Community Grants Program
The following grants are available:
- Micro grant for amounts up to $1,000 - open across the calendar year from 1 July 2026 until funds are expended.
- Minor grant for amounts from $1,001, up to $10,000 - open on 1 July 2026 and close at 5pm on Wednesday 12 August 2026.
- Major grant for amounts over $10,001, up to $150,000 - open on 1 July 2026 and close at 5pm on Wednesday 12 August 2026. You will need to provide additional supporting details and financial and/or in-kind co-contribution.
For applications in the minor or major grant program, one round of funding will be offered per financial year, subject to budgeted funds being available. Refer to the following for more information:
How to apply
Grants open on 1 July 2026 via our website.
Application forms for the micro, minor and major grants will be published for preview prior to 1 July 2026.
Once published, intending applicants will be able to preview a copy of their preferred application to help prepare their responses.
Existing grant rounds, and future rounds, can be found on the SmartyGrants website.
All previous application forms e.g. Sport and Recreation, Economic Development, Community Support, Community, Regional and Major Event Support, Environment, Sports Tourism Event Support and Youth Support and their guidelines have been replaced.
How to prepare
To start preparing:
- Attend an information session, usually held during March and April.
- Obtain early guidance via the Grants and Sponsorship Officer, Community Development Officers (CDOs) or other staff with subject matter expertise. Call us on 131 872.
- Consider who within your committee can assist. i.e. preparation of budget, letters of support that validate the project is required, project plans or evidence of need.
- Check alternate funding sources via the Toowoomba Grant and Funding Finder. Additional monies gained prior to 1 July will reduce your reliance on our funds.
- Set up your SmartyFile account to make your SmartyGrants application easier.
- Read the 2.91 Community Grants Policy.pdf(PDF, 246KB) and 5.50 Community Grant Guidelines.pdf(PDF, 383KB) prior to submitting an application. The policy and guideline set out the philosophy, eligibility, application and assessment criteria, acquittal process, responsibilities and accountabilities and details the specific terms and conditions.
Required documents
The type of documentation requested will depend on the amount of funding you are seeking. Generally, you should prepare for any grant application with the following:
- Budget i.e. completing the table provided
- Quotes / evidence (to align with dollars requested)
- Supporting evidence, project / event management plans, risk management plans etc.
Eligible groups
Not-for-profit groups recognised by legal status. e.g.
- incorporated entity with or without an ABN
- other incorporated entity
- charitable institution
- Australian public company limited by guarantee
- Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) and
- Health Promotion Charity (HPC).
Non ATO recognised groups with a 'not for profit' purpose will require an auspice partner to accept financial and legal responsibility for the approved project.
Funding priority
A more robust prioritisation framework is being implemented through the assessment criteria. We will prioritise:
- Projects / initiatives that align with our priorities
- Demonstrated community need for the project / initiative
- Applicant organisation’s capacity to deliver
- Regionally based projects / initiatives
- New applicants
Seed funding is intended to support early-stage initiatives while promoting future self-sufficiency. Repeat funding conditions apply to all events, whether they are new or already established.
Not all applications will be funded. All of our grants are offered on a competitive basis and requested amounts of funding can't be guaranteed.
Answering your community grants questions
Summary of changes to community grants
Applications are now categorised by funding amounts rather than a program or focus area, creating a more transparent model.
Why the community grants programs has changed
We have undertaken a full review of our grants programs to make it simpler and more accessible for not-for-profit groups across the region. Previously, applicants had to navigate multiple programs, many with funding caps. From 1 July 2026, these programs are replaced with one policy and guideline.
Funding caps removal
The removal of previous focus area related applications and their funding caps allows applicant organisations to design projects that best meet local needs, without being confined to funding constraints.
New categories
From 1 July 2026, applicants can apply for a:
- micro grant, up to $1000
- minor grant, $1001 to $10,000
- major grant, over $10,001 to $150,000.
Two-round seed funding
To promote sustainability, we will fund initiatives for up to two rounds. Seed funding is provided to kick-start new activations, projects or initiatives with the view that the activity is self-sufficient beyond this support. Regardless of whether the event is new or pre-existing, repeat funding conditions apply.
Changes in application questions
Some of the questions will be the same and some will require responses to key criteria. This helps the assessment panel reach an informed decision prior to the final approvals. Where possible, questions have been minimised with responses being a mix of multiple choice or drop-down options.
Acquitting previous funding
Groups can apply without acquitting previous funding, as long as the acquittal for the previous funding is not overdue. Any previously submitted acquittal which doesn’t receive sign-off, renders the applicant organisation as ineligible for future funding.