VIC Community Food Security Program – Local Grants

The 2026-27 Community Food Security Program has an $8.5 million funding pool to allocate across three streams: Local Grants, First Peoples grants, and a targeted Coordination Fund.
Funding from $10,000-$100,000 per applicant
No matched funding requirement
Activities must not be delivered after 31 December 2027.
Applications close July 9 2026

The Community Food Security Program – Local Grants program supports local food relief activities and food security initiatives that help Victorians access healthy and culturally appropriate food. It is designed for community-based organisations delivering frontline responses to food insecurity, including neighbourhood houses, multicultural and faith-based organisations, volunteer-led groups, social enterprises, local government entities, and public health services.

Grants can fund projects that improve access to food, strengthen community food models, build partnerships, expand food relief infrastructure, support food education, and address some of the drivers of food insecurity. Local Grants range from $10,000 to $100,000.

Key Requirements

Respond to at least one program objective. Applications must clearly address at least one stated objective. These include improving access to healthy and culturally appropriate food, building sustainable community food models, delivering place-based food education, strengthening local partnerships, or connecting people accessing food relief with other supports such as financial wellbeing and food literacy services. Applications that do not clearly respond to at least one objective are not eligible.
Meet organisation and project eligibility requirements. Applications must be submitted by an eligible organisation, seek funding for eligible activities, include evidence of valid public liability insurance, and respond to at least one program objective. Each organisation may submit only one application. Applications that do not meet these requirements will not proceed to merit assessment.
Demonstrate community need and project quality. Eligible applications are assessed on meeting community need, project effectiveness and efficiency, organisation experience and capability, and sustainability. The strongest applications show evidence of local need, realistic delivery plans, value for money, relevant experience, risk management capability, and a longer-term contribution to food security outcomes.
Provide the right level of application detail. Applications over $20,000 must include a project plan with a detailed budget. Applications under $20,000 do not need a project plan but must still include enough detail in the application form. Applications for major infrastructure upgrades and installations must also include permit timing information and endorsement from the property owner

What is eligible for funding?

Establish new sustainable food models such as social supermarkets, pop up markets, voucher systems, and support for local markets, grocers, farmers, and producers.
Fund program delivery costs such as nutritious and culturally appropriate food, packaging materials, fuel, transport, and staff hours related to project 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 food provision is included.
Buy a vehicle and related fit-out costs.
Build partnerships and networks and undertake strategic planning to strengthen food relief activities.
Fund training and development for staff and volunteers involved in food relief delivery

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible entities:

• Incorporated not-for-profit organisations registered as an incorporated association or as a Company 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 stated purpose or mission related to food relief or food security.
• Victorian local government entities.
• Public health services.
• Non-incorporated organisations or organisations without an ABN may apply through an eligible auspice arrangement.

Other points to consider:

• Applicants must have a current ABN unless applying through an auspice.
• Applicants must have no outstanding final reports from previous Victorian Government funded grants.
• Funding is available to organisations based in Victoria or servicing Victoria’s cross-border communities.
• Applications must include evidence of valid public liability insurance.
• Each organisation may submit only one application.

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

Apply for this grant below:

OR