Quick Response Grants

Applications now open

Quick Response grants aim to fill a funding gap for unfunded community groups and not-for-profit organisations requiring assistance outside of our annual community grant programs.

This grant is intended to address one-off emerging, or unexpected needs and opportunities, rather than recurring funding or ongoing operational expenses, unless a clear need can be identified.

What can be funded?

Applicants can receive up to $1,000 in Quick Response funding during a financial year for one or more projects to assist with costs such as:

• Expenses associated with establishing a new community group or supporting existing groups to be sustainable (E.g. incorporation, insurance and promotion costs)
• Communications, media and marketing (E.g. design and printing of promotional flyers, or website design)
• Purchase of materials, equipment or tools for an identified need
• Capacity building opportunities including skills development and training (E.g. governance training for committee or management)
• Activities to support a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion (E.g. cultural awareness training for volunteers)
• Volunteer recruitment and support costs (E.g. recruitment and training expenses)
• Consultant, speaker, or contractor fees
• Venue or meeting room hire.

What won't be funded?

Applications will NOT be considered for:

• Projects, events or activities that could be funded through Council’s annual community grant programs, peak bodies or other government funding
• Projects, events or activities being held outside the Nillumbik municipal boundary, or that won’t substantially benefit the Nillumbik community
• Ongoing operational expenses or core business costs without a clearly identified need (E.g. salaries, administrative costs, maintenance costs, supplies, uniforms, utility bills, etc.)
• Projects that are curriculum based or entirely student, club or congregation focused
• Projects solely for fundraising purposes without broad community benefit
• Funding sought by sporting clubs for competition games, uniforms, equipment or other infrastructure necessary to support their primary activities
• Competitions, prize money and awards
• Projects or events with a political or religious purpose
• Events that are fully ticketed with no free or heavily subsidised component
• Alcohol or gambling related activities
• Projects that have received full funding from another source
• Retrospective funding for projects which are due to commence prior to the notification of the application outcome
• Applicants that are in debt to or have any outstanding commitments and/or acquittals with Nillumbik Shire Council.

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, applicants MUST:

• Be a not-for-profit incorporated organisation or community group that lives, works, studies, volunteers or plays in Nillumbik, or partnered with (auspiced by) an eligible organisation 
• Hold a minimum of $20 million public liability insurance, or if your activity will be held in a Council venue or on Council land, you may be eligible for coverage under Council’s community public liability insurance
• Have acquitted and be compliant with all Nillumbik grants previously awarded by Council
• Spend the funds before 30 June 2025.

Funding conditions

Successful applicants must agree to:

• Keep Council informed of any changes to the proposed funded activity
• Liaise with Council regarding their promotional material and use of the appropriate Nillumbik Shire Council logo
• Obtain all relevant project and event related permits, approvals, and licenses from the relevant authorities prior to commencement
• Return the full or remaining amount of grant monies to Council if the funded activity is cancelled or is less than budgeted
• Submit an acquittal and evaluation to Council within two months of the funded activity’s completion or by 30 June 2025.

Acquittal and evaluation

This information enables Council to evaluate the achievements of funded activities, monitor the effectiveness of the grant program and ensure that we are meeting the needs of grant recipients and the community.

Recipients who have an outstanding acquittal for a grant, without an approved grant variation in place, may be ineligible for funding in future grant rounds until the outstanding acquittal is received.