Main Grant Round

Applications for the 2025-26 Grants are now closed.

To watch a 50 minute recording of the Main Grant Round Information Session click here and use passcode: =?g7T8nn. Please note that while the information was recorded for the 2024/25 Main Grant Round the information applies to the 2025/26 Main Grant Round.

To help you navigate through to the content that’s relative to you we have identified the key sections of the video with their corresponding times below.

00:01- Welcome
01:40- New Grant Streams
06:30- Core grant information
08:27- Grant Eligibility
10:10- Grant Assessment Process
11:28- Key dates
12:35- Grant Application Instructions
14:01- Grant Application Word Document
14:51- Grant Application Form Guidance Document- Tips on how to respond
33:47- Budget, Narrative and Project Plan- Tips on how to complete
44:06- Grant Auspice Confirmation Form
46:25- Online Application Form
50:00- Close and thank you.

 

2025/26 Main Grant Round

The Geelong Community Foundation Main Grant Round will open for applications on Monday 9 December. Applications will be accepted for activities that align with the Foundation’s four grant streams.

  • Food and Emergency Support
  • Health, Resilience and Connection
  • Education and Employment; and
  • Environment and Sustainability

For more information on eligible grant activities, click here.

Applicants can apply for grants that support organisational activity, new and existing program delivery, new and existing projects and capacity building initiatives. Grant funding can be used for operational, salary and capital expenditure, or a combination of these. Grant funding cannot be used for expenses that have already been incurred.

Activities must be delivered within the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surf Coast Shire and Golden Plains Shire. Projects can be delivered over a 1-3 year period.

Applications can be submitted for grants between $1,000 and $100,000.

Small Grant Applications

Applications for grants of $1,000 – $15,000 should be completed on the Foundation’s Small Grant Application Form. Applications for small grants require less information than the main grant program.

Applications for small grants will support one-off activity for a period of one-year only.

General Grant Applications

Applications for grants of $15,001- $100,000 should be completed on the Foundation’s General Grant Application Form.

Please note that only a small number of large grants ($50,000+) and multi-year grants are available. If you intend to submit an application for a large or multi-year grant, please contact our Program and Impact Manager Charlotte Walker via 03 5244 7831 or grants@geelongfoundation.org to discuss your application.

Grant Eligibility Requirements

  • Only one application per organisation can be submitted
  • Grant applicants must be endorsed as either a Deductible Gift Recipient 1 (DGR1) or Tax Concession Charity (TCC) or have a confirmed auspice arrangement with an organisation that has either DGR1 or TCC status.
  • Grant applicants (or confirmed auspice organisation) must be registered with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC) with current and up-to-date reporting on the ACNC register.
  • Auspice organisations are eligible to auspice one application in addition to their own application
  • Organisations that are predominantly funded by state government are ineligible to apply. i.e. public hospitals and public schools.
  • The grant application must be for the delivery of an activity within the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surf Coast Shire and Golden Plains Shire.

If you are unsure of your status, please contact Charlotte Walker, Program and Impact Manager on 03 5244 7831 or grants@geelongfoundation.org before you commence your application.

Grant Assessment

Grant Applications will be reviewed by staff of the Foundation and the Foundation’s Grants Committee. Applications will be assessed in line with the Foundation’s grants criteria and scoring matrix and will be prioritised for funding based on the need in the community and the intended impact of the activity.

Organisations may be required to present their case for funding at a face-to-face interview with members of the Grants Committee.

A number of small grant applications will be allocated to the Schools in Philanthropy (SIP) Program for review and recommendation.  Applications allocated to the SIP Program will be required to participate in an organisational visit with students from the participating schools. Organisations will be informed if their application has been allocated to the SIP Program in early March 2025.

All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in mid-May 2025.

Key Dates

  • Applications open Monday 9 December 2024
  • Applications close 11:59pm Monday 10 February 2025
  • Applications allocated to the Schools in Philanthropy Program will be notified in early March 2025
  • Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in mid-May 2025
  • Funding will be provided in June 2025 following the receipt of an executed grant agreement
  • Successful applicants will be invited to attend the Foundation’s Annual Grant Reception on Thursday 29th May 2025
  • Grant delivery to commence 1 July 2025

2025/26 Main Grant Round Application Instructions

To apply for the 2025/26 Main Grant Round, you will need to complete the online application form.

Before you complete the application form you should review the Grant Agreement Terms and Conditions to ensure that your organisation will be able to comply with the requirements of the grant.

Small Grant Application

To apply for a Small Grant of up to $15,000 complete the online Small Grant Application Form.

General Grant Application

To apply for a Grant for greater than $15,000 complete the online General Grant Application Form.

We recommend that you download the word version of the Grant Application Form and prepare your response within the word document. You will then be able to cut and paste your answers from the word version into the online application form when you are ready to submit.

Small Grant applications are required to include a Budget and General Grant applications are required to include a Budget, Narrative and Activity Work Plan.

Please refer to the Grant Application Form Guidance document for tips on how to respond to each question in the Application Form and the Budget, Narrative and Activity Work Plan.

If your organisation does not have DGR1 or TCC status you will need to have an auspice arrangement in place in order to apply for the grant and you will need to upload an Auspice Confirmation as part of your application.

If you require any further information or would like to discuss your grant application, which is strongly encouraged, please contact Charlotte Walker on 03 5244 7831 or grants@geelongfoundation.org or Amy Waters on 0413 868 721 or amy@geelongfoundation.org.

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