Business Event Sponsorship Program 2027

This round will open at 9:00am 1 October 2026 (AEST) for submissions.

IMPORTANT: Please read the information below to assist you in completing your submission.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Welcome to the City of Melbourne's online grant application service, powered by SmartyGrants. If this is the first time you are applying using SmartyGrants, click ‘Start a Submission’, then ‘Register here’.

It is important that you are aware of the application requirements.

Please read through the Business Event Sponsorship Program Guidelines to make sure your organisation and events meet the eligibility criteria.

If you require further information and assistance prior commencing this application, please contact us at businessfunding@melbourne.vic.gov.au.

 

SAVING YOUR DRAFT APPLICATION

If you wish to leave a partially completed application, press 'save and close' and log out. When you log back in and click on the 'My Submissions' link at the top of the screen, you will find a list of any applications you have started or submitted. You can reopen your draft application and start where you left off.

You can also download any application, whether draft or completed, as a PDF. Click on the 'Download PDF' button located at the bottom of the last page of the application form.

 

SESSION TIME-OUT WARNING

For security reasons, your login session will expire after 20 minutes of inactivity. Saving your form or navigating to another page resets the timer.

You’ll be prompted 90 seconds before your session expires, with the option to extend your session or log out. If you don’t respond to the prompt in time, your form will be automatically saved before your session ends.

Even so, we recommend saving your form regularly – especially when working on longer responses – to avoid losing any work.

 

SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

You will find a Review and Submit button at the bottom of the Navigation Panel. You need to review your application before you can submit it.

Once you have reviewed your application you can submit it by clicking on 'Submit' at the top or bottom of the screen or on the navigation panel. You will not be able to submit your application until all the compulsory questions are completed and there are no validation errors.

Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or uploading of support materials is possible.

When you submit your application, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your submitted application attached. This will be sent to the email you used to register.

If you do not receive a confirmation of submission email then you should presume that your application has NOT been submitted.

Hint: also check the email hasn't landed in your spam or junk email folder.

 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

For this application you are required to provide:

  • Certificate of currency for Public Liability Insurance - minimum coverage $20 million
  • Proposed event program
  • Marketing plan
  • Event budget
  • Proof of event being located in City of Melbourne municipality

Allow enough time for each file to upload before trying to attach another file. Files can be up to 25MB each; however, we do recommend trying to keep files to a maximum of 5MB – the larger the file, the longer the upload time.

ASSISTANCE

If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's).

 

PRIVACY STATEMENT 

City of Melbourne is committed to protecting your privacy. 

All information collected on this form is securely stored in SmartyGrants and City of Melbourne computer systems. The information requested on this form is being collected by City of Melbourne (via SmartyGrants) for the purpose of assisting with the assessment of applications for sponsorship. 

The information will be disclosed to internal parties for the purpose of assessing your application. In addition, the information you provided on page one (the name of the event, the main location of the event and the date/s of the event), may be disclosed to external parties for the purpose of scoping Melbourne's broader event calendar. 

No other information will be disclosed to any external party without your consent, unless required or authorised by law. Your personal information is collected to ensure that Council can contact you in a timely manner in relation to your application. 

If you wish to notify Council of any changes to the personal information provided, contact the Business Funding team email at businessfunding@melbourne.vic.gov.au. 

By submitting an application you consent, if your application is successful, to Council publishing the name of the event and the amount awarded on its website at http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au.   

This information may also be used for promoting the City of Melbourne’s sponsorship programs more generally.