Community grants

Council provides grant funding to community organisations to financially support their projects which deliver measurable outcomes aligned to the City Vision.

These funds are provided across the Community Projects Program, Community Arts Program and the Community Partnerships Fund.

Our Community Grants Policy outlines the objectives and eligibility criteria for a community grant to be provided to community organisations by Council.

Community Projects Program

The Community Projects Program is a rolling non-competitive grants program that receives applications throughout the year.

The program comprises 4 categories:

  • Community services and development
  • Community activations
  • Equipment and resources
  • Capital works

Applications will be assessed and determined within 4 weeks of being received.

The 2024–25 round will run from 1 July 2024 until 1 June 2025.

To review the Program Guidelines and to apply:

Apply now

Discretionary Grants Program

The Discretionary Grants Program is allocated funding each financial year to support community organisations to deliver projects primarily intended to benefit a particular divisional area and its residents. Funds administered under the Discretionary Grants Program are considered discretionary funds pursuant to the City’s Community Grants Policy and s202 of the Local Government Regulation.

In 2024–25, each Councillor, including the Mayor, has $40,997 available to allocate to projects with a community purpose and applications from $250 to $10,000 are welcomed.

An entity may only submit one application to the Discretionary Grants Program per financial year.

Notice of availability

This notice is issued pursuant to 201b(4) of the Local Government Regulation 2012.

Date of availability notice 1 July 2024
Date of Council Budget adoption 7 June 2024
Total amount budgeted for the financial year as Councils discretionary funds $614,955
Prescribed amount for Council for the financial year $614,955
Total amount of discretionary funds budgeted for the financial year for councillors to allocate for each of the following purposes: Capital works of the local government that are for a community purpose:
Other community purposes: $614,955
Amount of discretionary funds budgeted for use by each councillor for the financial year for each of the following purposes: Capital works of the local government that are for a community purpose: $0
Other community purposes: $40,997

Notice of allocation

Notice of successful grants and community groups will be updated once allocations are made.

See our funded discretionary grants report for information about the recipients of these funds:

Light vehicles for community organisations initiative

Our light vehicle review identified a number of underused vehicles. As part of this review, we are making 50 light vehicles available to community organisations under a 12-month agreement.

This initiative aligns with the current Community Grants process in terms of accessibility, eligibility, and assessment.

Applications will be assessed with consideration given to:

  • alignment to the City Vision and Council Plan 2022–27
  • value for money and competing priorities
  • quantity of applications previously received by your organisation
  • advice from City of Gold Coast subject matter experts
  • consultation with your Councillor.

Expressions of interest are open from 1 to 31 October 2024.

Eligible expressions of interest will be assessed for a decision at the Council meeting on 3 December 2024.

Register your interest

Contact us

For more information, please email communitygrants@goldcoast.qld.gov.au