Quick Response Grant Program

Applications to the 2026/27 program are now open.

Overview

The Quick Response Grant Program provides small grants at short notice to eligible organisations and individuals. The grants support the establishment and delivery of valuable services, programs, activities, and events to the City of Port Phillip community.

The QRGP is based on Council’s Community Funding Policy.

Program Categories

Category 1: Individuals

Maximum funding per application: $500

Purpose

To fund individual residents experiencing barriers to participate in elite and competitive local, state, national and international events/activities.

Objective

Support for individual residents who are experiencing barriers to participation and have been selected and or invited to participate in an educational, sporting, cultural, recreational, or artistic pursuit through elite and competitive local, state, national, and international events or activities.

Category 2: Community Organisations and Social Enterprises

Maximum funding per application: $2,000

Purpose

To fund community organisations and social enterprises to deliver programs and projects that support Council to achieve its strategic directions, and do not align with other Council grant program objectives and timelines.

Objectives

Support for programs, projects, and events that:

  • Champion and embrace diversity
  • Foster collaboration and mutual support within the community
  • Improve the health and wellbeing of residents
  • Provide fair and equitable access to services
  • Prepare and build resilience to the impacts of climate change
  • Engages the community in enhancing environmental outcomes
  • Build community leadership and capacity to respond and recover from emergencies
  • Supports arts, culture, sport and recreation
  • Celebrates diversity and multiculturalism.

Category 3: Support for Unincorporated Community Groups 

Maximum funding per application: $750 

Purpose 

To support the development of unincorporated community groups and their delivery of activities that align with Council Priorities.  

Recipients are only entitled to one-off funding under the grant program per financial year. 

Grant value

Individuals

Maximum funding per application: $500

Community Organisations and Social Enterprises

Maximum funding per application: $2,000

Unincorporated Community Groups 

Maximum funding per application: $750 

Key dates

The program is open for applications during each financial year until funds are expended. Rounds close 1st Monday of each month. Applications must be submitted at least eight weeks prior to commencement of the planned activity.

RoundOpeningCloses
11 July 20263 August 2026
24 August 20267 September 2026
38 September 20265 October 2026
46 October 20262 November 2026
53 November 20267 December 2026

This is a competitive program that is limited by the amount of funds available. Applicants are not guaranteed funding, nor can applicants be guaranteed to be granted the total amount of funding they have requested.

Eligibility

Category 1:  Support for Individuals

Individuals seeking to apply for a Quick Response Grant must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be a resident of the City of Port Phillip for a minimum 6 months (evidence required).
  • Can provide evidence of invitation to participate in the event.
  • Have complied with all terms and conditions including the submission of a satisfactory project status and acquittal report for any previous City of Port Phillip Grants.

Category 2: Support for Community Organisations and Social Enterprises

Community organisations, not for profit organisations, service providers, education providers and social enterprises seeking to apply for a Quick Response Grant must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be a not-for-profit community group or organisation or education provider, social enterprise, or apply through an auspice arrangement.
  • Provide an ABN or an Auspice Organisation ABN.
  • Have Public Liability Insurance or an Auspice Organisation Public Liability Insurance with a minimum of $20 Million.
  • Be located within the City of Port Phillip municipality.
  • Have complied with all terms and conditions including the submission of a satisfactory project status and acquittal reports for any previous City of Port Phillip Grants.

If applying as a social enterprise then you will be required to provide certification by Social Traders or evidence that includes:

  • having a defined primary social, cultural or environmental purpose consistent with a public or community benefit,
  • deriving a substantial portion of their income from trade,
  • investing efforts and resources into their purpose such that public/community benefit outweighs private benefit.

Category 3: Unincorporated Community Groups

Unincorporated community groups must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Be unincorporated.
  • Have an ABN (Applying for an ABN | Australian Business Register)
  • Have their activities within the City of Port Phillip
  • Have complied with all terms and conditions including the submission of a satisfactory project status and acquittal report for any previous City of Port Phillip Grants.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online using SmartyGrants.

Before applying, please ensure you read the guidelines and criteria on this page.

If you need help, please contact the Grants and Funding Team on grants@portphillip.vic.gov.au