VIC Community Food Security Program – Local Grants

Grants from $10,000-$100,000, delivered across three streams:
- Local Grants stream
- First Peoples grants stream
- Coordination Fund stream
Activities must not be delivered after 31 December 2027.
Applications close July 9 2026

The Victorian Government’s Community Food Security Program – Local Grants supports local food relief activities and broader food security initiatives across Victoria. The program is designed to help organisations respond to increased demand for food relief, improve access to healthy and culturally appropriate food, address the drivers of food insecurity, strengthen and expand community food security initiatives, build longer term sustainability, and fill critical gaps in food relief services.

Grants are available for projects delivered by neighbourhood houses, multicultural and faith-based organisations, volunteer-led groups and other community organisations. Funding can support frontline food relief, food education, equipment, infrastructure, vehicles, partnership development and local service capacity building.

Key Requirements

Respond to program objectives. Applications must clearly respond to at least one program objective. These include improving access to healthy and culturally appropriate food, addressing food insecurity drivers, strengthening food relief services, supporting sustainable community food models, delivering place-based food education, and building stronger local partnerships and connections to related supports such as financial wellbeing and food literacy. Applications that do not clearly address at least one objective are not eligible to proceed
Demonstrate community need and project fit. Applications are assessed on how well they describe the community need, including evidence of local demand, service gaps, target cohorts and how the proposed project is designed to respond. Projects should align with existing services and demonstrate a clear rationale for the proposed activities.
Show effective and efficient delivery. Projects should have realistic goals, measures of success, reasonable costs, clear timeframes, and defined roles and responsibilities. Applications are stronger where they continue or expand established food programs, or where new initiatives are supported by existing services and local partnerships.
Demonstrate organisational capability and sustainability. Applicants should show they have relevant experience, project delivery capability, risk management processes, and a clear approach to collecting and using data. Projects should also demonstrate how fixed-term funding will be used effectively and how they will help build longer term capacity

What is eligible for funding?

Establish sustainable food models, including social supermarkets, pop up markets, voucher systems, and support for local markets, grocers, farmers and producers.
Deliver food relief and food security services, including nutritious and culturally appropriate food provision, packaging, fuel, transport, and staff time related to delivery.
Buy or install equipment and appliances.
Build or improve infrastructure and facilities such as community gardens, kitchens, warehousing and food storage.
Deliver food education initiatives, including food literacy and cooking on a budget, where some form of food provision is included.
Buy a vehicle and related fit-out costs.
Build partnerships, networks and strategic planning activities to strengthen food relief.
Provide training and development for staff and volunteers involved in food relief.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible entities.

Incorporated not-for-profit organisations, including incorporated associations and companies limited by guarantee.
Aboriginal incorporated entities, including Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Traditional Owner groups and land trusts.
Incorporated social enterprises with a clear purpose related to food relief or food security.
Victorian local government entities.
Public health services.

Other considerations.

Applicants must be based in Victoria or service Victoria’s cross-border communities.
Applicants must have a current ABN.
Applicants must have no outstanding final reports from previous Victorian Government funded grants.
Applicants must attach evidence of valid public liability insurance.
Non-incorporated organisations or organisations without an ABN may apply through an eligible auspice organisation.
Each organisation may submit one application only

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

Industry analysis presentation
Competitor Analysis Presentation
Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

This grant is open

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