Applying for a Grant

The Macpherson Smith Community Alliance - a partnership

The Macpherson Smith Community Alliance is a partnership between the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, VCOSS and the Department of Planning and Community Development to enhance the Victorian Government’s $10 million four-year Community Building Initiative (CBI) program.

It has been created to assist small rural and regional communities participating in the CBI. The grants will provide assistance towards funding CBI project outcomes that have been identified by the rural communities through their community planning process.

Communities participating in CBI have held Community Opportunity Workshops to identify and develop a shared vision for the future of the community. Out of these discussions a number of prioritised projects and activities have been identified to bring their goals to fruition.

This $2 million partnership has been developed to provide not only seed funding for projects, but also to be a catalyst for building new partnerships within and across communities, organisations and government. We also understand the particular challenges that drought and bushfire presents for rural communities, and the consideration needed to develop community resilience.

By using these funds as a basis to leverage support, there are opportunities for communities to explore new connections involving collaboration between business, organisations and government to achieve their community project goals.