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Grants and Sponsorships: Council's Community Investment Funding

Helping community organisations, businesses, individuals and sole traders connect with and apply for grants and funding.

This work is guided by the Council and Wellbeing Plan, Community Vision and our Community Investment Funding Policy.

Grants and Sponsorships - now open for applications

To discuss your project ideas, contact the Program Manager listed on the relevant grant information page, available from the 'Open and Upcoming Grants' window below.

Alternatively, contact the Shire's Grants Engagement Officer at CommunityInvestFunding@mornpen.vic.gov.au

For queries about SmartyGrants, contact the Grants Administration team at community.grants@mornpen.vic.gov.au

Funding Finder

The Shire hosts Funding Finder to assist community groups/organisations and businesses to search for funding external to Council's Community Investment Funding. It is a free service, all you need to do is register.

Open and upcoming grants

Access and Social Inclusion Grant

To provide funding to support individuals experiencing financial hardship to participate in community life and improve personal outcomes through sustainable change.

Community Events Grant

Community groups and organisations can apply for event funding to assist with the delivery of events that benefit our local community.

Community Support Grant

Grants for non-profit community organisations for general grants to assist with projects which benefit the Mornington Peninsula community.

Creative Grant

Community groups and individual artists interested in initiating arts and cultural activities and programs with public outcomes are invited to apply for funding.

Flexi Grants

Our Flexi Grants recognise that some community groups just need a small helping hand.

Heritage Grant

Funding is to assist owners of heritage places to carry out heritage conservation projects.

Local Area Community Capital Infrastructure Grant

We invite applications from non-profit community organisations for general grants to assist with projects which benefit the Mornington Peninsula community.

Performing Arts Development Grant

The Performing Arts Fund will invest in Mornington Peninsula-based creative organisations and individuals that seek to develop and deliver new and innovative artistic works, grow employment opportunities for creative and cultural workers, and engage communities with the performing arts.

Sponsorship 2023/24

Sponsorship funds are aimed at public promotion of Mornington Peninsula Shire, its agencies or programs as opposed to material contribution towards the staging of an event. This funding program is highly competitive and applicants must ensure the Sponsorship Guidelines(PDF, 561KB) are understood before applying.

The scope of the program does not include the receiving of sponsorship requests for infrastructure or naming rights on infrastructure.

Apply Here

Theme

Value of Sponsorship

Open

Close

Theme 1

A healthy, natural environment and well-planned townships

Bronze Sponsorship up to $5,000 (option of 3 year period)

Silver Sponsorship up to $20,000 (option of 3 year period)

Gold Sponsorship up to $35,000 (option of 3 year period)

Platinum Sponsorship up to $50,000 (option of 3 year period)

13 July 2023

30 April 2024 (unless funds are exhausted earlier)

Theme 2

A robust, innovative and diverse economy

Theme 3

A flourishing, healthy and connected community

2023/24 information on subsidies supported by Council

The Shire subsidises a number of community groups and organisations to support the delivery of essential services, community programs, life-saving, community transport, legal services and other initiatives.

Recipients of subsidies were invited to apply when subsidies opened on 13 July 2023 and closed on 7 September 2023.

Council's Community Investment Funding supports the following community groups and organisations to deliver these services.

Dolphin Research Institute
Repower Mornington Peninsula
Tourism Centres - Sorrento, Mornington and Westernport
Peninsula Community Legal Services
Vinnies Kitchen
Westernport Coast Guard
Surf Life Saving Victoria
Fit to Drive
Peninsula Transport Assist
Toy Libraries - Hastings, Mornington and Rosebud
Community Houses - Mornington and Mount Martha (managed by Mornington Peninsula Shire)
Balnarring Community Hub
Crib Point Community House
Benton Square Community Centre
Dromana Community House
Good Shepherd Wallaroo Community House
Hastings Community House
Mt Eliza Community House
Rye Community House
Seawinds Community Hub
Somerville Community House
Sorrento Community House
Willum Warrain Community House
Flinders Civic Centre

Willum Warrain Coordinator
Community Support Centres - Mornington, Westernport and Southern Peninsula

Senior Citizen's Clubs:

Australian Croatian Social Club Mornington Peninsula Rye Inc
Australian Dromana Senior Citizens Centre Inc
Hastings Senior Citizens Club
Hellenic Association of MP Aged Care Citizens Club Inc
Italian Ethnic Senior Citizens Club of Flinders Inc
Italian Seniors Social Club of Dromana
Mornington Dutch Australian Seniors Club Inc
Mornington Peninsula Italian Club
Mornington Senior Citizens Centre
Mount Eliza Fifty-Five Plus Club Inc
Mount Martha Senior Citizens Club Inc
Panagia Kamariani Greek Orthodox Seniors Club
Rosebud Italian Club
Rosebud Over 50s Social Club
Rye & Peninsula Greek Senior Citizens Club
Rye & Peninsula Greek Women’s Group
Somerville Senior Citizens Club
Sorrento / Portsea Senior Centres
Tootgarook Senior Citizens Centre Inc

Along with community groups supporting the annual Seniors Festival.

Closed grants

Biolinks Support Grant

To support the community to establish, protect, and enhance biolinks on a landscape scale by building upon and ultimately connecting vegetation to improve habitat values and provide pathways that facilitate wildlife movement.

Business Development Grant

To enable business growth and improvements

Climate Action Grant

Climate Action Grants up to $10,000 are available for small businesses, schools and community groups that help reach the targets outlined in the Shire’s Climate Emergency Plan.

Destination Events Grant

Community groups and organisations can apply for event funding to assist with the delivery of events that benefit our local community.

Placemaking Grants

We invite applications from non-profit community organisations for general grants to assist with projects which benefit the Mornington Peninsula community.

Youth Development Grants

Youth Development Grant provides support for young people experiencing financial hardship, to participate in music, sport, art and cultural endeavours.

Awarded grants

Hear from some of the community groups that have completed their projects with support from the Shire's Community Grants Program.

Rosebud Astral Theatre Society - The Buckley Opera Project (Creative Community Grant)
Main Ridge Men's Shed - Bandsaw/Trailer Construction (Community Placemaking Grant)
Blairgowrie Community Garden - Stage 2 of Garden Construction (Community Placemaking Grant)
Red Hill Community Association - Red Hill Reflections Mural (Creative Community Grant)
New Peninsula Men's Shed - Buddy Bench Program (Community Support Program)

View successful applicants, projects and funded amounts for our recent grant programs.

Community Placemaking Grant (Feb 2022)(PDF, 225KB)
Community Placemaking Grant (July 2022)(PDF, 313KB)
Business Online Initiatives Grant(PDF, 245KB)
Tourism Marketing and Membership Subsidy
Business Continuity Planning and Expansion Grant(PDF, 219KB)
New Business Support Grant(PDF, 209KB)
Events and Festivals Grants(PDF, 232KB)
Biolinks Support Grant Round 2 (2022)(PDF, 303KB)
Biolinks Support Grant Round 3 (2022)(PDF, 219KB)
Climate Action Grant Round 2 (2022)(PDF, 227KB)
Climate Action Grant Round 3 (2022)(PDF, 325KB)
Business Development Grant (2022)(PDF, 211KB)
Significant Events Grant (2022)(PDF, 214KB)
Community Events Grant (2022)(PDF, 327KB)
Creative Economy Grant (2022)(PDF, 308KB)
Performing Arts Fund(PDF, 347KB)

How to find and apply for grants and funding

Council’s Community Investment Funding is available to community groups/organisations, businesses, sole traders, schools and not-for-profit organisations that seek to build our community’s resilience. This is achieved through a collaborative partnership with the Shire where our many grants provide the opportunity for empowering our community to lead their own projects/initiatives, that address a local need and/or priority with a recognised community benefit. The Shire’s grants focus on strengthening performing arts development, taking climate action, enhancing biodiversity, restoring our heritage buildings, making our townships vibrant through arts, culture and history as well as festivals and events. The Shire is also committed to building the capacity of our volunteers, increasing social connections and creating a sense of belonging through placemaking as well as improving the built and natural environments through our community capital. Council adopted the current Community Investment Funding Policy on 12 July 2022. The Policy identifies the principles for our grants program and the 4 year cycle of investment and renewal aligned to our Council and Wellbeing Plan.

Watch the information video on Applying for a Grant
Watch the video on Alternative Funding Sources
Watch our Grant Writing Tips.

As we have limited funding, the Shire also provides a funding finder search engine, free for our community. This is a one stop shop for community groups/organisations, businesses and schools to search for other funding that is currently open to support their projects/initiatives. You just need to register to get grant opportunities sent to you with your preferences.

Learn how Funding Finder works for you(PDF, 300KB) .
Register on Funding Finder to stay up to date on the latest opportunities.

Further information and documents

Community Investment Funding - Frequently Asked Questions(PDF, 302KB) - answers to most queries and questions we receive.
Auspicing Agreement Form(PDF, 309KB) - organisations who will apply under an auspice arrangement need to complete and submit this form with the online application.
SmartyGrants Help Guide for Applicants(PDF, 1MB) - All applications must be submitted online via SmartyGrants. This guide will assist applicants with the process.
Sample budget(PDF, 124KB) - an example of how to complete a budget