18/08/2023

Community organisations in Georges River are invited to apply for funding through Council’s community grants program, with workshops and one-on-one Q&A sessions available to help prepare the perfect application.
 
Grants of up to $25,000 are up for grabs under Round 1 of Georges River Council’s Community Grants 2023-2024, with applications to close at midnight Monday 18 September 2023.
 
“This is an opportunity for community organisations to receive seed funding or a financial boost to help begin or continue to strengthen the social fabric of the Georges River region,” said Georges River Council Mayor Nick Katris.
 
The round includes Reconnecting Communities grants of up to $25,000 for major programs or projects which result in more connected communities, promote social connectedness, and reduce isolation, and Capacity Building grants of up to $10,000 for not-for-profit organisations to run programs or purchase assets and equipment to meet community needs.
 
Free two-hour How to Apply for a Georges River Council Grant workshops and individual 15-minute Q&A sessions are available in-person or online during August and September, with registrations essential.
 
Mayor Katris said the program’s upcoming workshops and one-on-one Q&A sessions aim to build potential applicants’ grant-making skills and build the community’s capacity to create high quality grant funding applications that align with Council’s relevant plans and policies, including the Grants, Donations, and Sponsorship Policy, the Community Strategic Plan, Disability Action Inclusion Plan, and Social Justice Charter.
 
“We want to get our community grant-ready so people can create high quality and eligible applications we can assess not just for this program, but for other future funding opportunities.
 
“It’s not just about applying for this round; it’s about putting a face to the name of your local grants officer as someone you can contact in future.
 
“Council’s Community Capacity Building team are here to help break down the grant process to help you understand the grants lifecycle and what it means to apply for a grant.

“We want applicants to think about how their projects and programs can be designed to seek change – whether it’s long-term or short-term change. A lot of people apply for grants saying they’re reaching a certain number of people with their program, but what we’re increasingly focused on is, ‘what are the outcomes? What are the changes that have occurred for the community?’”
 
See Georges River Council’s Community Grants webpage for more information on how to apply, or to book a grant-making workshop or Q&A sessions.
 
For more information, potential applicants can contact Council’s Grants Officer at mail@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au.