The Discretionary Grants Program is allocated funding each financial year to support community organisations to deliver projects primarily intended to benefit a particular divisional area and its residents.

 Funds administered under the Discretionary Grants Program are considered discretionary funds pursuant to the City’s Community Grants Policy and s202 of the Local Government Regulation.

In 2025-26 each Councillor, including the Mayor, has $45,104 available to allocate to projects with a community purpose. Applications from $250 to $10,000 are welcomed.

An entity may only submit one application to the Discretionary Grants Program per financial year.

A community organisation will be eligible to apply for a community grant if they:

• Are incorporated or auspiced by an incorporated entity
• Are located in or primarily provide services to the City of Gold Coast Local Government Area; or
• Primarily provide services outside the City of Gold Coast Local Government Area, but the initiative is in the
  public interest of the City of Gold Coast community; and
• Meet any further eligibility criteria specified in program guidelines

The following entities are not considered eligible to apply for a community grant:

• State or Federal Government agencies/departments
• Political participants and advocates including:
  
  • Chambers of commerce
  • Trade unions
  • Community alliances and progress groups
• An entity who has an overdue acquittal or outstanding payments to Council.

• Email: CommunityGrants@goldcoast.qld.gov.au