Apply for a Grant, Donation or Financial Assistance

Community Grants 

Applications for the 2022/23 Community Grants Program will open on 1 August, 2022. Online applications will be available on this page from 1 August, 2022.

About the Community Grants Program

The annual program provides funding between $1,000 and $15,000 to projects which fall within four main priority areas, including: 

• Events that connect the community;
• Domestic violence prevention and recovery;
• Mental health and suicide prevention; and
• Community participation opportunities. 

Applicants must be local to The Hills Shire LGA and provide a community service/s or program/s for the local community.

Information & Application Training Session

You are invited to attend an information and application training session. At the session you will learn about Council’s Community Grants program and eligibility criteria as well as the specific requirements of the application form.

You will also hear from Keith Whelan from The Grants Guy who will take you through hints and tips on how to create a stand-out application.

This is an important session for potential applicants.

There are two sessions to choose from (28 July or 1 August) and you only need to attend one. You can attend either in person or online; please choose the correct ticket when booking.

Click here to book tickets.

Before you make an application

Please read the following Guidelines and Policy before making your application.

Click here to view the Community Grants and Donations Policy.(PDF, 676KB)

Click here to view the Community Grants Program Guidelines.(PDF, 166KB)

Contact

For more information call The Hills Shire Council on 02 9843 0322 or email grants@thehills.nsw.gov.au

Local priorities have been developed to assist applicants to understand the type of projects supported under the program.

The local priorities are a guide and all applicants are encouraged to submit projects.  

Applications are open in the following categories:-

• Cultural Grants: to support projects, events or activities that encourage community participation, social inclusion and community engagement and enable delivery of creative, artistic and cultural projects that enrich The Hills Shire community.
• Community Services Grants: to encourage community groups to develop and implement programs or projects that address social needs; build community partnerships; improve access to community services; and to increase their services beyond their current capability.

Funding between $1,000 and $15,000 was considered under this program.

Donations

To view the Community Donations Program Guidelines, click here.(PDF, 117KB)

Sporting, Cultural and Community Services Donations

Council will consider applications from individuals, not-for-profit and incorporated organisations that are delivering community services, participation in local sporting or cultural competitions or cultural activities in The Hills LGA.

These donations will be one-off per applicant each financial year and will be considered on a case by case basis. You will be asked to demonstrate financial need as part of the application process.

Applications for donations may be made throughout the year and will be processed on a regular basis.  Applicants will be notified of the outcome.

Sporting or Cultural Competition

Apply for this donation if you are an individual or organisation who is competing in a competition eg. Sporting, art, music, literary.

Sporting or Cultural Activity Donation

Apply for this donation if you are an individual, organisation, not-for-profit or an incorporated body.  This donation will support projects, events or activities that encourage community participation, social inclusion and community engagement within the Hills LGA, eg. delivery of creative, artistic and cultural events that enrich the community.

Community Services Donation

Apply for this donation if you are an individual, organisation, not-for-profit or an incorporated body.  This donation encourages community groups to develop and implement programs or projects that address the social needs of residents within the Hills Shire, eg. build community partnerships to improve access to community services or skills for residents of the Hills Shire and to provide operational and/or equipment for local organisations to increase services beyond your current capability.

Click here to apply for a Sporting, Cultural or Community Services Donation.

Other Financial Assistance

Other Financial Assistance applications are open to any persons, community groups or private gain entities in accordance with Section 356 of the Local Government Act.

Applications can be made throughout the year and are subject to the conditions as outlined in the Community Grants and Donations Policy and Community Grants Program Guidelines.

Click here to view the Community Grants and Donations Policy.(PDF, 676KB)

Click here to view the Community Grants Program Guidelines.(PDF, 166KB)

There is no prescribed limit to the amount of funding you can apply for and you will be asked to demonstrate why an application wasn’t made through Council’s annual Community Grants Program.

Applications will be assessed on a case by case basis by a panel consisting of the Mayor, 3 Councillors and 1 member of the Audit Committee. Approval of funding and release of funds is subject to Council’s annual budget and financial commitments.

Completion reporting is required for all funding approvals with financial auditing required for funding over $5,000.

Please ensure you read and understand all Policy and Guidelines documentation prior to commencing your application.

What type of projects, event or activities may be funded?

• Community projects, disaster fundraising or events that take place within the Hills Shire.
• There is an expectation that there will be significant other grants and partners for the project, ie. match funding.

Who can apply?

• Individual and for profit, commercial organisations
• Not-for-profit can apply under this category, however the expectation is that they would normally apply during the Annual Community Grant round.  They will need to demonstrate why they did not or could not wait to apply through the Annual Community Grant round.

How will my application be assessed?

• Proposed grants will be assessed by a committee, either chaired by the Mayor or delegate, plus a minimum of three Councillors and an external member of the Audit and Risk Committee followed by a report to Council.
• If recommended for approval, grants may be placed on exhibition for 28 days subject to Section 365 of the Local Government Act.

Click here to apply for Other Financial Assistance.