Other grants
Many grants are available from the state and federal governments, benevolent organisations, trusts and corporations.
To get information about grant opportunities, make sure your group is registered and keeps their contact details up to date in Pyrenees Council’s Community Directory to get direct emails on funding opportunities. Update or add your group to the directory on our website.
Ararat Wind Farm Sustainable Grants Program 2025
Applications are now open to Pyrenees Shire based groups and organisations for funding of up to $7,500, or $15,000 with a co-contribution, through the Ararat Wind Farm Sustainable Grants Program 2025.
The program provides financial support for groups and projects that will deliver social and environmental sustainability initiatives to the benefit of Ararat, Northern Grampians and Pyrenees communities.
Applications close 13 April, 2025. More information can be found at https://www.ararat.vic.gov.au/community/grants-and-funding.
Sporting Club Grants Program
Funds are available to support community sporting clubs to purchase uniforms & equipment, upskill volunteers, coaches & officials, and improve their accessibility and engagement with local communities through four categories:
Category 1 - On-field Uniforms or Equipment: Up to $1,000 for playing uniforms, participation, and safety equipment.
Category 2 - Volunteers and Officials: Up to $5,000 for projects that build the capacity of volunteers and officials.
Category 3 - Access and Engagement: Up to $1,000 to improve accessibility or governance. Up to $4,000 for new sport or recreation programs.
Category 4 - Competitors: Up to $750 to cover travel and event registration for individual athletes.
Applications close on 27 March, 2025. More information can be found at Sporting Club Grants Program | Sport and Recreation Victoria.
Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants
These grants encourage young people and children to get involved, value, and actively care for Victoria's biodiversity and natural environment through education and on-ground projects.
Landcare groups, schools and community organisations are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 per project.
Applications close 28 March, 2025. More information can be found at 2025 Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants | Junior Landcare.
Community Bank Autumn Grants
Avoca, Maryborough and St Arnaud Community Bank annual grants program is available for application now.
Grants are available to community groups and not-for-profit organisations that are current Bendigo Bank customers that are based in (or service) the Avoca, Maryborough or St Arnaud region.
Applications must show a strong community impact.
Applications close on 31 March,2025. Applications are made through SmartyGrants at https://bit.ly/43j3kh9. Guidelines and criteria are also available at https://bit.ly/3X9cXeL.
Mary MacKillop Today Highways and Byways Small Grants Program
Funding of up to $5,000 is now available for locally led community initiatives that embrace and value diversity in nature and community. Extreme weather events are affecting communities that are already under stress through previous disasters, with rebuilding challenges, the realities of everyday financial stresses, and limited employment opportunities in vulnerable communities.
Projects will look to:
• Contribute to building strong and resilient communities, especially in areas affected by extreme weather events.
• Build unity and find common grounds of understanding and shared knowledge across an initiative.
• Encourage partnerships amongst individuals, groups and/or organisations.
• Foster engagement, diversity and cultural connections by sharing knowledge and skills in local community-based programs/events.
• Support intergenerational and Indigenous/Non-Indigenous exchanges of knowledge and skills for the sustainable and/or regenerative management of the land.
• Provide opportunities for program participants to develop leadership or other personal and community-building skills.
Applications close 1 April, 2025. More information can be found at www.hb.org.au/grants.
TAC Road Safety Grants Program
The TAC Road Safety Grant Program is designed to support community groups and organisations to develop and implement effective community-based road safety projects. There are two categories of grants within the program:
1. Support Grants of up to $50,000 - These grants are available to support the planning and/or delivery of community road safety projects.
2. Collaboration Grants of up to $150,000 - These grants are available to support the planning and delivery of larger community road safety projects in partnership with TAC.
Applications close 2 April, 2025. More information can be found at TAC Road Safety Grant Program - TAC - Transport Accident Commission.
Victorian Landcare Grants
The Victorian Government funds the Victorian Landcare Grants to support Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks with on-ground works, education and capacity building projects that protect and restore our land and natural environment.
Project grants of up to $20,000 for activities to protect or improve natural assets such as native vegetation, native fauna, waterways, wetlands and soils including:
- On-ground works - Revegetation, artificial habitat creation, weed control, pest plant and animal control, protective fencing, and soil stabilisation.
- Community education and engagement - Property planning courses, field days, education events, demonstration sites and knowledge-gathering.
- Group/network development activities - Developing strategic plans, succession planning, and expanding the volunteer base.
Grants are available to all Victorian Landcare and environmental volunteer groups and networks that are community-led and have a focus on on-ground land and natural environment improvement work.
Applications close 16 April, 2025. More information can be found on the Environment Vic website.
Ballarat Foundation Community Impact Grants Program
The Community Impact Grants Program is an annual grants program available in two tiers:
- Tier 1: Up to $15,000. Five of these grants are awarded this round.
- Tier 2: Up to $3,000. There are less application requirements for projects requiring less than $3,000 for Tier 2 Applications.
Among the focuses of the program this year The Community Impact Grants program will seek applications in the areas of Food Security, Young People & Mental Wellbeing.
Applications close 28 April, 2025. more information can be found at The Ballarat Foundation - How to Apply.
100 Neighbourhood Batteries
A neighbourhood battery is an electricity storage system. It is also known as a community battery or mid-scale battery. Neighbourhood batteries enable you to generate, store and consume your own renewable energy. They are larger than household solar batteries, and smaller than utility scale battery.
The 100 Neighbourhood Batteries team is preparing for the final round of grant applications opening March 2025. To help prepare communities for this we are running one final in-person advanced 2-day training course in Fitzroy, Melbourne Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th February 2025.
DEECA and Yarra Energy Foundation are offering:
- Victorian Community Not-for-Profit attendees an 82% discount
- Victorian Community Group volunteers a free ticket to attend (via direct email or phone call invite only).
Qantas Regional Grants
The 2025 Qantas Regional Grants Program will provide $2 million in grants this year to support Australian-based not-for-profit community groups and projects that benefit regional areas. Grants will include a combination of cash, marketing support and flights according to the specific needs of each group.
Individuals, groups or not-for-profit organisations can seeking funds to contribute positively to their regional community.
Applications close on 10 May, 2025. More information can be found at Qantas Regional Grants | Qantas.
VicHealth Event Sponsorship
VicHealth sponsorship funding is available year-round for one-off events such as conferences, award nights and festivals. Sponsorships of up to $10,000 are available for events that align with VicHealth's 2023-2033 Strategy.
More information can be found on VicHealth's webpage.
Sporting and recreational grants
Sport Central grants
Significant Sporting Events Program
The Significant Sporting Events Program is a Victorian Government funding program that assists event organisers to enhance the delivery of national or international level sporting events in Victoria.
The program offsets operation costs associated with staging high level sporting events, and funds development or expansion of existing events to bring new events to the area.
Events must be Championships, Series or Competition Matches at a National or International level.
Applications are open through three rounds in 2025 (January, March & May), more information can be found at Significant Sporting Events Program | Sport and Recreation Victoria.
Arts funding
Creative Victoria grants
Community health and wellbeing
Health promotion and sports funding in Victoria with VicHealth
Local history
Local History Grants Program with the Public Records Office
Federal government grants
GrantConnect
State Government business grants
Business.vic.gov.au
Federal Government Business grants
Business.gov.au
North Central CMA Grants Search
By using the portal, stakeholders can easily find and apply for grants that match their projects and priorities, ensuring they receive the financial support needed to drive meaningful change and growth in their communities and industries.
Grants search | North Central Catchment Management Authority
National grants register: 'Our Community' Funding Centre
The 'Our Community' Funding Centre offers a range of information about grants and fundraising opportunities in Australia. It’s a subscription-based service that offers subscribers a monthly newsletter with a comprehensive list of all government, philanthropic and corporate grants available in Australia.
Local grants
Stockyard Hill Wind Farm
Stockyard Hill Wind Farm invests in programs and initiatives that benefit the local community, or local community groups who run activities that build sustainable communities.
Bendigo Bank
Bendigo Community Bank branches give up to 80% of profits back to community through grants. They support programs that empower local individuals and groups. Avoca Community Bank and Beaufort Community Bank award grants in the Pyrenees Shire.
The Community Bank (Beaufort Branch) accepts applications for its sponsorship program year round. Applications will be considered for up to $5,000, more information is available on the Community Bank Website.
Other grants
Check back for more information on other grants available in the area as we get the information.