Community Action Grants

Who can apply?

Applicants eligible for funding include:

• Community groups
• Not-for-profit organisation or agency
•  Environmental groups (i.e Landcare, Friends, Networks)
• Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group action groups
• Unincorporated community groups (only with auspice agreement with one of the above)
• Schools
• Other groups

The following are ineligible to apply to the Community Climate Action Grants:

• Individuals
• For profit/commercial organisations
• Government agencies/organisations
• Groups that are in debt to Council
• Groups that have not completed acquittal reporting requirements of previous Council grants
• Groups auspiced by Council

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible, applicants must meet the below criteria:

1. Project/programs must be undertaken within the Macedon Ranges Shire.
2. Groups (or auspice organisations) must have their own current public liability and accident insurance.
3. Groups that are not incorporated are welcome to apply if they are auspiced by another incorporated entity.
4. Receipts or other documents for activities may be requested at the discretion of Council to verify submitted acquittals.
5. A copy of the group’s most recent meeting minutes and/or treasurer’s report supporting the application must also accompany the grant application.

There is no limit of approved applications that one group may submit. Applications will be assessed on merit according to assessment criteria below.

Eligible activities

From the objective outlined above, example activities may include:

• Education, skills and capacity building workshops (including venue hire)
• Open days
• Feasibility or scoping studies
• Educational resources (factsheets, flyers, brochures, website design, graphic design, printing)
• Awareness raising campaigns
• Train the trainer program
• Nature connection for wellbeing activities
• Behaviour change programs
• Resilience building activities
• Rural landholder focused events
• First Nations knowledge sharing
• Project management / coordination
• Storytelling activities
• Project/program evaluation
• Community-led planning projects
• Kitchen table conversations (marketing and promotion)
• Materials and supplies to establish waste and circular economy solutions

What will not be funded?

• Projects and programs operating outside the Macedon Ranges Shire
• Infrastructure assets to privately owned buildings
• Are defined as facility maintenance on community and Council-owned buildings
• Are not well supported by evidence of need and where alternative solutions have not been adequately considered
• Do not have appropriate heritage sign-off, including Aboriginal cultural management (where required)
• Proposals considered to be awarding monetary prizes
• Core business/operational costs such as: salaries for ongoing positions, rent, insurance, utility costs, debts.

Guidelines

• Community Action Grant Guidelines(PDF, 836KB)

Hard copies can be provided upon request. 

Child Safe Standards

Macedon Ranges Shire Council is committed to a zero tolerance approach to child abuse, through actively promoting child safety and ensuring compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards. All applicants must demonstrate compliance with the Victorian Child Safe Standards and read/understand Council's Child Wellbeing and Safety Policy. Note: If your organisation is being auspiced for the purpose of this grant, the auspicing organisation will also need to meet the Child Safe Standards.

• Guide to the Child Safe Standards(PDF, 6MB)
• Child Safe Standards Direct Contact Checklist(DOCX, 64KB)
• Child Safe Statement of Commitment(DOCX, 59KB)

Smarty Grants

Community Action Grants can be applied for using SmartyGrants. 

SmartyGrants is an online grant management program to help grant recipients and Council record and track all the details around grant transactions. Through this program, you can apply for the grant, track it, and upload acquittal documents.

• SmartyGrants Help guide for applicants
• Smarty File Information

Assessment

Assessment of applications will be based on the scoring matrix of each category. The scoring matrix can be found within the funding categories and assessment criteria in the grant guidelines.

Applications open in September 2024.

More information will become available soon.

Once you have delivered your project, you will need to complete a Project Acquittal Report. You can access the form by logging in here and then clicking the 'My Submissions' link at the top of page. Here you will see your submission number and any associated forms open and waiting for you to complete.

Note: The 'My Submissions' area will store a history of all the submissions and additional forms you complete.

The report includes:

• a summary of the benefits, challenges and learnings of the project; and
• a summary of the grant expenditure and any remaining grant funds (if applicable);
• promotional and marketing activities undertaken, including examples of the recognition of Council's financial support, photo evidence of the project and any media coverage.

Please note: If you have been auspiced for the purposes of your grant, the acquittal report will need to be signed off by the Treasurer of the Auspice and the Treasurer of the Applicant Organisation.

Acquit now

We understand that sometimes things don't go as planned. Call us on (03) 5422 0333 or email environment@mrsc.vic.gov.au if:

• you are encountering unexpected challenges in your project delivery.
• you need to make a variation or seek an extension to the project as planned in your application. You will need to complete a variation/extension request form and this will need to be approved by Council before any changes are undertaken.