Applications open for Community Impact Grants

Applications are now open for the next round of the City of Ballarat’s Community Impact Grant Program (CIGP).

Local not-for-profit incorporated organisations, groups and associations are encouraged to apply for funding, which is designed to provide community benefit in terms of environmental sustainability; healthy, connected and inclusive communities; and community capacity building.

The program is designed to strengthen links between community members and groups by funding programs that advance priority areas for both the City of Ballarat and the local community.

Funding opportunities ranging from $500 to $20,000 are available and applications will be endorsed by the CIGP Committee which comprises of three Councillors, and representatives from local community organisations and community members.

City of Ballarat Councillor, Cr Tracey Hargreaves encouraged community groups to apply for funding if their projects met the criteria.

“We are proud to be able to contribute to groups that can find it difficult to fund such worthy projects,” Cr Hargreaves.

“I strongly encourage anybody who is part of a local not-for-profit group to consider applying if they meet the criteria.”

Ballarat Neighbourhood Houses are also running grant writing workshops to assist people in applying. They will be held at the following times: 

• Saturday August 5, 10.30am-12pm, the Theatrette at Barkly Square, 25 Barkly St, Ballarat East
• Tuesday August 15, 6.30pm-8pm, online Zoom session  
• Thursday August 17, 10am-11.30am, at the Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Holly Grove, Wendouree

Applications will remain open until 9am on Friday, 15 September.

To apply:    

• Go to www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/grants and apply through the online portal called SmartyGrants.  
• This round a translation service has been implemented that allows applicants to apply in 14 different languages including:  Chinese (Simplified), Arabic, French, Indonesian, Khmer, Portuguese, Sinhala, Spanish, Tamil, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese  
• Hard copy of the guidelines and application form are available on request, for more details visit the grants page on the website.

The City of Ballarat has recently completed the final round of the 2022/23 Community Impact Grant Program. Some examples of successful applicants from the most recent round include:

Ballarat Ballet Eisteddfod Inc: Ballarat Dance Eisteddfod ($20,000.00)

Ballarat National Theatre: Ballarat National Theatre Season 2023 ($19,888.90)

Eureka Stockade Memorial Park Committee Inc: Eureka Hall Accessibility ($13,398.35)

Yarrowee Leigh Catchment Group - Community Engagement Project:  Connecting Local Community to The Local Wetland and Nature Reserves in Sebastopol ($8,727.30)

Learmonth Community Skills Shed Inc: Building Connections - using digital skills ($6,954.00)

Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre: WestVic High Performance Athletics Program ($6,000.00)

Miners Rest Mechanics Institute Community Hall: Commercial Dishwasher ($5,621.00)

Cardigan Windermere Landcare Group: Friends of Mullawallah Wetland Trailer Project ($4,346.36)

Didi Bahini Samaj Victoria Ballarat Unit: Teej celebration 2023 Ballarat ($3000.00 (partially funded))

Ballarat South Senior Citizens Club Inc: Upgrading AudioVisual Equipment ($2,497.00)

Ballarat Harriers Athletic Club Inc: Timing system for athletes ($2,235.00)

Ballarat Toastmasters: Technology to assist with Hybrid Meetings ($1,949.00)

Ballarat Interfaith Network Inc: Guided Cemetery Walk ($1,450.00)

Cake Decorators Association of Victoria Inc: Ballarat Branch – Workshops ($1,090.00)