Community Grants 2025-2026

This is a preview of the Community Grants 2025/2026 form. When you’re ready to apply, click Fill Out Now to begin.
 

Annual Community Grants 2025/2026

* indicates a required field.

Please read the below information before beginning your application for a Community Grant 2025/2026. 

Applications will need to comply with The Hills Shire Council Grants Policy. 

Community Grants Guidelines

Community Grants Policy 

Background

Council will provide financial assistance to local not-for-profit and/or registered
charitable organisations delivering services to, or providing activities for, residents
of The Hills Shire, through its Community Grants Program.

Eligible applicants can apply for amounts between $1,000 to $30,000.

Grants between $1,000 to $5,000 are available without dollar-for-dollar matching
funding.

Grants between $5,001 and $30,000 are available for dollar-for-dollar
match funding.

Projects must be delivered in the Hills Local Government Area. 

Grant Objectives

The aim of the Community Grants round is to provide funding for activities that deliver social, economic, cultural or recreational benefits to The Hills Shire community in line with The Hills Shire Plan. This will be achieved through funding diverse programs, activities and projects that support a vibrant community and prosperous economy.

The Community Grants aim to:
a) Build community capacity
b) Promote social cohesion
c) Support people from diverse backgrounds
d) Foster partnerships
e) Provide new opportunities to Hills Shire residents
f) Improve access to community services and new skills for Hills Shire residents
g) Promote inclusive practices
h) Increase participation of Hills Shire residents.

Proposed projects will also be required to incorporate one or more of the following priority areas:
1. Youth
2. Seniors
3. Children and Families
4. Disability
5. Domestic and Family Violence
6. Community safety
7. At risk communities
8. Multicultural communities
Applicants will be required to provide information within the application about how their project meets the relevant priority areas.
Funding priority areas may be amended each year based on current or emerging needs within the community.

If your program / project incorporates more than one area, please include all areas applicable.

Project Completion and Funding Acquittals

When will I receive my funding to begin my project ?

Funding will be paid following Council endorsement of recommended applications by the assessment panel. Successful applicants should expect their funding payment by October 2025. **Subject to change. 

Projects must be delivered within the timeframes outlined in your project application.

What types of funding require an acquittal/completion report?

Grants under $5,000 will require a completion report to be completed within 60 days of the end of the project.

Grants amounts over $5,001 an acquittal report will be required, and the report must include a financial acquittal with all revenue and expenditure confirmed by accredited independent accountant or auditor.

Invoices and / or receipts will also be required for all expenditure items over $2,000.

I confirm that I understand the requirements for funding acquittal/completion reporting * Required

Grants Process

Council will run annual grants training sessions for applicants to attend. It is recommended that applicants attend a training session to better understand the application process and what is required. More information about these sessions can be found on the Grants webpage located on The Hills Shire Council’s website.

Applications must be submitted online through Council’s online grants management system. Council will not accept applications via any other means of communication (e.g. hard copy or via email).

Council will not accept any submissions received after the closing date and time.

Applications received will be assessed by a Grants Officer who will determine if the application is eligible.

Once the applicant has submitted their application, ineligible applications will be emailed and given five (5) business days to amend their application in order to make it eligible. Applications that are still deemed ineligible or incomplete after this five (5) day period will not progress to the panel for consideration.

All grant applications will be assessed in line with Council’s adopted Grants Policy
2024-2028.

The panel may recommend full funding, partial funding or no funding.

Eligibility

Applicants must:
a) Be a recognised legal or corporate entity such as a charity or not-for-profit
b) Provide the activity in The Hills Local Government Area
c) Ensure the activity is free or low-cost for the community to participate in
d) Apply through Council’s online grant management system.

Ineligibility

a) Applicants who have already received a grant in the same financial year,
from the same grant pool (excluding auspice arrangements)
b) Projects that do not benefit residents of the Hills LGA
c) Retrospective funding
d) Organisations with outstanding completion reports or acquittals from previous funding
e) State and Federal Government agencies and their entities (including schools,
P&Cs, childcare/preschool services, TAFE/Universities/Colleges, Area Health
Services, hospitals and political organisations)
f) Councillors, staff and their immediate family
g) Applicants applying entirely for staff costs

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Criteria:
• Applications must be made online and meet the applicable eligibility criteria.
• All relevant sections of the Application Form are to be completed, and all supporting documents must be uploaded.

All applications must include the following:

• Applicant’s organisation or auspice organisation’s ABN.

• For funding requests between $5,001 and $50,000, applicants are required to provide financial statements including profit and loss statements and balance sheets covering 24 months and certified by an accredited independent accountant or auditor. 

• At least 2 quotes for all expenditure items over $2,000, unless the grant is for a Council venue hire.

• Comments on the project or activities viability should Council not provide 100% of the financial assistance requested.

• Expected project dates, project milestones including acquittal and completion reporting dates.

• Current Public Liability Insurance for a minimum of $20 million is required for all organisations applying for funding (mandatory).

• All organisations must declare whether their board members have any conflicts of interest.

• If the project involves children, applicants should include information on how their project meets child safe guidelines. 

If fundraising, the following must be included with the application:
• Amount expected to raise.
• Articulate how the funds raised will be used.
• Charity status of the organisation documentation.
• Supporting letter from the charity the fundraising is for if another entity.
• Any other assistance an applicant is planning on receiving from Council must be detailed in their application

Application Checklist

Please prepare the following documents for inclusion in your application submission. 

You may use the below checklist to tick off the forms as you collect them. You will be asked to upload these supporting documents within the application.

 
Please ensure you upload all required documents in the application form. Failure to do so my result in your application not proceeding to assessment

Single and Multi-year Funding

Single year and multi-year commitments may be approved under this Policy. Multi-year Funding Agreements may be approved for a maximum of three consecutive years in order for THSC to continue to support, develop and create a dynamic range of opportunities in the community into the future.

Funding Agreements will be available for between one (1) and three (3) consecutive financial years, subject to the requirements of the Grant category within the CGP, annual deliverables and an Acquittal and approval process tied to the annual payments. This is also subject to THSC’s annual budget processes.

Based on the assessment score, projects will be eligible for funding up to the amounts outlined in the table below.

Applicants who apply for funding for the same project/event across consecutive years will be subject to the following funding reductions:

Grant Application Score Grant Funding
21-25 Up to 100% Funding
16-20 Up to 75% Funding
11-15 Up to 50% Funding
6-10 Up to 25% Funding
0-5: Zero funding; applicant to be taken through the grant writing course. 

Year of Application % of Eligible Funding
First Year 100%
Second Year 75%
Third Year 50%
Fourth Year and Beyond Not eligible

Please send an email to grants@thehills.nsw.gov.au should you wish to discuss a multi-year funding agreement. 

Enquiries

Community Outcomes Team

Email: grants@thehills.nsw.gov.au

Phone: 02 8848 6718