IRCF Victoria – Colac

Image of the main street in Colac

Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) is a grassroots program that aims to build the capacity of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations.

The IRCF Victoria program is now underway in three Victorian communities, including Colac. It offers flexible and tailored support, including grants, workshops and participatory planning processes to strengthen the local NFP sector, so it can work collectively to more effectively advocate on shared issues, contribute to a thriving community and achieve long-term impact across agreed priority areas.

Over the next five years, the Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill communities will travel their own path, guided by local voices and actions, informed by their unique Community Roadmap. The Roadmap sets out the goals and priorities for the NFP sector and is a living resource that will evolve throughout the program.

Colac is a rural town located in the Colac Otway Shire in South West Victoria, with a population of 10,500. Some of the smaller nearby towns include Elliminyt, Barongarook, Irrewarra, and Birregurra. A diverse range of NFP and community groups play a vital role in providing services and fostering a vibrant place to live. The Colac community has a strong desire to collaborate more intentionally while strengthening relationships, sharing resources, and growing the capacity of the local NFP sector.

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IRCF Victoria (Colac) is now open.

Applications are accepted and assessed on a rolling basis.

NOTE: This program is only for NFPs that support Colac and the surrounding communities.

How to Apply?

Please read the information on each of the three tabs below to make sure this is the right grant for your project.

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Please go to Find Funding Now.

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To make sure this is the right grant for your organisation and community, please read the grant information detailed in the Program Guidelines below carefully. Click on each headline to reveal the detail. If you need to share this information with others, you can download the guidelines below.

Download the Program Guidelines

The IRCF Victoria program provides flexible and tailored support to the local not-for-profit (NFP) sectors in three communities (Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill) to more effectively advocate on shared issues, contribute to a thriving community, and achieve long-term impact across priority areas.

We know that NFP organisations and community groups play a vital role in building and supporting vibrant communities, both socially and economically, which is why funding through the program seeks to contribute to local priorities that have been identified by the communities to ensure organisations have the resources and skills they need to be resilient, sustainable and ready to respond to community needs.

In May 2025, NFP organisations, community groups, and key allies in the three IRCF Victoria partner communities came together through workshops to develop their Community Roadmaps. Each Roadmap sets out the shared vision for the NFP sector over the next five years, the agreed principles about how best to work together, and the goals to achieve positive outcomes across four focus areas: People; Strategy; Efficiencies; and Systems.

The Community Roadmaps inform how the funding available through the IRCF Victoria program will be invested to achieve locally-led impact across the NFP sector and community in each location.

All requests for funding must respond to at least one of the goals in your Community Roadmap.

You can explore the Colac Community Roadmap here.

The four pillars of capacity building – People, Strategy, Efficiencies and Systems – guide FRRR’s IRCF program. They are the focus areas for investment to help strengthen organisational capacity, activate ideas and achieve community-led change.

The shared goals in each Roadmap align to these pillars. By their nature, the pillars are connected and activity related to one pillar will likely have flow on effects to another pillar.

For example, developing leadership skills under the People pillar may in turn improve collaboration (Efficiencies), strengthen internal processes (Systems), and contribute to long-term organisational sustainability (Strategy).

 Graphic illustration of NFP Capacity Building

Table explaining the four IRCF Pillars.

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Applicant organisations must be a locally governed not-for-profit organisation in Colac (including surrounding townships connected to the communities through services and other means) with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN. If you are unsure if your organisation is a registered not-for-profit (e.g. if you are a Co-operative, Other Unincorporated Entity, Public Company or Trust), please contact FRRR;
  • Project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
  • Not-for-profit organisations with or without DGR-1 endorsement are eligible;
  • Organisations are eligible to apply for, or be delivering, more than one grant concurrently – provided any existing FRRR projects are on track and report and/or acquittal requirements met.
  • Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural or regional Australia.

Please note, you will be considered ineligible if the:

  • Application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN);
  • Application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity (i.e. a registered not-for-profit), without the written consent of the governing / partnering body who holds the ABN / Incorporation Certificate;
  • Application is submitted without required financial documentation (see below);
  • Overdue Final report/s from any FRRR grants awarded in the previous seven years have not been acquitted (delivery organisations should check with legal organisation to see if there are any outstanding final reports);
  • Application is for a project or activity that has already occurred / is occurring prior to the awarding of funding.

This funding is available thanks to the generous support of four philanthropic organisations – Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, The Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The Ross Trust, and William Buckland Foundation.

There is approximately $600,000 available for the span of the IRCF program (2025-2030) in each community, being Colac, Maryborough, and Swan Hill *. In Year 1 (2025-2026), there is up to $216,000 available to contribute to projects responding to each Community Roadmap.

The request amount for grants per application is open to allow funds to best meet the needs of organisations and respond to community goals as identified in the Community Roadmap.

*Surrounding nearby townships connected to the three communities through services and other means are welcome to apply.

Funding is available for projects initiated and delivered by local NFP’s and community groups that strengthen organisations by investing in people, strategy, systems and efficiencies to increase the resilience and impact of their work.

Below are some examples of the types of projects funding from the IRCF Victoria program can support. These examples are aligned to the IRCF Four Pillars of Capacity Building for NFP Organisations. Where possible, organisations are encouraged to work together to address common goals and priorities. Joint applications coordinated by a lead organisation for collective purposes are welcomed to maximise available funds to best support local organisations and the wider community.

Click on the headings below to see case study examples of previous projects supported through FRRR’s IRCF partner communities.

  • Training for your NFP Committee or Board, for example: governance, financial, digital literacy, marketing.
  • Paid positions where needed, for example to develop and embed policies and procedures; financial systems and processes; evaluation frameworks and processes.
  • Succession planning for key roles, recruitment of volunteers and members.
  • Development of staff and leadership positions.

Case study examples:

  • Skilled support, including strategic / business planning / implementation; financial analysis and planning; resource sharing / collaborative delivery approaches; investigating different models such as social enterprises.
  • Future actions / visioning, such as feasibility options for future service delivery and needs.
  • Updating of policies and procedures in the organisation, such as social media policies, health and safety plans, and evaluations.

Case study examples:

  • Equipment and materials to support your organisation’s sustainability and organisational effectiveness.
  • Refreshment of brand, website, and marketing aspects.

Case study examples:

  • Skilled support such as grant writing, strategic planning, financial systems and processes, and social enterprise to work across organisations in your community.
  • Equipment materials, databases, and communication channels to support multiple organisations in your community.
  • Costs to come together and share, network, and build the profile of the NFP sector.
  • Collective training for NFP committees/boards in your community, such as governance, financial, digital literacy, marketing, and social media.
  • Increasing digital literacy of community members, such as older volunteers.
  • Mental health first aid across organisations.
  • Refreshment of brand, website, and marketing aspects of multiple NFPs in your community.
  • Activities to train and engage young people to contribute to local committees, boards, and events.

Case study examples:

  • There are several areas that we can’t fund through this program. If in doubt, please contact us.
  • Projects that support core business and areas of responsibility of Federal, State and Local Governments;
  • The encouragement or advancement of sport, recreation and social activities are not considered charitable activities under Australian law.
    Applications from sporting organisations need to clearly demonstrate charitable outcomes and benefit to the wider community that are above and beyond the sporting activities of the club.
  • Overseas travel and overseas projects;
  • Prizes, gifts, trophies or awards;
  • Political lobbying;
  • Projects that primarily benefit private business, a sole trader, or private interests;
  • Projects solely focused on animal welfare.
Gather information to support your grant application

Please read the information below to support the planning and preparation of your project. It also sets out what you MUST include for your project to be considered. There are plenty of helpful resources to support you along the way.

Please contact FRRR if you have any questions about the following information.

Your grant application MUST include:

Every application needs to include an organisation that holds either an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. If your organisation doesn’t have that, FRRR may still fund the project but you need another organisation’s support, which we refer to as the ‘legal organisation’ (with your organisation being the delivery organisation). This situation often occurs often when the organisation delivering the activity or project is a branch of an overarching organisation – such as a local CWA or YMCA branch. In this case, the CWA or YMCA would be the legal organisation.

Even though your organisation may complete the application (and will be doing the work), it’s the ‘legal organisation’s’ legal and financial information that needs to be provided. They also need to provide a letter from the legal entity, confirming they are willing to play this role, with a template available here.

FRRR conducts a broad range of due diligence queries when reviewing applications, such as: reviewing current and past incorporation, DGR and ACNC status. If your organisation has happened to have their incorporation status, DGR status or ACNC status changed or ACNC registration revoked or voluntarily withdrawn, please let us know the reasons for this.

Applications from ACNC and/or unincorporated associations are required to submit their organisation’s Constitution.

Why is this important?

This program is only able to distribute funds to not-for-profit organisations with an ABN or incorporation number, and FRRR needs to know that the organisation with that ABN / Incorporation number understands and agrees to carry out their responsibilities in relation to your project if successful.

Applications received without the requested financial information are ineligible. Providing incorrect financial information is currently the most common reason why applications are not able to be considered. You must attach the following:

  • For organisations that have audited financial reports: Attach the most recent annual audited statements;
  • For organisations that do not have an annual financial audit: Attach the most recent 12 months Income and Expenditure Statement. If you have a Balance Sheet, please also submit this;
  • For organisations less than one year old: Provide Bank Statements for the period you have been operating.

Please note:

  • If financial documents are more than 18 months old, please provide an explanation as to why the organisation does not have more recent documents;
  • Bank Statements are only acceptable as financial documentation if your organisation has been operating for less than one year;
  • Please explain any deficits and steps to sustain the organisation financially;
  • Provide a brief explanation of any large financial surplus or current assets and reasons why FRRR funds are still required;
  • Income and Expenditure statements must cover a full 12-month period.

Please contact us if you cannot provide required financials or are unsure about what to provide.

Why is this important?

FRRR uses this information to understand your organisation’s financial viability and ability to manage grant funds.

You must include a project budget that clearly shows the items that FRRR grant funding would be used for and that also shows all income and expenses related to your project.

Budgets should be realistic and must add up – i.e. total expenditure must match total income.

Applicant contributions in cash or in-kind are highly regarded. Quotes or detailed rationale for items over $1,000 are required, where possible. Note: FRRR suggests costing unskilled volunteer labour at $45 per hour.

For more info on costing volunteer labour, visit: https://explore.fundingcentre.com.au/help-sheets/valuing-volunteer-labour.

Why is this important?

A clear budget helps FRRR to understand the size of your project, exactly how FRRR funds will be spent and helps demonstrate community support for your project through in-kind contributions either from your organisation or partners / community members.

FRRR strongly recommends that you provide supporting materials such as letters of support, evidence of permission from the property owner, community plans, survey results, photographs, media clips and research reports that can show broad community support and partnerships involved in the project. For more information on supporting documentation, watch this recording.

Large documents should be referenced and explained in the application.

Why is this important?

FRRR seeks to fund projects that are well-supported by the broader local community, are locally-led and delivered, show good partnerships and benefit multiple parts of the community. As FRRR is not always familiar with your community, our staff consider support material as evidence toward understanding level of community need, benefit and support.

A clear description of exactly what the grant funds will be used for, when and where the project will happen, who will benefit and who will be involved in delivering the project, why the project and grant funds are needed, how funds will be spent and how the activities and success of the project will be recorded, evaluated and shared.

Where possible, we encourage you to make it really clear that your organisation is ready and able to deliver the project and, if required, provide ongoing support for the initiative.

Why is this important?

FRRR needs to clearly understand your project to assess its merits. Applicants should focus on addressing the what, when, where, who, why and how of the project, as this is the best way to clearly communicate the details of the project.

A ready community is best placed to achieve the aims of your project, so during assessment, our staff look for information that tells us that good leadership, skills and awareness exist in your community to support the project now and in the future.

Important notes for successful grantees:

To receive the grant funds, successful grantees (the legal entity) must have a bank account registered under the organisation’s name. Without a bank account, the grant funds cannot be disbursed, and the grantee will not receive the funds.

When the project is complete, the grantees will be required to provide a Project Report on the project’s activities, impacts and outcomes, and include a financial acquittal of your grant. Project reporting is an opportunity for the organisation to reflect on and celebrate what has been achieved and to share learnings.

Grantees have up to 18 months to deliver the project unless other terms have been agreed. The online Project Report is due 8 weeks after project completion. There will also be additional opportunities to contribute to the overall evaluation of the IRCF Victoria program through initiatives such as participatory media activities and storytelling.

Organisations with an overdue Project Report are not eligible to apply for further FRRR funding until the report is received. If the Project Report is not received, the applicant organisation may be suspended from applying for any FRRR grant programs until it is supplied.

We have a large selection of resources on our Grantseeker Resources Page to help you along the way.

The first step is to contact your local Community Facilitator to discuss your project idea.

 

If your project is eligible, a link will be provided to begin your application. Information on the Prepare Your Application tab sets out critical, additional information that we require and explains why it is important.

You will be required to submit your application to FRRR online via the Blackbaud Grants Portal.

Helpful resources:

Sample Application Form

Grantseeker Resources

 

If you have significant issues accessing a stable internet connection, please contact our team to discuss an alternative way of applying:
Ph: 1800 170 020 or Email: [email protected]

“Experiencing elements of the IRCF program first-hand gave me a deeper understanding of its potential impact on our community and how we can truly make the most of this opportunity.”

Colac Participant

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