ClosedNon-Profit2025-26 Local Grants

Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing · Australia

The Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants supports local food relief and food security activities that help Victorians access healthy and culturally appropriate food. It funds community-based projects that increase the effectiveness, capacity, sustainability and availability of food relief in Victoria.

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Funding

$15K – $100K

Closed

19 Aug 2025

Duration

up to 2 years

Location

Victoria

Who Can Apply

• Must respond to at least one of the program objectives • Must be submitted by an eligible organisation • Must seek funding for eligible activities • Must include the mandatory attachments • Eligible organisations include neighbourhood houses • Eligible organisations include community and volunteer-led organisations, including religious organisations and grassroots groups • Eligible organisations include social enterprises • Eligible organisations include First Peoples-led organisations • Eligible organisations include Victorian local government entities, public health services, and peak bodies when acting as an auspice or lead applicant for community groups • Projects must benefit Victorian communities and/or people accessing services in Victoria • Each organisation may only submit one application • Partnership applications must be submitted by the lead organisation • Projects must include an element of providing direct food relief to the community • Funding cannot be used for retrospective costs • Funding cannot be used for activities extending beyond 30 June 2027 • Funding cannot be used for core operational expenses, staff catering, gifts or duplicated government-funded activities
To be eligible for the 2025-26 Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants, applications must respond to at least one program objective, be submitted by an eligible organisation, seek funding for eligible activities, and include the mandatory attachments. Eligible organisations include neighbourhood houses; community and volunteer-led organisations, including religious organisations and grassroots groups; social enterprises; First Peoples-led organisations; and Victorian local government entities, public health services, and peak bodies when acting as an auspice for a community group or groups, or as the lead applicant that will support and provide funding to other local community organisations. Projects must benefit Victorian communities and/or people accessing services in Victoria. Each organisation may only submit one application, and partnership applications must be submitted by the lead organisation. Funding cannot be used for retrospective costs, activities extending beyond 30 June 2027, core operational expenses, staff catering, gifts or benefits, or activities already funded through other government programs.

What's Funded

Eligible activities include buying, hiring or installing equipment and appliances; improving infrastructure or facilities such as kitchens or food storage; sourcing nutritious and culturally appropriate food and packaging materials; building partnerships and networks; strategic planning; training and development for staff and volunteers; program delivery costs including extra staff, volunteer recruitment, community education, awareness and promotional activities; and reimbursing volunteer expenses directly related to project delivery. All projects must include an element of providing direct food relief to the community.

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Expected Outcomes

Projects are expected to help meet increased demand for food relief, strengthen and expand local food relief initiatives, improve access to healthy and culturally appropriate food, and increase the effectiveness, capacity, sustainability and availability of community food relief in Victorian communities.

Grant not accepting applications

Applications for this round are closed. A new round may open in the future.

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Key Information

Applicant Types

non_profitindigenous_organisationlocal_governmentother

Stage

any

Funding Purposes

communitytrainingcapital_expendituresustainabilityemploymentother

Keywords

food relieffood securitycommunity supportVictorianot-for-profitneighbourhood housessocial enterprisesFirst Peoples

Official Grant Page

Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants?

The Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants is a non-profit grant offered by Department of Families, Fairness and Housing in Australia, providing $15K – $100K in funding. The Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants supports local food relief and food security activities that help Victorians access healthy and culturally appropriate food. It funds community-based projects that increase the effectiveness, capacity, sustainability and availability of food relief in Victoria.
2

How much funding does the Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants provide?

The Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants provides $15K – $100K in funding. The typical project duration is up to 2 years.
3

Who is eligible for the Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants?

  • Must respond to at least one of the program objectives
  • Must be submitted by an eligible organisation
  • Must seek funding for eligible activities
  • Must include the mandatory attachments
  • Eligible organisations include neighbourhood houses
  • Eligible organisations include community and volunteer-led organisations, including religious organisations and grassroots groups
  • Eligible organisations include social enterprises
  • Eligible organisations include First Peoples-led organisations
  • Eligible organisations include Victorian local government entities, public health services, and peak bodies when acting as an auspice or lead applicant for community groups
  • Projects must benefit Victorian communities and/or people accessing services in Victoria
  • Each organisation may only submit one application
  • Partnership applications must be submitted by the lead organisation
  • Projects must include an element of providing direct food relief to the community
  • Funding cannot be used for retrospective costs
  • Funding cannot be used for activities extending beyond 30 June 2027
  • Funding cannot be used for core operational expenses, staff catering, gifts or duplicated government-funded activities
4

When does the Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants close?

Applications closed on 19 Aug 2025.
5

What activities are funded?

Eligible activities include buying, hiring or installing equipment and appliances; improving infrastructure or facilities such as kitchens or food storage; sourcing nutritious and culturally appropriate food and packaging materials; building partnerships and networks; strategic planning; training and development for staff and volunteers; program delivery costs including extra staff, volunteer recruitment, community education, awareness and promotional activities; and reimbursing volunteer expenses directly related to project delivery. All projects must include an element of providing direct food relief to the community.
6

How do I apply for the Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants?

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