Grants

Overview

The 2024/25 Grants for the Community Program provides grants of up to $10,000 to not-for-profit community and sporting organisations, individuals, small businesses, social enterprises and performing arts groups in the Willoughby Local Government Area (LGA) as well as to individual artists residing, working or offering services in the Willoughby LGA.

The Grants for the Community Program is open all year round and applications will be assessed and approved on a quarterly basis. The Grants for the Community Program funding is allocated on an annual basis as part of Council budget process. 

 The funding pool is renewed on 1 July each year.

Guidelines

You must read the Grants for the Community Guidelines before submitting an application.

Please note: The guidelines are currently being updated. In the meantime, please contact us at grants@willoughby.nsw.gov.au for assistance.

Grant Streams

Applicants need to demonstrate how their project will address one or more priorities of Council’s Community Strategic Plan (CSP), Our Future Willoughby 2032:

• A City that is Green
• A City that is Connected and Inclusive and Resilient
• A City that is Liveable
• A City that is Prosperous and Vibrant
• A City that is Effective and Accountable.

Current funding priorities

Priority funding will be provided to projects that help the community achieve the following:

• Increased resilience to deal with future shocks and stresses
• Enhanced community connectedness
• Access to high quality entertainment and events.

How to apply?

To apply, applicants need to complete an application form using the SmartyGrants online portal.

SmartyGrants

Please read the Grants for the Community Guidelines before submitting an application.

Assessment Process

All grant applications must be assessed for eligibility, suitability. Following this, a recommendation will be submitted to Council for consideration. 

Application deadlines

 The table below provides the quarterly due dates for applications to be considered at Council Meetings during 2024/25. 

Please keep in mind that Council cannot fund retrospectively.

Extension Process 

To apply for an extension to complete a project, an applicant must submit a request via the SmartyGrants portal. You will be required to outline the reason for the extension, the revised project timeline and any anticipated impacts on project outcomes. 

Extension requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Requests for an extension should be made at least 3 months prior to the original completion date. 

Contact

For all enquiries relating to the Grants for the Community Program, please contact Council's Community Projects Officer: grants@willoughby.nsw.gov.au | 02 9777 7982 | Contact us via MyWilloughby

Please note: this is not the grant application form. Applications for the grant program need to be submitted through the SmartyGrants portal above.

Related documents

• Grants and Awards for the Community Policy
• Community Strategic Plan, Our Future Willoughby 2032
• Resilient Willoughby Strategy and Action Plan

Successful grant recipients

1. St George Community Housing – Garden of Connection

Funding was used to build 30 new garden beds for the community garden project at the Barton Road social housing site in Artarmon. The garden is predominantly being used to grow fresh vegetables and herbs for cooking. The new garden space has created opportunity for connection between neighbours, who regularly meet to share produce and gardening knowledge.

2. StreetWork Australia – Urban Art Program

Funding was used to run weekly art classes at Chatswood Youth Centre which helped ‘at risk’ young people develop street art skills in a safe and legal environment. The 142 young people who participated in the program have been encouraged to further develop their art skills after the program ends.

3. Natalia Stawyskyj – The Inaccurate Perception of Lara Grace

Natalia is an emerging filmmaker from Sydney, Australia. With funding from Council, Natalia wrote and directed The Inaccurate Perception of Lara Grace, a short fictional film about a young woman who developed a disability as a teenager. The film explores issues around youth identity and social connectedness in the digital age. The film was produced entirely in Willoughby City and included local residents as film crew. Natalia’s film will be screened at film festivals and released widely online.

Overview

ClubGRANTS is an initiative of the NSW Government and ClubsNSW to provide funding for community development projects and services that have a direct impact on the Willoughby City community. The program is guided by the Gaming Machine Tax Act 2001.

Willoughby City Council coordinates and administers the Willoughby ClubGRANTS Scheme on behalf of local clubs.

Key dates

The 2025 grant round will open 9am on Saturday 1 February and close 4pm on Saturday 31 May 2025.

Who can apply?

To be eligible, you must be a not-for-profit organisation and provide the following project and/or services in the Willoughby LGA:

• Community welfare or social services.
• Community development.
• Community health service.
• Employment assistance activities.

ClubGRANT Guidelines

• ClubGRANT Guidelines

ClubGRANT Priority Areas

• ClubGRANT Priority Areas 2025(PDF, 44KB)

More information about the ClubGRANTS program is available from ClubsNSW.

Apply now

Contact

For all enquiries relating to ClubGRANTS, please contact Julia Lee: Julia.Lee@Willoughby.nsw.gov.au  | 02 9777 7990 | Contact us via MyWilloughby

Please note: this is not the grant application form. Applications for the grant program need to be submitted through the ClubGRANTS  portal.