Bayside Council is reviewing its existing Community Grants and Donations Policy to ensure it continues to meet the needs of our growing and diverse community.

The policy provides the framework for how Council provides financial and in-kind support to community groups, organisations and individuals. It guides decisions on funding programs including:

• Community Grants
• Donations, including youth, seniors and general support
• Student Excellence Awards
• Fee waivers for Council venues and facilities

The proposed updates build on the existing policy and are intended to provide clearer and more relevant funding streams for the community, while supporting Council to assess applications consistently and in line with its strategic priorities.

The updates include:

• Introducing new grant funding streams to better support Council’s strategic objectives and provide greater clarity for applicants about which funding stream best suits their activity.
• Reducing the Small Grants amount to $1,000, ensuring applications for program-related activities are considered through the most relevant funding stream.
• Increasing the amounts available for Youth Representation and Seniors Groups, which have not increased since 2018.

These updates will help ensure Council’s funding programs remain relevant, accessible and responsive to community needs, while supporting local initiatives that strengthen community wellbeing, inclusion and participation.