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.

Funding is limited and the submission of an application does not guarantee funding.

Each Councillor, including the Mayor, is allocated an annual Discretionary Grant Budget of $48,484.00 to support eligible community projects. Applications requesting between $250 and $10,000 are welcomed.

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

Projects must:

• Align with an outcome of the Council Plan.
• Primarily benefit a single divisional area and its residents.
• Deliver a clear community benefit.
• Be completed within the 2026/27 financial year.

Projects must not:

• Provide a direct financial benefit to an individual.
• Receive funding from another City of Gold Coast funding source for the same project.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must:

• Be an incorporated association registered with the Queensland Government; or
• Be auspiced by an incorporated organisation; or
• Be a Queensland P&C Association; or
• Be a Queensland Rural Fire Brigade; or
• Be a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC); and
• Be 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 where the proposed initiative is in the public interest of the Gold Coast community; and
• Deliver a project that aligns with an outcome of the Council Plan; and
• Deliver a project that primarily benefits a single divisional area and its residents.

Applicants must provide evidence of their eligibility by attaching the following documentation to their application:

• Incorporated Associations - A copy of a current Incorporation Certificate issued by the Queensland Government under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 (Qld).
• Queensland P&C Associations - A letter from the School Principal confirming the organisation is the recognised P&C Association of the school.
• Queensland Rural Fire Brigades - A letter of support from the relevant Area Manager, Rural Fire Service Queensland.
• ACNC Registered Charities - A copy of the organisation's current ACNC registration certificate.

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