The program aims to help meet increased demand for food relief, strengthen and expand initiatives in local communities and begin to address the related drivers of food insecurity.

Objectives

• The objectives of the Local Grants program are to:
  • support more people and families facing food insecurity to access healthy and culturally appropriate food, in accessible and dignified ways
  • develop or enhance effective community food models, enabling community and volunteer-led organisations to expand and strengthen current food relief efforts and increase their sustainability
  • support people accessing food relief to make connections to other related community supports and services, such as financial wellbeing and food literacy, where relevant
  • develop or strengthen enduring partnerships and networks to enhance community food relief access, reduce duplication and improve effectiveness.

Funding Information

• The minimum grant amount is $15,000. The maximum is $100,000.

Eligible Activities

• Eligible activities will increase the effectiveness, capacity, sustainability and availability of community food relief, and may include:
  • buying, hiring or installing equipment and appliances
  • improving infrastructure or facilities such as kitchens or food storage
  • sourcing program supplies such as nutritious and culturally appropriate food and packaging materials
  • building partnerships and networks and undertaking strategic planning to strengthen food relief activities
  • training and development activities to enhance skills, knowledge and safety of staff and volunteers involved in providing food relief
  • program delivery costs including for extra staff, volunteer recruitment, community education, awareness and promotional activities
  • reimbursing volunteer expenses directly related to the project’s delivery and proportionate to the project cost.

Eligibility Criteria

• Funding is available to organisations based in Victoria or servicing Victoria’s cross-border communities.
• Applicants must have a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • And be either:
    • a not-for-profit entity – that is:
    • registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission; or
    • registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria (or equivalent body in a neighbouring state) as an incorporated association; or
    • registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and
    • demonstrated through your organisation’s constitution or governance documents.
• an Aboriginal entity that is incorporated, including Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Traditional Owner groups and land trusts.
• a social enterprise that is an incorporated entity with a clearly stated purpose or mission related specifically to supporting food relief or food security.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Entities that are not eligible:
  • Private (for profit) companies
  • Sole traders and individuals
  • Charitable trusts

For more information, visit Victorian Government.