Funding to power Ballarat community projects

APPLICATIONS for the City of Ballarat’s Community Impact Grant Program will open this weekend, offering a chance for a wide range of community groups to secure funding for their programs and activities.

The final round of funding for the 2025-2026 program opens this Sunday 1 February with local not-for-profit community groups, clubs and organisations encouraged to apply.

Grants of between $500 and $20,000 are on offer, with applications open until 15 March and priority given to projects that foster healthy, connected and inclusive communities, build capacity, and promote environmental sustainability.

The City of Ballarat and Ballarat East Neighbourhood House will deliver three grant writing workshops for community groups with in-person sessions set for Tuesday 10 February and Wednesday 18 February, and an online grant writing workshop scheduled for Thursday 12 February.

City of Ballarat mayor Tracey Hargreaves encouraged eligible groups to apply for a grant through the program.

“The Community Impact Grant Program has resulted in positive outcomes for local groups in recent years, from events and workshops that bring people together to amenity upgrades and sustainability initiatives,” she said.

“The best part is seeing the direct impact this program has on helping local community groups deliver benefits to residents of all ages and backgrounds.”

The Ballarat Foundation was among the recipients of a Community Impact Grant last year, with funds used to buy a new vehicle to support learner drivers in the TAC L2P Program.

Ballarat Foundation community impact manager, Nina FitzSimons, said the funding helped expand access for young people who face barriers to gaining their driver’s licence.

“The L2P program supports young people who don’t have access to a car or a supervising driver to complete their 120 hours and progress towards their provisional licence,” she said.

Over the past 12 months, the Ballarat Foundation supported 70 learner drivers to achieve their probationary licence, with volunteer mentors supervising 13,074 hours of driving.

“The impact is life-changing for our participants,” Ms FitzSimons said.

She encouraged other eligible community groups to apply.

More information is available through the City of Ballarat website with registrations for the grant writing workshops through the Ballarat East Neighbourhood House website.