Community grants program

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We're committed to supporting organisations to deliver programs and events that respond to the needs and promote a connected and inclusive city.

Community grants are available to organisations who deliver activities within Darebin. You can apply for up to $10,000 for projects that align with at least one of five categories.

The next round of community grants will open in February 2027.

Grant categories

Aboriginal Culture and Knowledge

  • Support for Aboriginal-controlled organisations to deliver community programs
  • Storytelling, truth-telling, and local history initiatives
  • Cultural events, exhibitions, and language revitalisation
  • Knowledge-sharing between Elders, community, and younger generations
  • On-Country learning and cultural land management activities

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

  • Projects/programs supporting multicultural, refugee and asylum seeker communities
  • Initiatives led by and for people with disability
  • LGBTIQA+ community safety and inclusion projects
  • Gender equity, prevention of family violence, and respectful relationships
  • Youth, family, and ageing-well initiatives
  • Projects that respond to the impacts of racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia and transphobia, with a focus on safety, inclusion and belonging
  • Education, awareness-raising and capacity-building activities that challenge prejudice, misinformation and harmful stereotypes

Health and Wellbeing

  • Social connection and loneliness reduction initiatives
  • Community-led mental health projects
  • Food relief, security, nutrition and physical activity programs
  • Youth, family, and ageing-well initiatives
  • Projects that address priority health and wellbeing issues including social isolation; poor mental health; sexual and reproductive health issues; alcohol and substance use; tobacco use and vaping; gambling; healthy eating; food security; family violence; physical inactivity; and the health impacts of climate change

Climate Leadership and Response

  • Community climate action and advocacy projects
  • Urban greening, biodiversity protection, nature connection, and
  • water-sensitive initiatives
  • Climate resilience planning for vulnerable communities
  • Repair, reuse, and circular economy initiatives
  • Education programs supporting behavior change and climate literacy

Vibrant Places and Economy

  • Arts, culture and creative industries initiatives
  • Place-making, festivals and local activation projects
  • Social enterprise and community business development
  • Skills, employment and pathways for young people and diverse cohorts
  • Strengthening local shopping strips and neighborhood hubs

Venue hire support

Funding for venue hire is also available as part of the Community Grants Program for organisations to provide programs and activities at a reasonable cost to Darebin residents at Council-owned facilities.

Information and guidelines

You can find more information about the grants program in our guidelines document and video.

Read the 2026–2027 Community Grants Program Guidelines(PDF, 2MB) 

Watch our grant video

Who can apply?

The following groups are eligible to apply for a Darebin Community Grant.

  • Formally recognised not-for-profit organisation/group or a social enterprise organisation
  • Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisation operating in Darebin
  • Non-incorporated organisations/groups who have a bank account name in the name of the organisation/group and demonstrate that they operate as a not-for-profit organisation.
  • Non-incorporated organisations/groups applying for more than $2,000 may choose to find an incorporated organisation to auspice them for their project.
  • Schools may apply but are encouraged to partner with community groups in activities that benefit the wider community.

Important dates

Applications for 2026 have now closed.   

The next round will open for applications on 1 February 2027.

More information

Partnership and Grants
Phone 03 8470 8504
Email darebingrants@darebin.vic.gov.au

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