Community Grants Program

Central Park Tennis Club members Sharon Clough and Keith Starick (web).png

The HRCC Community Grants Program allocates funding to enhance and support the many different not-for-profit community groups in the HRCC municipality.

Community Grants will be allocated through four (4) separate grants streams, each with unique funding rounds, guidelines, application forms and reporting requirements.

Please make sure you read the new guidelines before making an application.

Grant funding streams

Community Development Grants - NEW ROUND OPENING 3 FEB 2025

This stream allocates funding to help not-for-profit groups in the Horsham municipality to improve facilities and work together for more engaged and healthy communities.

In 2024, Council provided community development grants of $137,548 to organisations to support projects in our community.

Applications for the 2025/2026 round open on Monday 3 February 2025 and close on Monday 3 March 2025.

Grant Guidelines

Submitting an application

Apply on-line here (link available after opening date)

If you have any questions after reading the Grant Guidelines or require any additional information when completing your application, please contact the Community Grants Team on 53829777.

If you require assistance to complete the on-line form, our Community Grants Team can help, please contact Customer Service to make an appointment by calling 53829777.

Grant Information Sessions

This year, our grants program is using a new application process (called SmartyGrants). While the application questions are very similar to previous years, the on-line application form will look a little different and requires applicants to register prior to commencing an application.

Applicants are encouraged to attend a Grant Information Session to learn about the Grants program and the new application process.

Information session 1

Wednesday 12 February from 6.00pm to 7.00pm at the Horsham Civic Centre, 18 Roberts Avenue Horsham

Information session 2

Thursday 13 February from 6.00pm to 7.00pm at Natimuk NC2 (old Council Chambers), 62 Main Street Natimuk

Please RSVP by Tuesday 11 February if you are planning to attend one of these sessions by email to grants@hrcc.vic.gov.au or 53829777

Assessment of applications

Applications received by the closing date of 3 March 2025 will be assessed and applicants notified of the outcome in early May 2025.

Community Event Grants - RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

Council's Event Grants Program helps not-for-profit groups in the municipality deliver inclusive community events for our Horsham Municipality.

Applications opened 1 May 2024 and closed 31 May 2024.

List of successful applications

A total of 25 events have received funding totaling $69,960.

There will be no second round of funding made available in November as the annual funding has been exhausted in the first round.

List of events funded(PDF, 53KB)

Please note all donations under Round 1 must be claimed prior to 31 December 2025.

Event Grant Guidelines(PDF, 1MB)

Youth - NOW OPEN

Youth grants aim to support community activities and projects that benefit young people who live, work or study in our municipality.

Grant funding through this stream will start from 1 July 2024.

Minimum grant request is $200.
Maximum grant request is $2,500.

The funding priorities for the Youth Grants stream align with Council’s Youth Strategy.

APPLY NOW

Youth Grant Guidelines(PDF, 633KB)

Quick Response Grants - NOW OPEN

The Quick Response Small Grants stream aims to support urgent and short-term requests for funding support from not-for-profit groups within our community.

Applicants should first consider if they can apply within the timelines of other grant programs (refer 1, 2 or 3 above). If these timelines are restrictive, applicants may apply for a Quick Response Small Grant.

Minimum grant request is $200
Maximum grant request $1,000

The funding priorities for the Quick Response Small Grants stream align with the key priorities of the current Council Plan, Youth Strategy, Community Inclusion Plan and Age Friendly Communities Implementation Plan.

APPLY NOW

Quick Response Grants Guidelines(PDF, 970KB)

How to claim a successful Grant allocation

Grants of less than $1,000 will be automatically paid to the grant recipient in October 2024.

Grants of $1,000 or more require a Completion Report with the following documentation attached and forwarded to Council:

Substantiation of your group’s expenditure on the project in accordance with the grant application (for example, a copy of a supplier’s invoice to your organisation)
An invoice from your organisation to Horsham Rural City Council requesting payment of the grant. Your organisation’s invoice should not include GST as the contribution is considered a donation under GST law
A photograph of your completed project.

Please submit the Completion Report online here.

If you have any queries regarding payment of your grant, please contact Karen Maybery, Coordinator General Accounting Unit, on 53829733 or karen.maybery@hrcc.vic.gov.au.