Environment grants

• Grant round opens: Monday 20 July 2026
• Grant round closes: Sunday 30 August 2026
• Applicants advised of outcome: Within 3 months of the grant round closing date
• Presentation event: Wednesday 25 November 2026
• Acquittal date: Within 12 months of notification of outcome

Who is not eligible to apply

• Local, state or federal government agencies or departments (not including schools).
• Groups linked to gambling. This includes groups that:
  • promote gambling
  • earn money from gambling
  • have gambling facilities on site
  • run activities at gambling venues
  • Some community events (such as ANZAC Day or Remembrance Day) may still be eligible if they are clearly separate from gambling activities.
• Political organisations.
• Groups seeking direct support from Councillors for their application.
• Groups with overdue grant acquittals from us.
• Groups with unpaid debt to us.
• Groups operating at a financial loss.

Group applicants must

To apply, your group must meet one of the following:

• be an incorporated association
• be an auspiced not-for-profit community group
• be a not-for-profit public company, charity or benevolent trust.

Your group must also:

• have a formal structure, including office bearers and a bank account
• deliver services, programs or support to Banyule residents
• be operating for at least 12 months
• have an ABN (or an auspice ABN), or complete a Statement by Supplier
• hold public liability insurance of $20 million during the project
• provide financial statements
• meet the Victorian Child Safe Standards (view standards).

Kindergarten services managed by an Early Years Manager must get approval before applying.

Individual applicants

• Must be auspiced (fees can be included in your budget).
• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Should live, work, or show strong connection to the Banyule community.
• Hold public liability insurance of $10 million during the project, or provide proof of cover through your auspice.

What will not be funded

• Projects that do not align with our priorities (view Council Plan).
• Religious activities that focus on worship, teaching religion, or conversion.
• Political or lobbying activities.
• Gambling activities.
• Primary health or medical care.
• Core education or school curriculum activities.
• Projects that pass funding on to another person or organisation.
• Equipment that will not stay with the applicant.
• Ongoing running costs (for example salaries, rent, utilities, insurance).
• Everyday equipment (for example sports balls), unless there is a clear financial need.
• Projects on Council or government land without a licence agreement.
• Gas appliances.
• Planning or permit costs (for example building or landscape plans).
• Project management or auspicing fees.
• Requests that should be funded by another organisation or level of government.
• Uniforms given to individuals (team uniforms may be considered if owned by the club).
• Projects that have already started (retrospective funding).
• Projects already fully funded by another source.
• Payments to professional grant writers.
• Defibrillators if one is already available within 400 metres.
• CCTV systems.

If applying for a defibrillator, you must register it with Ambulance Victoria (register here).

All eligible applications are reviewed by an assessment panel. The panel includes 2 members of the Banyule Environment and Climate Action Advisory Committee (BECAAC) and senior Council staff.

Applications are assessed using 4 criteria:

• Alignment with our Sustainable Environment Vision (25%)
• Community and environmental benefit (35%)
• Well planned project (30%)
• Budget and value for money (10%)

Everyone involved in the assessment must declare any conflicts of interest before the process begins.

Applications must be submitted through Smarty Grants.

The due date of your acquittal will be included in your agreement, typically 12 months after any grant money is awarded.

All successfully funded projects will submit an online acquittal form that requires:

• providing receipts and invoices for all expenses
• marketing materials and how you did promotions
• detail about any in-kind contributions
• project outcomes.

You must get our consent to any project variations that will alter the original funding approval before you proceed (we reserve the right to cease funding).

All requests will be considered by the Director City Development on advice from Council officers, and you will be notified of our decision.

Variations should be applied for through SmartyGrants.