Pride Events and Festivals Fund 2025-26

To be eligible to apply, your organisation must meet the following eligibility criteria.

You must be either:

• a community, not-for-profit or peak community body based in Victoria that is an incorporated legal entity under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) or the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2001 (Vic) or a similar type of organisation, or
• a social enterprise with a strong preference for enterprises with a clearly stated purpose or mission statement related specifically to supporting LGBTIQA+ communities.

You must also have:

• a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
• at least $10 million in public liability insurance to cover all aspects of funded activity for the term of the funding agreement – or an auspice arrangement with this insurance cover
• no outstanding reporting requirements from previous state government funded grants. This includes reports, acquittals, evaluations and any requests the department has made of your organisation.

Organisations that do not meet these criteria are not eligible to apply for funding but might consider partnering with an eligible organisation under an Auspice arrangement.

Download the guidelines for more details:

The following are examples of activities that the program may fund:

• events and festivals celebrating LGBTIQA+ arts, culture, music and history
• networking or educational events, such as:
  • forums
  • conferences
  • hackathons
  • guest speaker series
• events that promote and support a better understanding of LGBTIQA+ diversity and intersectionality. These events should be designed for or in consultation with LGBTIQA+ communities
• community capacity-building events that connect LGBTIQA+ communities and allies
• events that promote a greater understanding of LGBTIQA+ issues or address LGBTIQA+ discrimination
• events that promote visibility and use connections for priority LGBTIQA+ communities. This includes those listed in the Diversity and intersectionality section of the guidelines
• events hosted online, in-person or in a hybrid format
• transport that increases accessibility to your event. For example, a chartered bus to transport regional attendees to an event or regional travel bursaries
• community engagement and co-design activities to design and deliver your event
• wages for staff for the time employed or contracted to deliver your event, for example:
  • project manager
  • box office staff
  • lighting designer.
• other communications activities for your event, for example:
  • marketing
  • merchandise for sale
  • advertising.

For more information and examples of activities we won’t fund, download the program guidelines:

The total available funding is $400,000.

To support a diverse range of events across Victoria in 2025–26, you can apply for funding for eligible events under one of 2 program streams:

• small stream – grants of up to $10,000 for small events and festivals for LGBTIQA+ communities.
• large stream – grants of between $10,001 and $25,000 for large events and festivals for LGBTIQA+ communities. Organisations applying under the large stream must show consideration in their application for capacity building and event sustainability.

All approved projects:

• can begin from 1 October 2025
• must be complete and funds spent by 30 November 2026.

A panel will assess applications against the following weighted assessment criteria:

Merit assessment criteria for all applications

As reflected in the criteria, we prioritise applications that work with and engage priority LGBTIQA+ groups including:

• intersex communities
• bi+ communities
• asexual communities
• trans and gender diverse communities
• older people
• people with disabilities
• culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• communities from low socio-economic status backgrounds
• faith-based communities
• peri-urban, regional and rural communities (including border communities).

Download the guidelines for more assessment considerations:

Applications open now!

Applications close: Tuesday, 26 August 2025, 5pm

Step 1: Organisations can apply through the DFFH Grants Gateway.

Step 2: Consider the assessment criteria in terms of your project.

Step 3: Attend an online information session to find out more and ask questions.

Step 4: If needed, discuss your application – email the Equality Programs unit  
equality-grants@dffh.vic.gov.au.

Step 5: Complete your application and submit by Tuesday, 26 August 2025, 5pm.

To ensure a fair process, we will not accept applications after the closing date.

Download the grant guidelines for more information:

Below are a number of resources that may assist you to prepare your application, as well as to plan and deliver your event successfully.

Pride Events and Festivals Fund Guidelines 2025-26

Other useful resources

Victorian Government’s Pride in our future: Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ strategy 2022–2032

Coronavirus Victoria's Protect yourself and others page

Victorian Government’s LGBTIQA+ inclusive language guide page

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s How to write a grant application page

Victorian Government’s Grant terminology explained page