Place Activation Grants

Applications now open

Our Place Activation Grants aim to assist individuals and groups deliver activities to attract people to places in Nillumbik.

The purpose of this grant is to assist community groups and local residents in the delivery of place activations across Nillumbik to enhance the user experience within public places and spaces. These activities are supported by Nillumbik’s Placemaking Framework(PDF, 2MB).

What can be funded

Grants of up to $4,500 from a pool of $20,000 are available to assist with the delivery of place activation activities in Nillumbik.

The objectives of this grant are to support and encourage activities that:

• drive a strong social impact for the community
• improve the physical environment of the area
• support new activities in a public space and demonstrates public value
• support low cost, innovative place activations that encourage improvements to local townships
• enhance a sense of belonging, identify and purpose within community
• bring tourism and economic benefit
• demonstrate broad community connectivity and participation
• contribute to the health and wellbeing of the community
• provide options for accessibility and consider inclusion within the community
• demonstrate environmental practices and initiatives
• deliver successful, safe and compliant activities.

What won't be funded

• Conferences
• Tradeshows
• Lectures
• Fundraising activities
• Workshops
• Organisation open days

Eligibility

To be eligible for consideration, applicants MUST:

• be a not-for-profit incorporated organisation that lives, works, studies, volunteers or plays in Nillumbik (or be auspiced by a not-for-profit incorporated organisation if applicants are unincorporated, an individual or a local commercial business)
• hold a minimum of $10 million public liability insurance
• have satisfactorily acquitted all outstanding grants previously awarded by Nillumbik Shire Council.

Funds must be spent by 1 June 2026.

Ineligibility criteria

Applications will NOT be considered for:

• a project, event or activity that is not being held in the Nillumbik municipal boundary, or does not directly benefit the Nillumbik community
• day to day operational expenses or core business costs (for example salaries, administrative costs, maintenance costs, organisational operating costs, uniforms, utilities including tele communications etc.)
• duplication of existing projects, programs, initiatives or products currently funded by Council (if you wish to leverage off an existing project, program, initiative or product you must identify the innovative element or point of difference/value add)
• projects that are curriculum based or totally student focused
• projects solely for fundraising purposes without broad community benefit
• projects that can apply for funding under other Council grant programs
• competitions with no community component
• prize money and awards
• projects or events with a sole political or religious purpose that could be perceived as divisive within the community
• activities that are primarily commercial
• events that are fully ticketed with no free or heavily subsidised component
• single membership-based events that are not open to the public
• alcohol or gambling related activities
• projects that have received full funding from another source
• retrospective funding or projects which are due to commence prior to the notification of the application outcome
• applicants that are in debt to or have any outstanding commitments with the Shire.

Acquittal and evaluation

It is a condition of accepting a grant that successful applicants submit an online acquittal and evaluation within two months of the completion of each funded project.

Measuring the outcomes helps grantees and grantmakers to understand what is achieved for participants and audiences and how efficiently the program has been delivered.

During the acquittal stage of the successful projects, what recipients have learned about the outcomes of their activities will be shared with Council to help design future programs.