Men's Kitchen

Credit: Men's Kitchen (past Community Development Grant recipient)

The Community Development grant streams support projects and initiatives that focus on improving equality in the local area and reducing disadvantage and deliver direct benefit to local people, communities and the environment of the Northern Beaches Local Government Area. 

Opens 19 June, 11am and Closes 28 July, 3pm

Key dates

  • Applications open: 19 Jun 2025, 11am
  • Applications close: 28 July 2025, 3pm
  • Eligibility screening, assessment and Council approval: Aug - Oct 2025
  • Notification to applicants: Early Nov 2025
  •  Distribution of funding: Late Nov 2025
  • Projects delivered: Nov 2025 – 31 Dec 2026
  • Acquittal reports due: 31 Jan 2027

Information session

If you'd like to discuss the different grant programs and how to apply, join us for an online Information Session. We'll be sharing information on our different streams, discussing the application process, and answering any questions.

Application support 

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

Small Grants

  • Funding amount: up to $5,000
  • Who can apply:
    • Community groups and unincorporated associations that are not for profit, are predominantly run by volunteers and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches local government area
    • Incorporated entities that are not for profit, are predominantly run by volunteers and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches Local Government Area; and have an annual revenue (for example, revenue from donations) of $500,000 or less.

Community Development

  • Funding amount: up to $10,000
  • Who can apply: Incorporated entities that are not for profit and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches local government area

Ineligible applicants include:

  • State or Federal Government organisations
  • political parties or projects supporting political parties or agendas
  • individuals
  • for-profit organisations.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

  • Acquit any previous Council grants or sponsorships in the specified timeline, including proof of expenditure. Some previous grant timelines may overlap, in which case you should ring and talk to a relevant staff member to provide an update on the status of the funded project
  • Have no outstanding debts owed to Council
  • Demonstrate the grant will be used for a purpose in the public interest primarily for the local community.

General exclusions

Northern Beaches Council does not provide grants to projects that:

  • do not address the stated project outcomes
  • duplicate existing services or programs unless there is a demonstrated additional need
  • have already occurred (no retrospective funding) 
  • projects already funded by another Northern Beaches Council grant program
  • multiple applicants submitting applications for the same project
  • same applicant submitting different projects to the same grant program (only one project application per grant program)
  • infrastructure projects, including maintenance and improvement expenses
  • ongoing day-to-day operations or maintenance of established services
  • equipment expenses, unless they are specifically related to the project or make the services/programs more
    accessible for priority populations.
  • operational expenses, such as rent, ongoing staff wages, insurance, utilities, day-to-day general office supplies
    not directly related to the project
  • travel or accommodation expenses
  • Council does not provide fee waivers or free use for in-house design, printing and distribution service, hall or reserve/field hire, street closures, or cleansing and waste service for events. These costs must be included in the application budget
  • activities which promote or advance a specific religious or political belief system.

Funding available

Small Grants category

Up to $5,000 

Eligibility 

Community groups and unincorporated associations that are not for profit, are predominantly run by volunteers and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches local government area

Or

Incorporated entities that are not for profit, are predominantly run by volunteers and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches Local Government Area; and have an annual revenue (for example, revenue from donations) of $500,000 or less.

Funding Priorities 

One-off projects that enable small community groups to:

  • pilot new initiatives or help establish new groups.
  • increase the sustainability of existing initiatives or groups.

Assessment Criteria 

  1. Project aligns with the funding priorities for the grant category.
  2. Shows how the group or projectcontributes to the program outcomes in the Northern Beaches community.
  3. Demonstrated volunteer or member led contributions to the project or group.
  4. Value for money with a detailed budget showing how grant funding will be used.

Project outcomes 

This grant program supports projects that contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:

  • increased community safety and inclusion
  • increased social connections and participation in community life
  • improved access to information, services, programs and facilities
  • increased community capacity to care for self and others.

Community Development category

Up to $10,000

Eligibility 

Incorporated entities that are not for profit and are based in or servicing the Northern Beaches local government area.

Funding Priorities

Projects that increase safety and/or inclusion for the following priority populations.

  • young people
  • older people
  • people from diverse backgrounds
  • people experiencing mental ill-health
  • people who are socially isolated.

Assessment Criteria 

  1. Clear project purpose and evidence of local community need.
  2. Describes what the project is and how it will be delivered in alignment with funding priorities.
  3. Describes how the project contributes to one or more program outcomes.
  4. Value for money with a detailed budget showing how funding will be used.
  5. Demonstrates organisational capacity to deliver the project.

Project outcomes 

This grant program supports projects that contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:

  • increased skills/knowledge
  • improved access to community
  • information, services, programs, facilities
  • increased participation in community life
  • increased sense of safety and support
  • increased sense of belonging to the Northern Beaches community
  • increased social connections.

If you need further support, then you can contact us on:

Please refer to FAQs (p40-44) for answers to commonly asked questions and review 'What a strong application looks like' (p52-53) in our Guidelines 

To speak to a Council officer with an interpreter, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask to be connected to the Northern Beaches Council on 02 8495 6119.

Resources

General resources are available on our Grant Resources page.

Grant writing webinars are available on Council’s website to view anytime. The webinars cover general overview of grant writing with shorter videos on other relevant topics. 

Grants Assessment Panel Community Representatives

We are seeking Expressions of Interest from local residents, who have expertise in the community development sector, to fill 2 community representative positions for the assessment panel. 

Stay up to date with our grants

Make sure you don't miss out on hearing about our future grant opportunities. 

Community Development Grants Program Recipients

Find out the past recipients of the Community Development Grants

OneEighty.jpeg