Annual Grants

Grant Amount: Up to $4,000 (Open twice a year)

The Community Connection Grant supports local groups and organisations to: 

• Run regular activities 
• Keep people active 
• Build skills 
• Support ongoing participation, connection and wellbeing in Hume 

Funding can be used to: 

• Cover ongoing running costs 
• Deliver regular activities 
• Provide training for members, where the training benefits the group or organisationas a whole 

Rounds are open:

Round 1 - 18 May - 26 June 2026

Round 2 - 1 February - 26 February 2027

Examples but are not limited to:

Operational costs 

• Incorporation and volunteer registration fees 
• Insurance 
• Venue and bus hire 
• Small portable equipment 
• Ongoing, small-scale catering 
• Activity supplies 

Participation activities 

• A series of workshops or excursions 
• A calendar of cultural events 
• Youth activities 
• Environmental initiatives 
• Facilitator costs 
• Activity‑related venue hire and material supplies 

Skill building 

Funding can be used for training that helps your group run well. This can be for leaders or members chosen by the group. 

Training can include: 

• Leading and managing a group 
• Managing money and understanding rules 
• First aid and mental health first aid 
• Coaching or instructor training 
• Skills to run activities safely 

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Meet in Hume City and/or show that the grant will benefit residents 
• Provide quotes for equipment purchases. Additional quotes strengthen your application 
• Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council 
• Have satisfactorily acquitted previous funding received by Hume City Council 
• Be incorporated or auspiced (for more about auspicing please refer to our FAQs) 

What we don’t fund 

• Activities involving alcohol, gambling or tobacco 
• Activities held at gambling venues 
• Fixed/permanent infrastructure, built assets, or permanently installed equipment 
• Items or activities that do not benefit Hume residents 
• Any equipment bought with grant funding must stay with the group. For example, if a laptop is bought for the treasurer and they later leave the role, the laptop must be returned to the group. 

Funding should support activities that build connection and participation and/or skill development. 

Grant amount: up to $10,000 (Open twice a year)

Small Project Grants support new ideas, locally led and collaborative projects that create positive outcomes for the Hume community. Projects must have a clear start and finish, be delivered within 6–12 months and are not intended to fund ongoing operational costs.

This grant stream supports community‑building initiatives, including projects that focus on volunteer engagement, skills development and volunteer‑related costs. 

Rounds are open:

Round 1 - 18 May - 26 June 2026

Round 2 - 1 February - 26 February 2027

Examples:

• Piloting a new service or program
• Research to investigate an emerging need
• Enhancing access to programs and information development
• A joint project between two community groups/organisations
• Projects that raise awareness of harms caused by gambling, address anti-social behaviour, or activities that address racism
• Training for volunteers or committee members to build their skills

Applications should align closely with Hume City Council Plans, Strategies and Policies.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be an incorporated not-for-profit community group or organisation
• Discuss the proposal with the relevant Council Officer before applying.
• Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
• Have a proven project management ability
• Run the project from a location within Hume and/or show that it will benefit residents of Hume City
• Have satisfactorily acquitted any previous funding received by Hume City Council
• Demonstrate in kind or cash contribution that equates to half the value of the grant request. For example, if you ask for $10,000 you must show a contribution of at least $5,000 (cash or in-kind)
• Provide quotes for equipment purchases.Additionalquotes strengthen your application

PLEASE NOTE: Activities, projects, programs and events that are owned, managed or already funded by Hume City Council are not eligible 

Most of your budget should be spent on project delivery costs, such as facilitator fees, support workers, participant access costs, promotion, or other one‑off costs needed to run the project 

Talk to a Council Officer before you apply 

You must speak with a Council Officer who has experience in your project area before submitting an application. 

For example:

• Youth projects → Youth Services
• Environmental projects → Sustainability team 

Contact Community Grants at communitygrants@hume.vic.gov.au, and we will connect you with the right Officer. 

The Officer cannot be a Councillor or a member of the Community Grants team. 

Amount: up to $15,000 per year for up to 3 years ($45,000 total)

Large Project Grants are for projects that clearly address a significant need and embrace the principles of social justice, healthy living, lifelong learning, environmental sustainability, community safety and inclusion.

You can apply for a Large Project Grant if you are an established organisation with a proven record in the provision of quality programs and services. You must provide evidence of the need for the project and demonstrate your capacity to resource and deliver projects over multiple years.

Applications must align closely with Hume City Council Plans, Strategies and Policies.

Proposals will:

• Not duplicate an existing service
• Give a detailed program budget and quotes
• Be innovative and strengthen community wellbeing
• Encourage inclusion and accessibility
• Be of significant benefit and give valuable support to the Hume community
• Be able to measure their impact

Funding Payment 

Payment is annually - up to $15,000 is paid each calendar year, a total of $45,000 over 3 years. 

Payments for year 2 and 3 are paid after an annual acquittal and evaluation is submitted in accordance with the funding agreement. 

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be an incorporated not-for-profit community group or organisation.
• Discuss the proposal with the relevant Council Officer before applying. 
• Have no outstanding debts with Hume City Council
• Demonstrate an ability to manage large scale projects
• Run the project from a location within Hume and/or show that it will substantially benefit residents of Hume City
• Have satisfactorily acquitted any previous funding received by Hume City Council.
• Give a detailed Project Plan
• Demonstrate how the project will be made fully sustainable upon cessation of Council funding
• Provide a detailed three‑year project budget in the application form
• Demonstrate in kind or cash contribution that equates to half the value of the grant request. For example, if you ask for $15,000, you must show a contribution of at least $7,500 (cash or in-kind)  
• Provide quotes for equipment purchases. We recommend Including quotes for other key expenses, such as venue hire or transport etc. to show assessors that costs are realistic, well considered and represent value for money

PLEASE NOTE: Activities, projects, programs and events that are owned, managed or already funded by Hume City Council are not eligible 

Most of your budget should be spent on project delivery costs, such as facilitator fees, support workers, participant access costs, promotion, or other one‑off costs needed to run the project 

Talk to a Council Officer before you apply 

You must speak with a Council Officer who has experience in your project area before submitting an application. 

For example: 

• Youth projects → Youth Services 
• Environmental projects → Sustainability team 

Contact Community Grants at communitygrants@hume.vic.gov.au, and we will connect you with the right Officer. 

The Officer cannot be a Councillor or a member of the Community Grants team.