Woollahra Grants Program 2025/26

• Applications open - Monday 31 March 2025
• Applications close - Sunday 11 May 2025 (midnight)
• Grants announced - mid June 2025
• Funded projects are to be completed and ready to be evaluated before 30 June 2026

Welcome to Woollahra Municipal Council's online grant application process. Woollahra Municipal Council (WMC) has a range of annually distributed grants available to enable the community to develop projects to address local needs. These include Community and Cultural, Environmental, Placemaking and, Business Sector Support streams.

Before completing this form, please read and review the:

• Woollahra Grants Policy and Grants Guidelines
• Woollahra Council Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct
• Woollahra 2032 Community Strategic Plan (CSP) -  (Goals and Strategies sections). This is a 10-year plan that sets our long term vision and objectives. It identifies Council's main priorities and aspirations for the future and strategies for achieving these goals, which is supported through Council's Grants Programs. 

We suggest you carefully review your eligibility by reading the policy and guidelines before you start, to avoid wasting time applying for grants you are not eligible for.

Do you need more help to use this form?

Download the Help Guide for Applicants, check out  Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) 

What information should I prepare?

To complete your application, you will need to upload the following documents:

• Evidence of pricing or quotes for expected expenditure of $500 or over.
• Supporting documentation for any project partnerships or collaborations where applicable.

We suggest you 'Preview' the application form before commencing, then prepare the information that will be needed to answer each question. 

How do I work on my application over a number of days?

Please ensure you save as you go so you can return to the form and keep editing. Remember to submit by the close date. 

How much detail do I include?

Council encourages applicants to write concisely and clearly. Please do not duplicate answers across multiple questions. It is acceptable for answers to be below word limits. 

Can I get an extension and submit my application after the closure date?

No. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.

If I am successful, how long does my funding last?

Each grant is awarded for one funding period only (1 July 2025, to 30 June 2026). Projects must be completed and ready to be evaluated before 30 June 2026. There is no guarantee of future funding. 

Acquittal Information:

Acquittal's must be submitted no later than 60 days following the delivery of the project or before the end of June 2026, whichever comes first. Forms can be accessed through the My Submissions tab on your SmartyGrants account. 

Do you have another question?

Email: grants@woollahra.nsw.gov.au

Phone: (02) 9391 7000

We suggest you review the following documents to identify how your project aligns with Council's goals, outcomes or actions.

1. Children, Youth and Families Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2027

2.  Woollahra Arts and Culture Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2028

3. Woollahra Events Strategy 2024-2028

Outcomes: to support local projects which foster a connected, liveable, vibrant and creative community. Projects must foster inclusion and be open to the community.

1.a. Community projects may support, but are not limited to, local families, children and young people, seniors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and reconciliation, social isolation and loneliness, mental health, cultural diversity, people with disability, community safety, domestic violence, LGBTQIA+ people or building community partnerships and networks.

Community Themes for the 2025/26 round:

• Projects that activate places and spaces so that children, youth and families have safe and accessible places to meet, connect, celebrate and feel they belong.
• Projects that deliver high quality, relevant services and programs to meet the needs of children, youth and families. Projects that involve young people (12-24 years) must provide evidence that they have been co-designed with young people.
• Projects that that support mental health and positive wellbeing.

1.b. Cultural projects may include, but are not limited to, performing and visual arts and crafts, literature, film, design, history and heritage and their expression through public debate, festivals, exhibitions, performances, creative space, competitions and public celebrations of importance to communities. 

Cultural Themes for the 2025/26 round:

• Projects, embedded in Woollahra, led by First Nations organisations or individuals which foster engagement, representation and positive relationships within the Woollahra community. Projects should focus on storytelling about culture, language and history which encourage truthtelling.
• Projects that foster harmony and celebrate cultural diversity, strengthening social cohesion within the community.
• Projects that feature performing arts and live music (with an emphasis on outdoor experiences).

Funding available:

• Small Grants of up to $3,000 are available to community organisations, community groups or individuals
• Large Grants of between $3,001 and $7,500 are available to community organisations or community groups. Individuals may only apply for a Large Grant if under the auspices of a not for profit organisation.

Outcomes: to support local environmental improvement projects. They are open to community organisations, local schools and non-profit early learning centres for projects that protect or enhance our local environment. Environmental projects have real outcomes that protect or improve the environment in some way.

Funding available:

• Small Grants of up to $3,000
• Large Grants of between $3,001 and $7,500.

Outcomes: to support projects, activities and events that activate and enhance public spaces, publicly accessible spaces, commercial centres and suburbs within the Woollahra LGA.

Funding available:

• Small Grants of up to $3,000 are available to businesses, sole traders, community and business sector support organisations including community groups, business chambers and individuals.
• Large Grants of between $3,001 and $7,500 are available to businesses, community and business sector support organisations including community groups, business chambers and resident associations. Individuals may only apply for a Large Grant if under the auspices of a not for profit organisation.

There are two categories under this stream:

Category 1 – Events: Delivery of new and/or recurring community events within public spaces or publicly accessible spaces within the Woollahra Local Government Area.

We suggest you review Council's Events Strategy 2024-2028 to identify how your event aligns with Council's goals, outcomes or actions.

Events Theme for the 2025/26 round:

• Collaborative placemaking – events and activations that collaborate with the community and local businesses.

Projects may include, but are not limited to, markets, health and wellbeing activities, food truck events, workshops, live performance, family fun days.

Category 2 – Place Activation: To support and encourage activation of public spaces, business areas and neighbourhoods to enliven and improve access, liveability and activity.

Projects may include, but are not limited to, diversification of offerings within a precinct, start up hubs, small business incubators and innovations that incentivise investment and visitation to a precinct.

Outcomes: to support projects by organisations (including business chambers) that have an ABN to carry out projects and programs to promote and support local business and economic development in the Woollahra LGA.

Funding available:

• Grants of up to $10,000 per Business Sector Support organisation are available.

Each grant stream has a specific eligibility criteria outlined in the Grants Policy and Grants Guidelines. Refer to our Eligibility Guide for a summary.