Community Events Quick Response Grants

⁠⁠⁠Grants to support moderately sized public events with an immediate need that prevents organisers from applying to the main Community Events Grants funding round.

What's changed?

• conferences, expos and business events are no longer eligible for funding

*Grants will be allocated on a first-in, first-served basis to applicants assessed as eligible until the closing date or when available funding is fully allocated, whichever comes first.

Grant guidelines

To confirm the eligibility of your organisation and activity, please read the grant guidelines before applying.

• 2025-26 Community Events Quick Response Grants Guidelines (WORD - 683 KB)
• 2025-26 Community Events Quick Response Grants Guidelines (PDF - 406 KB)

What can you apply for?

Operating expenses to run events in the City of Greater Geelong's municipality, advertised to the public and expected to attract 300 or more attendees.

Types of events:

• state or national sporting event
• state or national festival
• event of regional significance

Types of expenses:

• venue hire
• contractors engaged to deliver an event
• security
• equipment hire
• staging hire
• toilet hire

Who should apply?

We recognise the fixed application timelines of the Community Events Grants may prevent some events, which meet the eligibility criteria, from applying for funding. Therefore, a limited amount of funding is available for Community Events Quick Response Grants.

Community Events Quick Response Grants are open to eligible applicants for events that meet one or more of the following:

• secured through a bidding process with deadlines that do not align with the Community Events Grants dates
• requiring a funding commitment before the next round of Community Events Grants funding decisions are made
• needing funding at short notice (for example, an event responding to an unexpected community issue).

To apply for this grant, you must be one of the following:

• incorporated not-for-profit organisation
• unincorporated group with an auspice
• registered charitable organisation
• business
• individual operating as sole traders (with an active ABN)
• school or learning institution (only for non-curriculum-based activities that primarily benefit the wider community).

How much can you apply for?

The total grant budget available for Community Events Quick Response Grants is $80,000.

Applicants may request the suitable amount of funding that is required for their event. Funding requests cannot exceed the total grant budget available of $80,000.

How to apply

• Read the grant guidelines.
• Check you are an eligible applicant.
• Check your activity is eligible.
• Contact the City’s Events Services Unit to discuss your eligibility, proposed activity and other grant matters. If an application is supported by the officer, you will be provided with a link to a SmartyGrants online application form.
• Email: events@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
• Phone: 5272 5902
• Collate any supporting documents.
• Answer the questions in the application form.
• Don't forget to hit the submit button.

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