Submit Applications for Youth-Led Grant Program (Australia)

Youth-Led Grants are open to funding requests annually from the end of July to May, or until allocated funds are exhausted, providing an opportunity for applicants to access funding quickly, usually within four weeks from the grant submission.

Individual applicants will need to be sponsored or mentored by an incorporated not-for-profit organisation or school to apply for this grant. Applications by individuals and community groups that are not incorporated or do not have their own ABN can be auspiced by an eligible incorporated organisation.

Funding Information

• Young people in Yarra can apply for a Youth-Led Grant of up to $3,000 for Youth-Led Projects.

Ineligible Projects

• A program that is considered the responsibility of State or Federal Government e.g. core school curriculum activities.
• Activities that take place outside the City of Yarra (including touring costs), unless part of a larger project with a proven and public benefit to the Yarra community.
• A new building, capital works or facility maintenance works.
• Ongoing staff salaries or administration costs not specific to the project.
• The purchase of equipment only, unless exempted above.
• Projects with the singular purpose of promoting religion or that may be perceived as for the purpose of proselytizing.
• Training, study or academic research in Australia or overseas.
• A project that will be offered for assessment in the above training courses.
• Applications that are solely for attending forums, workshops and conferences.
• Competitions (excluding one-off sporting events).
• Prizes and award exhibitions or exclusively fundraising events.
• School fetes and other similar events.
• Covering the deposit or bond associated with hiring a Council Town Hall.
• Applications to fund projects retrospectively.

Eligibility Criteria

• You can apply individually or as part of a group. To be eligible, you must:
  • be aged 16 to 25 years
  • live, work, study or have a strong connection to the City of Yarra.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Businesses or for-profit organisations.
• Previous grant recipients with overdue acquittals.
• Applicants who are over the age of 25.
• Applicants can only receive one YLG per financial year and the maximum grant is $3,000.

Assessment Criteria

• All applications will be assessed on the following criteria:
  • Does the project have clearly defined aims?
  • Does the project have clearly defined outcomes it is working towards?
  • Does the project clearly meet the program objectives?
  • How does the local community benefit from this project?
  • Does the individual and sponsor have the capacity to successfully complete the project?
  • Is the budget for this project realistic, balanced, and complete?

Application Requirements 

• All applicants need to be sponsored and mentored by an incorporated not-for-profit organisation or school.
• Projects will need to be completed by 31 December 2024.
• The final report and acquittal for the projects must be submitted by 29 February 2025.
• All applications from young people aged 16-17 years must have parental consent.
• Relevant applicants must, as required by law, implement and adhere to the Victorian Child Safe Standards.

For more information, visit Yarra City Council.