Quick Response Grant Program

The General Quick Response Grant stream is designed to support local community groups and individual creative efforts to assist in projects or programs, which may arise outside of the normal funding cycle of the Monash Community Grant Program. 

This program ensures that Council can continue to support community groups to respond to issues as they arise. 

Funding available

Our 2026/27 Quick Response Grants are now open and will close on Friday 14 May 2027 or until allocations are exhausted. Grants for up to $3,000 can be applied for.

Eligibility

Eligibility for the Quick Response Grant (QRG) is consistent with the Monash Community Grants and Partnerships Program, with the exception that individual artists with an ABN are eligible to apply for a QRG. To be eligible to receive a Quick Response Grant, applicants must:

  • Be an incorporated community group with not-for-profit status and an ABN or auspiced by an eligible organisation or be an individual artist with an ABN.
  • Deliver the funded activity/services within the City of Monash boundaries.
  • Maintain public liability insurance cover for a minimum of $20 million.
  • Have no debts to Council and have completed all previous Monash Community Grants Program funding acquittal requirements.
  • Be able to deliver the project by 30 June 2027.

Applicants must be able to start the project within 4 weeks of notification of a successful application and complete by 30 June 2027.

For full eligibility and what cannot be funded, please refer to the Monash Community Grants & Partnerships Guidelines(PDF, 2MB)

Grants that address the following issues are encouraged:

  • Building community and cultural connections
  • Loneliness
  • Mental health
  • Family violence
  • Gender equality
  • Health promotion (increasing healthy eating and physical activity, reducing alcohol consumption, gambling and smoking)
  • Community safety
  • Early parenting
  • First Nations
  • LGBTIQA+
  • Initiatives promoting racial tolerance and inter-culturalism

Previous funding from other Monash Council Grants Programs has no effect on an applicant’s eligibility to apply, however projects that have been funded through the program in previous years are not eligible to reapply.

If you have an innovative idea, please contact the Monash Community Grants Team on 9518 3555 or at monash.grants@monash.vic.gov.au to discuss it.

Application process

Step 1.Read guidelines

For more information, including eligibility criteria and what can and can’t be funded, please readMonash Community Grants & Partnerships Guidelines(PDF, 2MB)

Step 2.Apply

Applications are made through the SmartyGrants online portal:

Apply online

Step 3.Assessment

Applications will be checked for eligibility, then reviewed internally by Council Officers and assessed against the assessment criteria listed below.

1. Addresses an evidence-based emerging community need (30%).

2. Relevance to Council’s Health and Wellbeing Plan (15%).

3. The number of Monash residents who benefit (20%).

4. The capacity of the organisation to undertake the project (20%).

5. Budget expenditure (15%) .

Step 4.Timeframe

Applications will close on Tuesday 12 May 2027 or until allocation of funds is exhausted.

  • Applications will be assessed by an internal panel monthly.
  • Applicants will receive a response from Council by the middle of the month after the application was submitted. See timetable below:

Application Month

Notification Date

June 2026

Wednesday, 15 July

July 2026

Friday, 14 August

August 2026

Tuesday, 15 September

September 2026

Friday, 16 October

October 2026

Tuesday, 17 November

November 2026

Tuesday, 15 December

December 2026

Friday, 15 January

January 2027

Tuesday, 16 February

February 2027

Tuesday, 16 March

March 2027

Friday, 16 April

April 2027

Friday, 14 May

May 2027

Friday, 28 May

Step 5.More information

For assistance or more information, email us at monash.grants@monash.vic.gov.au or call the Community Grants Team on 9518 3555.