & Seniors

Applications for 2027-2030 round will open 2 November 2026 and close 21 February 2027.
Year 3 Applications considered at a Council meeting 22 June 2026, applicants notified via email soon after.

Welfare Services

Applications for 2027-2030 round will open 2 November 2026 and close 21 February 2027.

Neighbourhood Houses & Community Centres 

Applications for 2027-2030 round will open 2 November 2026 and close 21 February 2027.

Community Interest Organisations 

Applications for 2027-2030 round will open 2 November 2026 and close 21 February 2027.

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

For eligibility and how to apply read our Community Event Grant Guidelines(PDF, 392KB).

Available to: Not-for-profit organisations and community groups to support community festivals and events.

Applications for 2027-2030 round will open 2 November 2026 and close 21 February 2027.

Following a decision by Council at its 27 April 2026 meeting, the Individual Development Grants Stream will no longer be available after 30 June 2026.
Funds exhausted for the 2025-26 financial year, round is closed.

What is changing?

• 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.
• There is an updated formula for Neighbourhood Houses and Community Centres and Multicultural & Seniors categories.
• New local business community impact grants are now available through the Community bi-annual grants.
• Following a decision by Council at its 27 April 2026 meeting, the Individual Development Grant Stream will no longer be available after 30 June 2026.
• Annual funding priorities for Community Small Grants and Bi-annual Grants have been introduced by Council.  Check relevant Guidelines for priorities.

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 Kingston Grants Program streams?

1. Community Small Grants

• Community Projects & Programs
• Community Celebrations
• Small Equipment
• Capacity Building
• New Group Start-up Support

3. Community Bi-annual Grants

• Community Projects & Programs
• Small Community Events
• Minor Capital Works
• Arts Projects & Programs
• Local Business Community Impact Grants

4. Operational and Partnership Grants

• Neighbourhood Houses & Community Centres
• Welfare Services
  - Emergency Relief
  - Welfare Support
• Community Interest Organisations
• Multicultural & Seniors

5. Community Events Grants

When will the changes come into effect?

Changes to Community Events Grants and Operational & Partnership Grants are taking effect from 1 July 2027.
**Changes to Bi-annual and Community Small Grants are taking effect from 1 July 2026.
Individual Development Grants cease 1 July 2026.

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.

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 incorporated to apply for a grant?

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.

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 (AIP) 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 our Community Bi-annual Grant Guidelines(PDF, 411KB)  for further information.

What is the eligibility criteria for Local Businesses applying for a Bi-annual Grant?

Your local small business must:

• be a registered business located within Kingston Council
• be a for-profit business operating in Kingston for a minimum of 12 months
• annual turnover of less than $1million
• provide your Australian Business Number (ABN)

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

If you are requesting $2,000 or less, you can apply to the community small grants.

If you are requesting up to $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.

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 relevant grant guidelines 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?

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.  Contact Grants team with any changes as a Variation Request Form will need to be completed.

What is a Variation Request Form?

If there are any changes to your funded project, such as the date, venue or activity outlined in your Funding Agreement, you must contact the Kingston Grants Team at community@kingston.vic.gov.au and submit a Variation Request Form for approval before proceeding.

Do I need to hold my event in Kingston?

Yes.