The 2025-26 S356 Community and Sport Small Grants Program opens Monday, 11 August 2025. Closing Date Friday, 19 September 2025.
Each financial year Council invites eligible community organisations and sporting groups to apply for financial assistance under Section 356 of the Local Government Act 1993.
The Program has been in place for twenty one years. The level of funding available is dependent on the project but can be up to $5,000 (GST exclusive), with priority given to applications that demonstrate benefit to the organisation but also the broader community.
Applications for the 2025/2026 round opens Monday, 11 August 2025.
Eligibility
- Community and Sporting Groups located within the Gunnedah Shire;
- Applicants must be non-profit and community based;
- Applicants must be incorporated bodies or auspiced by a local incorporated organisation;
- The grant sought must be of a non-recurrent nature;
- Grant amounts requested must be $5,000 or less (GST Exclusive);
- Projects must not have received funding from the State or Federal Governments or other sources including Council for the same purposes applied for in the current round;
- Projects must not have commenced or been completed prior to notification of the grant outcome.
- Organisations are ineligible if they currently have an existing written financial Agreement with Council;
- Applicants must indicate which funding stream they are applying under (Community Small Grants OR Sports Small Grants); and
- Applicants are only eligible for funding under the Community and Sports stream once every two (2) years.
Policy
Applicants are encouraged to read the Section 356 Small Grants Policy (Community and Sports) before they submit an application.
POLICY - Small Grants under Section 356 LGA - Adopted 21 June 2017.pdf
Forms
- 2025-26 Application - S356-Small Grants - Community Sports - FILLABLE.pdf
- Declaration of Expenditure – S356 Small Grants 2025-26 - FILLABLE.pdf
- Declaration of Expenditure – S356 Small Grants 2024-25 - FILLABLE.pdf
For more information, contact Gunnedah Shire Council’s Community and Social Planner on (02) 6740 2100 or email council@gunnedah.nsw.gov.au