Organisation eligibility
Your organisation must meet all four conditions below:
1. You must be an incorporated legal entity under one of the following:
- the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) registered with Consumer Affairs Victoria
- the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- an Act of Parliament. You must provide a copy of the Act with your application.
2. You must have a current Australian Business Number (ABN) that matchs the organisation name in your application.
3. You must be a not-for-profit demonstrated under one of the following:
- registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
- registered as an incorporated association with Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV)
- registered as a company limited by guarantee with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- a social enterprise with a clearly stated purpose or mission related to supporting Multicultural communities in Victoria.
4. You should have no overdue final reports from previous Victorian state government funded grants (including Multicultural Affairs grants) by 17 April 2026 for applications in Round 1. Round 2 closing dates will be confirmed later in the year.
If you are an unincorporated association or community organisation without an ABN, you can apply using an auspice. See the Auspice applications on page 13 for more information.
Note: incorporated organisations are considered not-for-profit entities.
How to check your Australian Business Number (ABN)
To check your ABN, visit Australian Business Register
How to check your organisation type
- For incorporated associations, co-operatives or organisations incorporated through other means go to Consumer Affairs Victoria.
- For a Company Limited by Guarantee go to ASIC Connect Online.
- For registered charities go to Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
How to check if your organisation is up to date on reporting requirements
- You can check your current grants in the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) Grants Gateway
- Any report marked as red is overdue. You must complete overdue reports before you apply.
Auspiced applications
You can apply using an auspice arrangement for the:
- small and medium stream
- large stream if you are
- a new or emerging community group or
- based in a rural or regional area.
An auspice organisation can support more than one application.
What is an auspice arrangement?
An auspice arrangement helps your organisation apply for a grant if you:
- are not incorporated or
- do not have an ABN.
To do this, you need an eligible organisation (called an auspice organisation) that agrees to support your organisation.
Your organisation is the grant recipient, and the auspice organisation manages the grant funding and responsibilities outlined in the agreement. A letter of support from the auspice organisation must be included with your application.
What are the responsibilities of an auspice organisation?
If your application is successful, the auspice organisation:
- signs the funding agreement (Victorian Common Funding Agreement)
- communicates with the department on your behalf
- takes legal and financial responsibility for the grant
- receives and distributes the grant money
- makes sure your event or activities happen
- submits final reports and financial documents on time.
Organisation eligibility chart
Updated