What activities can or cannot be funded

What activities can be funded?

All project activities must help achieve the program objectives by:

developing your organisation’s internal capacity. For example, building skills, systems, leadership and strategies to improve long-term effectiveness and impact
supporting your organisation’s daily operations to make things easier and more effective.

Below are examples only to help you think about what might be possible.

If your project and activities align with the program objectives, we encourage you to apply, even if it is not listed here

Examples of activities that build capacity

- Leadership training for leaders
- Building inclusive leadership and supporting people to grow as leaders
- Improving how boards work or reviewing rules and structures
- Planning for a sustainable future
- Developing risk management and emergency response plans.
- Building partnerships
- Sharing knowledge through networks
- Setting up communities of practice
- Working with others to use resources more effectively.
- Training and mentoring
- Providing professional development tools
- Building skills to respond effectively in unexpected or emergency situations.
- Developing websites
- Communication planning
- Strengthening cyber security.
- Measuring results and conducting research
- Developing better ways to deliver services.

Examples of activities that support the organisation

- Support for day-to-day expenses that keep the organisation running (e.g. rent, utilities, staffing, project management and administration costs)
- Costs related to implementing safety or wellbeing measures.
- Access to expert advice and support to strengthen operations
- Plan for growth, including legal, financial, consultancy and business planning services.
- Purchasing tools and equipment to deliver services effectively, including IT systems, office equipment, and other items that enhance core functions.
Note: Equipment must be essential to service delivery or organisational operations, with a maximum funding of $5,000 per item. These items should be fit-for-purpose and reasonably priced.
- Activities that support and sustain volunteer engagement, including recruiting, training and keeping volunteers
- Recognising volunteer contributions
- Providing resources and wellbeing support for volunteers during unexpected or emergency situations.

What could your project look like?

You can apply for funding for a single activity or a combination of activities – whatever suits your organisation best. The key is that your project should help build your organisation’s capacity or support its day-to-day operations.

Below are examples:

Small Stream	$5,000 application example	Great for focused, low-cost improvements. Run a leadership workshop for staff or volunteers Receive advice on improving your cybersecurity Develop a communications plan to improve how you share information Buy essential equipment (e.g., laptops, printer).
Medium Stream	$25,000 application example	Ideal for strengthening systems or scaling up support. Review your governance and create a strategic plan Provide training and mentoring for your team Upgrade your digital tools Cover rent and utilities to support your operations. Implement community-benefit programs (e.g., initiatives that increase referrals to mainstream services).
Large Stream	$150,000 application example	Best for big-picture projects that build long-term capacity in partnership with smaller organisation/s. Transform your organisation’s structure and leadership Build partnerships or networks to share knowledge Develop a workforce capability framework Create a system to measure your impact and improve services.

Small Stream

$5,000 application example

Great for focused, low-cost improvements.

Run a leadership workshop for staff or volunteers
Receive advice on improving your cybersecurity
Develop a communications plan to improve how you share information
Buy essential equipment (e.g., laptops, printer).

Medium Stream

$25,000 application example

Ideal for strengthening systems or scaling up support.

Review your governance and create a strategic plan
Provide training and mentoring for your team
Upgrade your digital tools
Cover rent and utilities to support your operations.
Implement community-benefit programs (e.g., initiatives that increase referrals to mainstream services).

Large Stream

$150,000 application example

Best for big-picture projects that build long-term capacity in partnership with smaller organisation/s.

Transform your organisation’s structure and leadership
Build partnerships or networks to share knowledge
Develop a workforce capability framework
Create a system to measure your impact and improve services.

What cannot be funded?

Funds cannot be used for:

Public Liability Insurance and other required insurances
retrospective costs for activities that were started before funding approval
activities and programs extending beyond the MCBP period
capital works including permanent structures or anything that increases the value of your facility
activities that are solely for fundraising activities
activities taking place outside of Victoria
international or interstate travel
gift cards
purchase of land
political activities.

Updated 15 January 2026