Community Food Relief Program – Coordination Grants

Key dates

Applications open: 3 July 2025

Applications close: 4pm 5 August 2025

Key tasks

• Make sure your organisation and proposed activity meets the eligibility criteria
• attend the information session (optional, but recommended).
• read the program guidelines
• download the project plan template and the how to apply factsheet.

Prepare and submit application

• Register or log in to the DFFH Grants Gateway.
• Complete the online application form
  • 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:

To be eligible for the 2025-26 Community Food Relief Program – Coordination Grants, your application must:

• respond to at least two of the program objectives
• be submitted by an eligible organisation in a formal partnership with at least one other organisation
• seek funding for eligible activities
• include the mandatory attachments.

Eligible organisations

Organisations must be established, large-scale food relief distribution services with existing donor relationships, significant warehousing and logistics capacity, and a formal approach to supporting a network of charity partners.

Eligible organisations must have a current Australian Business Number (ABN)

And be either:

• a not-for-profit entity – that is:
  • registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission; or
  • registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria (or equivalent body in a neighbouring state) as an incorporated association; or
  • registered under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and
  • demonstrated through your organisation’s constitution or governance documents.
• an Aboriginal entity incorporated under Commonwealth or Victorian legislation, including Victorian Aboriginal not-for-profit organisations, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Traditional Owner groups and land trusts.
• a social enterprise that is an incorporated entity with a clearly stated purpose or mission related specifically to supporting food relief or food security.

Organisations must not have any overdue reports from other grant programs or service agreements managed by the department.

Entities that are not eligible

• unincorporated associations and groups
• private (for profit) companies
• sole traders and individuals
• charitable trusts
• local government entities.

Auspice arrangements are not appropriate for grants provided through this program.

For more details, download the grant guidelines:

Activities funded through the 2025-26 Community Food Relief Program – Coordination Grants must benefit Victorians and focus on strengthening Victoria’s food security system. Activities may include:

• enhancing shared infrastructure or facilities such as commercial kitchens or food storage to increase food relief system capacity
• sourcing program supplies, such as nutritious and culturally appropriate food and packaging materials
• building formal partnerships and networks and undertaking strategic planning to strengthen the capacity, efficiency or sustainability of food distribution programs or supply models
• training and development activities to enhance skills, knowledge and safety of staff and volunteers involved in providing food relief
• direct program delivery costs including transport, logistics and coordination, with a focus on collaboration and shared approaches to reduce inefficiencies
• reimbursing volunteer expenses directly related to the project’s delivery and proportionate to the project cost.

Where appropriate, organisations can allocate up to 10 per cent of funding to project management and administration to directly support the project. This includes human resources, governance and program oversight costs. For example, the extra hours for a project manager to onboard and directly support staff or volunteers who are delivering the project.

Organisations that are not registered for GST can use grant funds to cover the cost of GST from goods and services purchased with DFFH grant funds.

Funds cannot be used for

• Retrospective costs for activities that were started before funding approval.
• Activities and programs extending beyond 30 June 2027.
• Core operational expenses such as rent, insurance, current wages, overheads and consumables.
• Staff catering (food or alcohol), gifts and other benefits.
• Duplicating activities that are already funded through other Local, State, or Commonwealth government programs.

All applications to the Community Food Relief Program – Coordination 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 and content of mandatory attachments
  • applications should outline the relevant capability and experience of each partner
• We may ask for more information during the assessment period. This could include requesting revised proposals to maximise the distribution and impact of funding allocations.

Funding recommendations

• The final selection of highly rated applications will consider:
  • Demonstrated effectiveness, efficiency and/or innovation.
  • Geographic spread and targeting to communities in need.

Application outcome

• The Minister for Carers and Volunteers will make 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 for any reason, before signing any agreement with any organisation.

Organisations should not try to influence the outcome by lobbying, directly or indirectly, departmental staff or members of parliament.

• Identified community need (25%)
• Demonstrated effectiveness and efficiency (30%)
• Demonstrated experience and capability (15%)
• Organisational capacity and readiness (15%)
• Sustainability (15%)

For more details, download the grant guidelines: