P500 Grant Round

⁠⁠⁠Overview

Geelong Community Foundation is inviting applications for the P500 Grant Round. P500 is a collective giving initiative that brings people together to support local community projects, pooling member contributions to create a significant grant for a community organisation making a difference in the region.

About

Each P500 member contributes $500 per year, with donations pooled to create a significant grant. Members of the P500 giving circle are actively involved in the process, hearing from shortlisted organisations and voting to decide which project will receive the grant.

Funding

What We're Looking For

P500 is particularly suited to proposals that:

• Expand or scale a proven initiative to reach more people, new communities or achieve greater impact
• Respond to an identified or emerging community need through a new or enhanced approach
• Test or establish a new initiative where there is a strong rationale for the proposed approach
• Demonstrate a clear and meaningful difference that the P500 funding would make
• Can be clearly explained and presented to P500 donors

P500 is less suited to proposals that primarily maintain an existing program already funded by the Geelong Community Foundation through its Community Grant Round.

What We Fund

P500 provides funding for a specific initiative or opportunity where a significant investment can create meaningful community impact. Funding may support:

• The expansion or scaling of a proven initiative
• Pilot projects or the testing of new approaches
• New or enhanced responses to an identified community need
• Time-limited initiatives that have the potential to create lasting impact or attract future investment

Funding may include the staffing, administration and other costs required to deliver the proposed initiative. P500 is generally not intended to support the ongoing delivery of an existing program currently being funded by the Geelong Community Foundation, at its current scale, or to meet a general organisational funding shortfall. Projects must benefit communities located within the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surf Coast Shire or Golden Plains Shire.

What We Don't Fund

Funding generally does not support:

• Individuals
• For profit businesses, including sole traders
• Projects delivered outside the four eligible local government areas
• Retrospective funding for projects already completed
• Activities that primarily benefit members of a single organisation or community group rather than the broader community

Eligible Expenses

Funding may contribute to costs such as:

• Staff salaries
• Program delivery costs, including equipment or materials required for the program
• Capital expenditure
• Administration expenses
• Evaluation or measurement of outcomes

Eligibility

Applications are open to not-for-profit organisations that:

• Are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
• Have DGR1 status
• Deliver projects within the following local government areas: City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe, Surf Coast Shire, Golden Plains Shire

Previous P500 grant winners and runners up from 2023, 2024 and 2025 are ineligible to apply.