Grants

Local community groups and businesses can now access a wealth of funding opportunities through our free Hepburn Grant Finder Portal. This powerful tool is available exclusively to council members and can be easily accessed through our council website.

Register for a free account

• Visit the Hepburn Grant Finder Website.
• Create your account by clicking on the "Register" button.
• Fill in your details: email address and select whether you are looking for grants for yourself, your clients, or your organisation.
• Confirm agreements and terms of use.
• Select the types of grants you are looking for.

Explore Funding Opportunities

Once your account is set up, you’ll have access to a comprehensive database of grants. Spend some time exploring the tool and tailor your searches to find funding that best suits your needs. 

Access the Grant Guru Mini Grant Finder Guide(PDF, 5MB) to help set up your account and your alert and search preferences. 

Access Grant Guru's Mini Jargon Buster(PDF, 6MB) to help you navigate the complexities of grant funding dialogue. 

Why sign up?

• Stay informed: Receive alerts updates on relevant new or updated grant opportunities.
• Save time: Quickly filter and find relevant grants.
• Maximise funding: Increase your chances of securing essential funding for your initiatives.

Council is thrilled to partner with Grant Guru to support your efforts with this tool and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on your projects.

The Quick Response Grant Program 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 other grants schemes. The Quick Response Grants Program has been designed to allow for faster assessment outcomes and to facilitate adequate and timely responses to community issues.

Applicants should note that due to the upcoming Council Election in 2024, the outcome of applications received after 17 September 2024, cannot be announced until after 26 November 2024 due to the requirements of Council’s Election Period Policy and the Local government Act 2020.

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 $1,000 once per year. The Quick Response Grants will be open for applications from 1 August 2024 until 31 May 2025, or until the allocation has been exhausted. For more details see the Quick Response Grants Program Guidelines.(PDF, 442KB)

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

View a list of previous recipients(PDF, 122KB).

Council supports events that are in line with the Hepburn Shire Events Strategy 2020-2025. 

Events can be supported by Council through the three levels of events funding framework:

• Signature/Iconic Events
• Regional Events
• Local Community Events

Regional events and Signature/Iconic events are supported though Council's Events team via the administration of a Memorandum of Understanding. Event organisers seeking support for Regional and Signature/Iconic events should contact the Events team to discuss their event and its eligibility for council Support. 

Local community events are supported through a competitive grant program. The Local Community Event Grants Program 2024/2025 will open for applications on 1 August 2024. Event organisers wishing to apply for event grant funding should contact the Events team events@hepburn.vic.gov.au to discuss their events eligibility and suitability. 

Read the program guidelines(PDF, 422KB).

The Hepburn Shire Events Strategy 2020-25 document outlines criteria, funding limits, and the event funding framework. For more information or to enquire about submitting an application, please contact grants@hepburn.vic.gov.au.

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. All applicants should read the Community Grants Guidelines(PDF, 510KB) to learn more about the program objectives and application process. 

Applications must be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal.

Community Grants Program Key Dates:  

Assessment Process: At the conclusion of the Application stage, applications are reviewed to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. Those not meeting the criteria will be notified and will not progress to assessment. Eligible applications will be assessed by a panel consisting of Council Officers against the Assessment criteria.

Acquittal and Evaluation Form: Due 12 months after funds are granted.

View a list of previous recipients(PDF, 198KB).

Program Guidelines available here: Community-Grants-2024-25-Guidelines.pdf(PDF, 510KB) 

Hepburn Shire Council’s Sustainable Hepburn Grants Program supports community-based projects and initiatives that aim to reduce future impacts of climate change and promote or establish circular economy focused programs. 

Council has committed $35,000 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, reduced or avoided materials use, reduced or avoided waste to landfill, carbon drawdown or increasing the use of renewable energy in Community facilities across Hepburn Shire.

Read the Sustainable-Hepburn-Guidelines-2025.pdf(PDF, 596KB)  for more information about the program objectives and application process. 

Applications must be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal.

Sustainable Hepburn Grant Guidelines: (PDF, 596KB)Sustainable-Hepburn-Guidelines-2025.pdf(PDF, 596KB)

View a list of previous recipients here: Sustainable-Hepburn-Recipients-2024.pdf(PDF, 176KB)

Council has committed $25,000 to support community driven biodiversity initiatives in 2025. 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.

All applicants should read the Program Guidelines(PDF, 548KB) to learn more about the program objectives and application process.

Applications must be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal.

Program Guidelines are available here: Biodiversity-Grant-Guidelines-2025.pdf(PDF, 548KB)

View a list of previous recipients(PDF, 185KB).

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.

Organizations 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(PDF, 340KB).

Applications must be submitted through the Hepburn Shire Grants Portal.

View a list of previous recipients(PDF, 93KB).

Frequently Asked Questions

We get asked a lot of questions by grant seekers from our Community. We have listed some of the most FAQs we get asked. Check out the Grants FAQs(PDF, 308KB) to see if your question has already been addressed.   

User Guide for Grants Portal 

Hepburn Shire Council uses the Smartygrants platform for all grant programs and applications. Refer to the User Guide(PDF, 5MB) for technical assistance and advice on completing the online forms. 

Providing Council with a Tax Invoice

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).

Further Assistance with Grant Writing 

Assistance can be provided to all applicants via the grants team. Contact grants@hepburn.vic.gov.au or (03) 5348 2306 to request assistance.

All Neighbourhood Houses throughout the Shire (Creswick, Clunes, Daylesford and Trentham) can also provide in person assistance for using the Grants Portal and assistance developing applications. 

The Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR) has some terrific resources for grant seekers – we encourage you to check out their website for further information and assistance.