Grants

The Community Grants Program supports community-based projects and initiatives that enhance the social, environmental and economic life of Hepburn Shire.

Community Grants can help community groups to implement projects that promote community wellbeing, increase social connection and build capacity for leadership and independence.

Funding is awarded for projects and initiatives that show community benefit and align with one or more of the focus areas in the Council Plan 2021-2025 up to a value of $5,000. Read the guidelines here(PDF, 459KB).

Applications must be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal.

Community Grants Program Key Dates:  

For a list of previous award winners click here(PDF, 204KB)  

Hepburn Shire Council is committed to supporting local community groups and organizations to remain agile and responsive to issues that arise in the local Hepburn community. The 2022/23 Council Grants Review identified the need for a quick-response small projects grant scheme to be available year-round, for community groups to access outside the normal cycle of Community Grants periods.

The Quick Response Grant has been designed to support community groups who may have experienced an unforeseen disruption, urgent issue or to facilitate smaller projects that are significantly less costly than the amount specified in the Community Grants scheme. The Quick Response Grants has been designed to allow for quicker assessment outcomes and to facilitate adequate and timely responses to community issues.

Grants that address the key focus areas in the Council Plan 2021-2025 or address priority groups outlined in the Council Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan are strongly encouraged.

Applicants can apply for a grant up to $1000 once per year. The Quick Response Grants will be open for applications from October 2023 until 10 June 2024, or until the allocation has been exhausted. For more details see the Quick Response Grant Guidelines(PDF, 343KB).

Grant applications need to be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal

Hepburn Shire Council’s Sustainable Hepburn Grants Program (formerly Towards-Zero Grants Program) supports community-based projects and initiatives that aim to reduce future impacts of climate change.

Council has committed $40,000 to support community driven sustainability initiatives in 2024. Funding is available for projects that align with the strategic themes from the Sustainable Hepburn Strategy and can demonstrate a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, through reduced energy consumption, carbon drawdown or via the use of renewable energy in Community facilities across Hepburn Shire.

Read the program guidelines here(PDF, 270KB).

Sustainable Hepburn Grants Program Key Dates:

Applications must be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal.

For a list of previous recipients click here(PDF, 95KB).

Council has committed $28,000 to support community driven biodiversity initiatives in 2024. Successful applicants will need to demonstrate how their project links to the seven objectives of the Natural Environment and Biodiversity theme within the Sustainable Hepburn Strategy 2022-2026. Funding is available for projects that can demonstrate benefits to biodiversity via on-ground works or increasing the public’s interest and capacity to protect and enhance Hepburn’s biodiversity.

Read the program guidelines here(PDF, 755KB).

Biodiversity Grants Program Key Dates:

Applications must be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal.

For a list of previous recipients click here(PDF, 107KB).

Hepburn Shire Council’s Environment Groups Grant Program (formerly Landcare Grants) supports community groups whose primary function is to enhance and protect the environment of Hepburn Shire. Council has committed $20,000 to support local community environment groups in 2024. Potential applicants are identified by Council Officers and will be invited to apply by the Biodiversity Officer. Applicants will need to demonstrate that their group conducts on-ground environmental works or promotes/advocates for the protection and enhancement of ecological health within Hepburn Shire.

Organisations can apply for funding to support their group’s sustainability and effectiveness. If you believe your group and project is eligible, contact our grants team at grants@hepburn.vic.gov.au or (03) 5348 2306.

Read the program guidelines here(PDF, 489KB).

Environment Group Grants Program Key Dates:

Applications must be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal.

For a list of previous recipients click here(PDF, 93KB).

Council supports events that are in line with the Hepburn Shire Events Strategy 2020-25. Events can be supported by Council through the three levels of events funding framework: Signature/Iconic, Regional and Local Community Events. The Hepburn Shire Events Strategy 2020-25 document outlines criteria, funding limits, and the event funding framework. You can read the Events strategy document here. For more information or to enquire about submitting an application, please contact grants@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

If successful in your grant application, your group will be required to submit an invoice for funding.  Find out more about tax invoice requirements(PDF, 218KB). 

You can use this tax invoice template(DOCX, 33KB).