Community Inclusion Grants 2027

Purpose and objectives of Community Inclusion grants

The City of Melbourne is committed to working in partnership to enable an inclusive community. Community Inclusion grants provide funding for projects that build connection, that strengthen inclusion, resilience, accessibility, health and wellbeing, that celebrate diversity and that help make our city fairer and more welcoming.

The Council Plan 2025-29 outlines the strategic priorities for the City of Melbourne to build on its strong foundations to be a city that thrives as a place that benefits all.

Applications to this program must align to the following Council Plan Strategic Priorities and Outcomes:

• Healthy, safe, clean and connected communities
  • Our neighbourhoods and communities enable physical and mental wellbeing.
  • People can access necessary services in times of need.
  • Melbourne is safe, clean and accessible to all.
  • Our diverse communities can actively participate, connect and experience a sense of belonging in Melbourne.

A particular focus for this grant round will be:

• Programs and initiatives that support social connection and address loneliness, including connecting people in apartment living.
• Projects that create opportunities for multicultural and intercultural celebration, dialogue and programming.
• Projects that strengthen social cohesion by building trust, inclusion and a shared sense of belonging across Melbourne’s communities.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply for funding through Community Inclusion grants, applications must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be a not-for-profit constituted body or a school. Auspiced applications are permitted in this program except for capital works projects.
  • Body Corporates are eligible to apply for a Community Inclusion grant only for the provision of a publicly accessible community garden.
• Applicants must be located within, or be running the project within, the City of Melbourne municipality.
• Applications must have a focus on City of Melbourne’s local communities and/or communities that are considered disadvantaged.
• Projects funded through Community Inclusion grants are eligible for up to two years of funding. Applications to this program are for one year of funding. Applicants may reapply for a second year of funding, however applications to this program must be submitted one year at a time. This second year of funding is not guaranteed, and applications will be assessed as per the standard process.
• Capital works projects:
  • Capital works projects will be considered for funding for local community organisations whose work aligns with Council priorities.
  • Auspiced applications will not be accepted for capital works projects.
  • Capital works applications will only be considered where the facility is located within the City of Melbourne boundary and owned by not-for-profit organisations. Funding cannot be used for capital works projects on Council-owned land or property.
  • Community garden applications will only be considered for property that is within the City of Melbourne boundary, and either owned by a not-for-profit body or privately owned. Funding will not be considered for gardens that are on Council owned land.

Funding will not be considered for:

• applicants who have already received funding through the Community Inclusion grants for projects taking place in the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027
• religious activities that focus on religious service, education, preaching, proselytizing, or those that exclude community members of different faiths from participating.
• activities that denigrate or exclude parts of the community or that breach Commonwealth and State anti-vilification laws
• activities that have an adverse effect on public health, safety, the environment or heritage
• political parties or where the primary purpose of the project is considered to be political
• political lobbying or advocacy activities
• commercial activities and/or organisations
• Commonwealth or State Government Departments
• core operational funding or core service delivery
• events
• fundraising activities, competitions, prizes
• applications where the funding will be used to provide grants to a third party
• interstate and international travel costs including travel costs for facilitators/consultants
• research projects
• projects that include the establishment of a social enterprise
• projects/activities that are the responsibility of either the State or Federal Government
• projects that duplicate existing services and programs
• projects that have already commenced or occurred
• projects that are being, or have already been, funded through other City of Melbourne grant or sponsorship programs
• projects run by the City of Melbourne
• organisations with outstanding acquittals or debts owing to the City of Melbourne
• an applicant that conducts, or has conducted, themselves in a way that the CoM considers to be injurious or prejudicial to the character or interests of the City of Melbourne
• incomplete applications
• late submissions

Funding level

Applications for Community Inclusion grants funding can be made for between $1000 and $20,000.

Key dates

• Applications open 9am Wednesday 1 July 2026
• Applications close 11.59pm on Monday 3 August 2026
• Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in December 2026
• First instalment of grant payments will be paid in mid-January 2027
• Projects must start after 1 January 2027.
• Projects must be completed by 31 December 2027.
• An online information session will be held on Monday 13 July at 2pm. Registration details can be found on the website. This session will be recorded and can be provided on request

Please refer to the Community Inclusion Grants guidelines for full details of the program including assessment criteria, grant terms and conditions and Frequently Asked Questions

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Applications

AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Copilot) can be used to help research and write your grant application.

However, there are risks, including:

• generating incorrect, biased or outdated information
• potential confidentiality and intellectual property issues

If you use AI to assist with writing your application you should:

• check any information it provides to make sure it is accurate and relevant
• ensure the application reflects your own knowledge, experience and voice
• avoid copying or relying heavily on large sections of AI-generated text
• ensure you have the right to use any content included in your application
• avoid entering confidential, sensitive or unpublished information into AI tools

Accountability
You are responsible for all content submitted in your application, including anything generated or supported by AI tools.

You can use City of Melbourne's Open Data portal to find data to support your application or to verify data sourced from AI.