Please note submission of a grant application does not guarantee funding. The 2025-26 Main Grant Round is an open-competitive process, with all applications reviewed and compared against each other.
The process adopted by the Geelong Community Foundation to review and assess Grant Applications is as follows:
- A number of small grant applications will be allocated to the Schools in Philanthropy (SIP) Program for review and recommendation. Applications allocated to the SIP Program will be required to participate in an organisational visit with students from the participating schools. Organisations will be informed if their application has been allocated to the SIP Program in early March 2025.
- Grant Applications are reviewed and assessed against the Foundation’s grants criteria and scoring matrix by the Program and Impact Manager and CEO.
- Applications are shortlisted by the Program and Impact Manager and CEO.
- Shortlisted Applications are reviewed by the Foundation’s Grants Committee. The Grants Committee is responsible for recommending the funding amount for each grant application. The Grants Committee will prioritise funding based on the need in the community and intended impact.
- The SIP Program reviews allocated Grant Applications and presents their recommendations to the Foundation’s Board at the SIP presentation event.
- Following the SIP presentation, the Grants Committee reviews the SIP funding recommendations and makes a funding recommendation to the Board for the Grant Round.
- The Foundation’s Board is responsible for reviewing and approving the funding recommendation from the Grants Committee.
- All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application in mid-May 2025.
- Feedback on applications is available if requested.