The City of Greater Bendigo has reviewed and re-opened its Community Grants Program to make it fairer and easier and to provide more support for local groups who want to apply for funding under the program.
Grants now open include the Community Group Essentials and Small grant categories which both provide grants of up to $2,000 to help community groups afford things that are essential for them to function and that support activities that will align with the aims of the Greater Bendigo’s Council Plan 2021-2025 Mir wimbul.
Medium Grants of up to $10,000 will open on July 14 and close on August 15. Medium Grants support activities that also contribute to the Council Plan, Healthy Greater Bendigo or local community plan goals. Other grants available through the program include Partnering for Impact and Community Christmas Meal Events grants.
City of Greater Bendigo Acting Director Manager Healthy Communities and Environments Andie West said the City is asking all interested community groups and organisations to contact the City first before making a grant application.
“The Community Grants Program is fantastic for local groups as they would often not be able to undertake important activities that benefit our community without this funding,” Ms West said.
“Last year we reviewed the program and developed a new policy to ensure the program is meeting community need, is fairer and easier to apply and to ensure that the activities we fund complement the City’s priorities.
“One of the things we found during the review was that pre-planning by groups applying for funding through the program is the key to success.
“Therefore, we are now asking groups interested in applying for a grant to talk to one of our staff before they submit their application as this will ensure their application meets the required criteria and will have more chance of success.
“The City is also utilising new web portal called Smartygrants which will make it easier for groups to submit their funding applications.
“Each year the Council allocates approximately $850,000 through the program and its various grant categories. It’s an important program and we want to see as many groups as possible accessing funding through the program,”
