Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants

Applications must be submitted via the DFFH Grants Gateway(opens in a new window) by 4:00pm Tuesday 10 September 2024.

Key information for completing a grant application

Key dates

Applications open: 30 July 2024

Applications close: 4:00pm 10 September 2024

Key tasks

• Make sure your organisation and proposed activity meets the eligibility criteria.
• Read the program guidelines, download templates and review the factsheet:

Prepare and submit application

• Register or log in to the DFFH Grants Gateway.
• Complete the online application form via the DFFH Grants Gateway.
  • Draft forms will be saved and can be returned to through-out the application period.
  • Answer all questions and attach mandatory documents.
• Submit the application by the due date and time.
• Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

For more details download the grant guidelines:

Organisations may apply individually or in a formal partnership.

To be eligible for the Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants, your application must:

• Respond to at least one of the program objectives
• Be submitted by an eligible organisation
• Seek funding for eligible activities
• Include the mandatory attachments in an acceptable format.

Each organisation may only submit one application.

• If more than one application is submitted, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (the department) will only progress the application that, in the department’s view, best fits the funding objectives. All other submitted applications will not progress to assessment.
• Where multiple organisations will work in partnership, only one application from that partnership is required, submitted by the lead organisation.

For more details download the grant guidelines:

Projects funded through the Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants must benefit Victorian communities and/or people accessing services within Victoria.

Eligible activities may include:

• Sourcing program supplies, such as nutritious or culturally appropriate foods, packaging materials and storage
• Servicing, purchase and/or installation of equipment and appliances, or enhancing facilities to increase the availability of community food programs in local communities
• Strategic planning, partnership development and similar activities to enhance the capacity or sustainability of current or future community food programs
• Training and development activities to enhance skills, knowledge and safety of staff and volunteers
• Program delivery including volunteer recruitment, community education and awareness, promotional activities and direct food support
• Reimbursement of volunteer expenses, where directly related to the food program and proportionate to the overall project cost.

Where appropriate, up to 10 per cent of funding sought may be allocated to project management (including additional staff costs) to directly support delivery of the project.

Funds cannot be used for:

• Retrospective costs for activities that were delivered or commenced prior to funding approval.
• Activities and programs extending beyond December 2025.
• Core operational expenses such as rent, insurance, current wages, overheads and consumables.
• Staff catering (food or alcohol), gifts and other benefits.
• Activities that are already funded through other Local, State, or Commonwealth Government programs.

• Identified community need (25%)
• Demonstrated effectiveness and efficiency (25%)
• Demonstrated experience and capability (20%)
• Organisational capacity and readiness (20%)
• Sustainability (10%)

All applications to the Community Food Relief Program – Local Grants will undergo the following review and assessment process:

Eligibility check

• All applications will be reviewed against the eligibility criteria.
• The eligibility check determines whether the application will proceed to further assessment.

Ratings against selection criteria

• Eligible applications will be assessed against the selection criteria based on responses provided in the application form and content of mandatory attachments.
• Partnership applications should outline the relevant capability and experience of each partner.
• Additional supporting documents (other than mandatory attachments) will not be read by the assessment panel.

Funding recommendations

• The final selection of highly rated applications will consider:
• Geographic spread and targeting to areas/communities in need.
• Supporting a broad variety of food relief activities and initiatives.
• Demonstrated effectiveness, efficiency and/or innovation.

Application outcome

• The Minister for Carers and Volunteers makes the final decision based on recommendations from the department’s assessment.
• All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by email.

The department may withdraw from the application process described in this document for any reason, prior to signing any agreement with any organisation.

Organisations are reminded that they should not attempt to exert influence on the outcome of the assessment process by lobbying, directly or indirectly, departmental staff or members of parliament.