Community grants

Applications closed for 2022-23 financial year – Up to $7,500

One-off funding to provide help to not-for-profit community groups offer support or relief in response to local community needs. 

This funding is for a broad range of items to meet the needs of the organisation, such as:

• minor equipment
• rent
• utility bills 
• training and materials 

Helping organisations respond to the needs of the Frankston community through: 

• supply of food 
• mental health support
• health and well-being initiatives 
• equipment  
• community connection.

Applicants must:

• prove the need for the funds
• show how they will address a community need. 

Note: Date has been changed due to change in reporting processes.

Please read the Annual Community Grant Guidelines(PDF, 736KB) for more information 

Applications closed for 2022-23 financial year - $5,000 per successful recipient

Frankston City Council is proud to support local artists to create work that contributes to our vibrancy, culture and community.

One-off funding to support the development of new creative work that results in a public outcome within the municipality by 30 June 2023.

Funding is available to:

• individual artists
• creatives
• artists practicing within a small arts organisation.

We welcome applications from artists

• from all backgrounds and abilities
• at any stage of their career whether emerging, mid-career, or established.

Funding will be distributed to 6 successful recipients, with one of the grants dedicated to realise creative projects for/and/or with deaf and disabled artists (where possible/applicable).

We also welcome applications that engage with these communities in a meaningful and significant way.

 Please read the Artist Project Grant Guidelines(PDF, 667KB) for more information. 

Applications open 1 August 2022 until funds are fully spent or 30 May 2023 - 2 funding streams

Frankston City Council values and supports young people. As part of the 2021-2025 Frankston City Council Plan and Health and Wellbeing Plan, the Child & Youth Inclusion (CAYI) Grant aims to support young people participating in: 

• formal education  
• recreational programs and activities.

Funding supports the inclusion of the following Frankston residents who are experiencing financial disadvantage:

Stream 1: Education & Pathway

12-24 year olds who do not have the financial means to:

• buy required materials and equipment
• cover course fees for formal education, training and career aspirations.

Stream 2: Recreation

5-18 year olds who do not have the financial means to:

• pay for compulsory fees and/or uniform to take part in recreational activities within Frankston municipality (e.g. school camps, sporting activities, creative activities including dance, music or art).

Please read our Child & Youth Inclusion Grant Guidelines(PDF, 573KB) for more information.

Apply now  

Closed for financial years 2022-2025

Triennial (over 3 years) funding to support the operation of selected not-for-profit community service organisations that:

• provide unique, specialised, continuous and significant service to the community where their
• offer services or programs which align with Council priorities. 

Community organisations include:

• neighbourhood houses or community centres
• senior groups
• organisations with priority specialist service provisions
• volunteer emergency service organisations

Organisations or groups who have been a recipient of a Community Grant and not receiving Community Service Partnership Grants may be invited by Council to apply for a Community Service Partnership Grant in the next funding period upon application.

Organisations or groups applying must:

• show their ability to meet the criteria  
• have met funding requirements for previous Council grants.

Guidelines for next funding period will be provided to eligible organisations closer to the date.

Applications closed for 2022/2023 financial year.

Frankston City Council has adopted the Greening our Future Environment Strategy (2014-2024) and funding is available to support community organisations with environmental and sustainability projects that support the strategic vision for Frankston City’s future.

The four key themes of the Strategy are:

1. Protecting and enhancing natural assets (such as: planting indigenous trees, bush food garden, bush regeneration activities)
2. Wise use of natural resources (such as: water efficient garden beds, purchase of zero waste event kit, community renewable energy project)
3. Minimising environmental impacts (such as: bicycle maintenance workshop, sustainable house tours, vertical/roof top gardens)
4. Educating and engaging the community (such as: promotion via workshops, newsletter, social media, posters, media release).

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that the project:

• contributes to at least one positive environmental outcome (themes 1, 2 and 3) 
• has community education and engagement (theme 4) components
• has a point of difference and is outside the scope of their normal day-to-day operations

There are two tiers of funding in the Environmental Sustainability Grants

Tier 1 (up to $1,000)

Supports smaller environmental and sustainability projects

Tier 2 (up to $5,000)

Supports environmental and sustainability projects that aims for longer lasting change and greater community reach.

Please read our Environmental Sustainability Grant Guidelines(PDF, 785KB)  for more information.

Applications closed for 2022/2023 financial year.

One-off funding to support works that conserve and enhance places of heritage significance in Frankston municipality.

Funding is for registered sites of heritage significance within Frankston City.

The Local Heritage Preservation Grant (LHPG) provides financial assistance for the following 4 reasons:

• maintenance
• repair
• restoration; and
• enhancement works.

For more information, visit Local Heritage Preservation Grant Program.

Applications open for FY2022/23 until funds are fully spent or up to 30 May 2023 - Up to $1,000

Please note: This grant has nearly exhausted its funding pool, therefore only applications that have exceptional urgent needs will be considered.

One-off funding to provide assistance to not-for-profit community groups with limited capacity to self-fund and support the delivery of activities or events in response to unforeseen issues or unexpected opportunities that will benefit the Frankston community.

Types of activities we may fund:

• unforeseen or urgent needs of the organisation (e.g. equipment, rent, utility bills, training etc)
• unexpected initiatives that needs Council’s support and to respond to the immediate needs of the Frankston community, such as: 
  • supply of food
  • mental health support
  • health and well-being initiatives
  • equipment  
  • community connection
• groups who need small assistance to get a new project running or host a small community activity
• groups that have missed out on the Annual Community Grants due to circumstances beyond their control

This grant is not available for applicants who have received other Council funding for the same activity in the same financial year. 

Please read our Urgent Grant Guidelines(PDF, 757KB) for more information.

Apply

Annual Community Grants (information drop-in session)

• Wednesday 3 August 2022
• 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
• online via Zoom: please email communitygrants@frankston.vic.gov.au for the Zoom link.

Annual Community Grants

• Wednesday 10 August 2022
• 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm
  30 minute information session followed by 45 minute drop-in session
• Frankston City Library
  60 Playne Street, Frankston

Child & Youth Inclusion Grants

Session 1: drop-in session

• Tuesday 23 August 2022
• 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
• Frankston North Community Centre
  26 Mahogany Ave, Frankston North  

Session 2: drop-in session

• Wednesday 24 August 2022
• 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm  
• Frankston Youth Central
  60A Playne Street, Frankston

Session 3: drop-in session

• Wednesday 24 August 2022
• 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm  
• Frankston City Library
  60 Playne Street, Frankston

We offer one-on-one support sessions for applicants who need extra help. Please contact us if you are unable to attend the information sessions and you need help:

• using the SmartyGrants system  
• completing your application. 

If you need the assistance of an interpreter, please phone 13 14 50. 

If you are deaf, hard of hearing and/or have a speech impairment you can contact Council using the National Relay Service (NRS).

You can submit an application via the SmartyGrants portal.

SmartyGrants have a comprehensive help guide for applicants on their website which takes you through the application process step-by-step. Download it as a PDF or work your way through it online.

If you have not used SmartyGrants before, you will need to create an account. To register:

1. Visit the Community Grants page and click on apply.
2. You will go to another page where you can either click on Log in or Start a Submission. Both options will take you to another page.
3. You can then register by clicking on Register button.

This will depend on the proposed project or program. Please read the grant guidelines for each of the grants carefully.

You can contact the SmartyGrants support team on 03 9320 6888 and quote your application ID.

No. Council is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and is therefore discouraging the use of paper applications. 

If you need assistance with your online application, we offer a range of in-person sessions for those who may not have technical skills to apply online. If you are unable to attend the sessions above and require help, please call Cristina Collins on 03 9784 1035 / 0488 599 717 or email communitygrants@frankston.vic.gov.au.

This will depend on the proposed project or program. Please read the grant guidelines for each of the grants carefully.

In general, a community group or organisation is eligible to apply for the Annual Community Grant if it is not-for-profit. It must also be either incorporation or enacted under legislation provisions for charitable purposes.

Not-for-profit organisations provides services or undertake activities for the community’s benefit and does not operate to make a profit from its members or clients.

An incorporated group is a not-for-profit community group or club that operates as a separate legal entity. As an incorporation, groups have the ability to enter into a number of legal agreements such as:

• the purchase or lease of assets or property
• opening bank accounts
• applying for Public Liability Insurance
• signing contracts
• applying for grants.

As separate entities, incorporations are more likely to be recognised by funding bodies, government organisations and businesses and as such have a greater probability of entering into business agreements and contracts.

Yes, community groups that are not incorporated can enter into an auspice agreement with an incorporated not-for-profit organisation (evidence required).

An Auspicing Agreement is a legal contract where the auspicing body (the incorporation) takes on the legal and financial responsibilities of the individual or community, without carrying out any of the duties of the project. Through an auspicing agreement both parties agree to work together to meet the terms and conditions outlined by the grant provider. The auspicing body acts on the applicant’s behalf to manage and disperse grant funds, sign agreements with grant providers and provide insurance cover. The applicant is responsible for carrying out the activity for which funding is provided, and ensuring they work within the parameters of the funding agreement, however overall accountability falls to the auspicing body.

Organisations in auspice arrangement are not permitted to apply for the Community Service Partnership Grant.

Council wants to ensure that all projects are run safely and that community groups are protected from potential compensation claims if something goes wrong. Your group has a legal responsibility to provide a safe environment for participants and the general public in any activity, event or service.

Public Liability Insurance financially protects your group against claims of third party property damage or injury. Should your group be found negligent or responsible for damages claimed, you are obliged to cover any costs incurred and additional legal fees. Without Public Liability Insurance, this can potentially reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. For this reason, Council will not release funds to any group that does not have Public Liability Insurance. If your group is auspiced, make sure you are covered by your auspicing body’s insurance policy.

Most insurance companies and brokers offer Public Liability Insurance. Details on where to find the best insurance coverage for your community group is available online. Either visit individual insurance providers, or type ‘Public Liability Insurance for Incorporations/Community Groups’ in your search engine.

Funding is allocated on the premise of one application, per organisation, per financial year. However, an organisation may be the successful recipient of a community grant and also be eligible to submit a separate application to the Environmental Sustainability Grants Program for an environmental project for example.

Guidelines and assessment criteria for each funding category must be adhered to. If you are representing more than one group or project, SmartyGrants gives you the ability to submit numerous applications from the same login account.

No.

Council has a responsibility to ensure all funding is awarded to legitimate projects and community groups. Submitting an Annual Report and Financial Statement in your application validates the legal entity of the incorporated applicant or the applicant’s auspicing body.

If the Financial Report is included in the Annual Report, the Annual Report can be attached twice in the application.

If the Financial Report is a separate document, separate reports will need to be attached to the application.

As a funding provider, Council needs to ascertain what impact your project has within the community and how the community will benefit from it. Determining who benefits directly and indirectly is dependent on the nature of your project.

Direct numbers refer to those who will directly benefit from your project. They can be your Committee of Management; your volunteers; the participants you have designed your project for.

Indirect numbers refer to the people who will still benefit from your project but have no direct involvement in it. This group can include the participants as well as the wider community e.g. families of participants; other community groups; and, or local businesses. Indirect numbers are much harder to quantify.

Here’s an example: The Community Strengthening sports club has five committee members, 10 volunteers, 30 members and six coaches. They have applied for a grant to buy a new computer to improve their administrative process as well as for marketing and communication. The direct beneficiaries would be the five committee members since they would be directly using the computer. The indirect beneficiaries would be the volunteers, members, coaches and the wider community which could be approximately 200 plus Frankston residents as they would be also benefitting from the improved administrative service and communication from the club.

An in-kind contribution is where a contribution is made to a project or activity without money being exchanged. This includes:

• voluntary labour
• donations of furniture or materials
• donations of services.

As a general rule, in-kind contributions can be calculated by comparing the service or item donated, to the amount that would have been charged otherwise. Calculating the cost of volunteer labour is based on a nominated figure multiplied by the hours of labour per person.

Being aware of how funds are being spent and making sure the project is on course enables you to account for the funds Council has allocated and report back on the progress of your project or program. It also shows Council that the funds are being used for the purposes outlined in the application.

Applicants need to demonstrate that any risks associated with the project/program have been identified. This provides Council with information relating to your project's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

By undertaking a risk assessment early in the project/program planning phase, you are ensuring its success. Listing steps on how you will handle potential risks provides funding bodies with the knowledge and comfort that identified problems can be effectively managed when and if they do arise.

Here’s an example: The Community Strengthening sports club is hosting a social event for its members. It has identified Accidents or injury of participants as a potential risk. Ways to minimise this risk include ensuring:

• the club has appropriate and current Public Liability Insurance
• the venue is accessible for all members
• it’s a non-alcoholic event.