Grants
Rose Bay Community Garden - Environmental Grant Recipient; NSW Friendship Circle’s Friendship Walk - Community and Cultural Grant Recipient; Watsons Bay Markets - Placemaking Grant Recipient
Woollahra Council offers a range of grants each financial year to support the community.
“Through our grants program we hope to support projects and events that build strong community connections and demonstrate our commitment to improving the environment for future generations. We look forward to receiving your application and thank you for taking the initiative to make such a great contribution to our community and our local area…” - Susan Wynne, Mayor - Woollahra Council
Grants for 2023-2024
The next round of Council Grants for 2023/24 opens late April 2023. More information will be available soon.
If you are interested in applying for a grant, please fill out the Grants Expression of Interest form.
Grant recipients for 2022-2023
If you would like to receive updates about future Grants, or if you have a question about the grants programs please email grants@woollahra.nsw.gov.au
Grants Presentation Event
We recently hosted an event at the Woollahra Council Chambers to celebrate the 2022/23 grant recipients. Woollahra Mayor Susan Wynne congratulated the recipients and presented them each with a special certificate. See below for a few pictures from the 2022 Woollahra Council Grants Presentation held on 14 October 2022.
Government grant assistance
If you are looking for government grant assistance for your project or event, check out the funding available.
Community and Cultural Grants
Council's Community and Cultural Grants program seeks to support programs or projects that work towards a connected, liveable, vibrant and creative community in the Woollahra Local Government Area.
- The Small Community and Cultural Grants Program is usually offered twice per year for community initiatives up to $3,000.
- The Large Community and Cultural Grants Program is usually offered once per year for community initiatives up to $7,500.
Environmental Grants
Council’s Community Environmental Grants program aims to support local schools and community organisations to implement sustainability projects.
Grants are open to all local schools, early learning centres and community organisations for activities or projects that protect or enhance our local environment. Eligible organisations and schools may apply for up to $3,000 in funding per project.
Placemaking Grants
Council's Placemaking Grants program is about supporting business to enhance the experience of visitors to our shopping and commercial areas and contribute to them being vital public destinations.
- Small Placemaking Grants of up to $3,000 are available to businesses, sole traders, community organisations, community groups and individuals.
- Large Placemaking Grants of between $3,000 and $7,500 are available to businesses, community organisations or community groups.
Revitalisation Grants
To recognise the impact of COVID-19 on our local community and promote opportunities for community connection, our $115,000 Revitalisation Grants were part of a new support package which built on the $7.9 million in support measures we provided. Applications have now closed.
Policy and Guidelines
Read the Grants Policy and Grants Guidelines for information about the program.
Grants in action
Social Buddy
Social Buddy is a new community organisation focused on connecting volunteers with people experiencing social isolation. Social Buddy is a recipient of a 2022/23 Woollahra Council Community Grant and is using this financial support to promote the organisation.
Social Buddy volunteers connect with people who are isolated and suffer from loneliness due to mental illness, old age or living in remote locations.
Through nurturing meaningful conversations on the phone and video chat volunteers improve a person’s quality of life and help improve social skills, build confidence, increase self-esteem and boost positive emotions.
​Social Buddy is purely a friendship program that's available to anyone who needs a friend, free of charge.
If you know someone who would benefit from regular social visits, place a referral with Social Buddy today and they'll take care of the rest.
"We are so pleased to be able to provide funding for projects that will play a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the Woollahra community,” said Mayor Susan Wynne.
Social Buddy founder, Daniel Troyak with Woollahra Mayor Susan Wynne at the Social Buddy launch event
Pound Paws Dog Day
With the support and backing of a 2020/21 Woollahra Council Placemaking Grant, Pound Paws was able to host the ultimate paw-ty in the Eastern Suburbs to raise money and awareness for adoption organisations and find forever homes for rescue dogs.
Pound Paws is an Australian-based registered charity with a mission to encourage the public to adopt instead of shop. The aim of their Dog Day events is to raise awareness about pet adoption, as well as educate different communities about responsible pet ownership.
Cute Canines strutting their stuff at The Pound Paws Dog Day
The Pound Paws Dog Day, supported by Woollahra Council, was held on Sunday 6 February 2022 at the Golden Sheaf in Double Bay. The day was all about rescue dogs: with cute canines available for adoption from a variety of dog rescue groups around NSW, and fundraisers to help them keep up the good work.
There were stalls offering everything from doggy tarot card readings to free micro-chip checks with Woollahra Council's very own Animal Ranger Paul. And of course a red carpet with paw-paparrazi. Woollahra Mayor, Susan Wynne and her adorable pooch Teddy were on hand to help judge the Best Dog Trick/Costume prize.
Ranger Paul from Woollahra Council (left) ; Mayor Susan Wynne with Teddy (right)
"Grant funding from Woollahra Council helped Pound Paws organise a paw-some event at the Golden Sheaf in February 2022 which was loved by more than 500 humans and their dogs. The grant process was easy and we used the grant to provide a Covid-safe event and the opportunity to build more awareness about adopting rather than shopping for a pet, as well as responsible pet ownership (with an educational session from Woollahra Council Animal Ranger, Paul). The response from the community and all our event partners was paw-some!" - Brittany Bloomer, Founder of Pound Paws
Cambridge Markets
Cambridge Markets Sydney has been the successful recipient of $17,500 worth of Woollahra Council grants over the past three years, which they have used to organise vibrant outdoor markets in Watsons Bay.
The most recent market was held on a glorious summer day on 30 January 2022 in Robertson Park. The Watsons Bay Summer Market hosted over 150 stalls showcasing local artisans, quality food providores, talented designers, and small businesses in a picturesque and relaxed environment.
Cambridge Markets were initially provided with $5,000 under the Woollahra Council placemaking grant in 2019/20 and were granted an additional $7,500 in 2020/21. The organisation also received $5,000 of funding through the Woollahra Council revitalisation grants program, which was designed to help businesses, community groups and individuals rejuvenate the local Woollahra area after a tough few months in lockdown.
Cambridge Markets events are beneficial to encourage community-focused economic development and help to support local small businesses, as well as provide a opportunity for locals to connect. The markets aim to bring the community together and provide a beautiful and happy experience for residents and day-trippers alike.
Watsons Bay Market hosted by Cambridge Markets, supported by Woollahra Council
#paddolockdownart
Paddo Unlocked Art is a collaborative community art initiative building on the success of #paddolockdownart, which emerged as a creative community response to the 2021 lockdown. The project was the recipient of $5,000 of funding through the Woollahra Council revitalisation grants program, which was designed to help businesses, community groups and individuals rejuvenate the local Woollahra area after a tough few months in lockdown.
Paddo Unlocked Art documents the story of #paddolockdownart in a photobook, bringing together those involved for a community event at a gallery, and providing a digital blueprint documenting the 'how-to' for the next edition.
Over 8 weeks, more than 400 Paddington residents - school children, art teachers and local artists - created 590 artworks which were exhibited in the windows of more than 30 businesses including shops, pubs, cafes, galleries, law firms, creative agencies, and vacant retail properties. The photobook Paddo Lockdown Art is produced by #paddolockdownart initiator Barbara Gruber and designer Sylvia Weimer and was launched at the Saint Cloche Art Gallery in Paddington on 28 February 2022.
"I am delighted Woollahra Council supported this important creative community project in Paddington through our Revitalisation Grants Program. It was wonderful to see how public art transformed local shop windows, vacant shops and buildings and provided community connection, hope and joy during such a difficult time. For many of our young artists, to see their work on display and to have their creative talents publicly celebrated, has been inspirational to witness," said Susan Wynne, Mayor of Woollahra.
A beautiful limited edition copy of the Paddo Lockdown Art photo book is now available for purchase, as well as a digital version. For more details or if you would like to purchase the book please visit #paddolockdownart
Woollahra Council offers a range of grants to support the community. If you aren’t sure which grants stream applies to you, or have a question about the grants programs more broadly, please contact our Community Development team on 9391 7191 or email grants@woollahra.nsw.gov.au