Community Grants Program

The purpose of the program is to develop and actively support not-for-profit community organisations and individuals who positively contribute to community wellbeing and the cultural life of the region.

The grants program enables the Shire to recognise leadership and individual achievement, build community capacity and sustainability, develop cultural identity and support initiatives that respond to identified community needs.

Please note: Applications for Small and Representative Grants are open, Annual Grants will reopen in early in 2025 - keep an eye on Shire social media, the Shire Flyer and the My Community Info & Events e-Newsletter.

 grants

Application Forms

If you are considering making a Community Grant application, our Community Development Officer is more than happy to discuss your project and work with you to develop your proposal and confirm that your project and organisation is a good match for a Community Grant. Please call 9071 0609 to discuss.

Prior to making a Grant application, please read the 2024/2025 Community Grants Program Guidelines.

A good application reflects that you have read the guidelines and collected the specified ancilliary information, while also demonstrating your skill, ability and commitment to managing a successful project.

Please choose from the below active application forms. Hardcopies are available from the Shire of Esperance Administration Building. Application forms and ancilliary information can be emailed to shire@esperance.wa.gov.au; posted to PO Box 507, Esperance WA 6450; or hand delivered to the Shire Administration Building, Windich St Esperance.

Application Form - Small Grant (Up to $3,000)

Application Form - Small Grant Representation (Up to $500)

Application Form - Annual Grant (over $3000)

Application Form - Annual Grant (Above $3,000) - Applications will re-open for projects commencing from August 2025 in January 2025 and close on 13 March 2024.

For Annual Grants: If your organisation does not prepare a Balance Sheet or equivalent please attach a Statement of Assets and Liabilities Form to your application. It is strongly recommended that applications are not left to the last week or final closing date before submission. Late applications will not be considered under any circumstances.

Unincorporated groups can apply, providing they are auspiced by an incorporated organisation that can manage the grant on behalf of the applicant. A letter agreeing to auspice and a copy of their Certificate of Incorporation must accompany the application.

The high demand for funding under the Council’s Community Grants Program will mean that not all grant applications can be approved. Although an application may meet the assessment criteria, grants are highly competitive and approval will depend on available funds and the number and quality of applications.

Accountability Report Forms (for successful applicants)

An Accountability report must be provided on the prescribed forms within 60 days of the completion of the project or 30th September following the grant year - which ever falls first.

Funds must be spent as approved and in line with the Community Grants Guidelines.

The Accountability report must include a report of budgeted and actual expenditure, a good-quality image of your project/group and tangible evidence of:

  • grant funds being spent (i.e. invoices/receipts);
  • recognition of Shire contribution;
  • evidence to support performance indicators.            

For 2022/2023 Community Grants Program Applications

Accountability Report - Small Grant

Accountability Report - Small Grant - Representation

Accountability Report - Annual Grant

For 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 Community Grants Program Applicants:

Accountability Report - Grants $1,000 or less (Support Category)

Accountability Report - Grants $5,000 or less

Accountability Report - Grants More than $5,000 

Please email the report and all ancilliary documentation to shire@esperance.wa.gov.au, post it to PO Box 507 Esperance WA 6450, or hand deliver it to the Shire Administration Building, Windich St Esperance.

List of Successful Community Grants Projects

2023/2024

Small Grants (to date)

  • Esperance Bay Yacht Club - 66th Pelican State Titles 2024
  • Esperance Squash Club - Yellow Dot Ball 2023
  • Esperance District Football Association - Hepburn Medal Awards Event
  • Representation: Niamh Murphy - AFL School Sports WA AFL Girls Team
  • Representation: Aiden Finlay Mulligan - Squash Australian Junior Squash Championship
  • Rotary Club of Esperance - Swim Challenge
  • Museum Villiage Markets - Tourist Season Music Sessions
  • Esperance Mechanical Restoration Group - EMRG Collectors Fair 2023
  • Esperance Wildflower Association Esperance Wildflower Festival 2023
  • Representation: Terri Herbert - Womens Masters National Championships
  • Representation: Emily Hegney - Womens Masters National Championships
  • Recherche Aged Welfare - Replace Asbestos Fencing

Annual Grants

  • Esperance Music Festival (Inc) - EVENT Esperance Music Festival 2023 (in Kind)
  • Esperance Rotary Club Inc - EVENT: New Years Eve Fireworks
  • Esperance Rotary Club Inc - EVENT: Australia Day at Adventureland Park
  • Recerche Aged Welfare Committee Incorporated - Install reticulation
  • Esperance Golf Club (Inc.) - Upgrade Waterpumps
  • The Scout Association of Australia, Western Australian Branch - Toowacka Campsite Activation
  • Ports Football Club Esperance Incorporated - Shower Upgrade - Home Rooms
  • Esperance Care Services Inc. - Waste Recycling & Disposal / Fabric Recycling
  • The Esperance Bay Historical Society (Inc) - Esperance Historic Homesteads Documentary Series
  • Esperance Football Club - Replacement Lighting

2022/2023

Small Grants

  • Mallee Schools - Annual Mallee Muster
  • Rotary Club of Esperance - Blue Sky Esperance
  • Museum Village Markets - Live Music Sessions
  • Esperance Care Services - 50th Anniversary of Youthcare
  • Esperance District Football Association Inc - Annual Awards Night
  • Esperance Mechanical Restoration Group - Collectors Fair
  • Esperance Lions Club Inc - Carols By Candlelight
  • Esperance Theatre Guild Inc - Production: Black Bart
  • Recherche Aged Welfare Committee Inc - Tree Pruning
  • Lifespan Network (Auspiced by Escare Inc) - Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Awareness
  • Cascade Primary School Parents and Citizens’ Association Incorporated - Annual Mallee Muster
  • The Esperance Bay Historical Society (Inc) - Founding History Booklet
  • Esperance Twilight Aerials Gymnastics Academy (Inc.) - Team Gym Classic
  • Coastal Warriors Cricket Club - New Pitch
  • Stars Foundation Limited  - Awards Night
  • Esperance Volunteer Fire & Rescue Services - Juniors State Championships
  • Salmon Gums Development Group (Incorporated) - Community Christmas Tree
  • Esperance Poultry Association (Inc) - Improvements, Equipment & Event Expenses
  • Esperance Rugby Association Inc. - Club Establishment
  • Esperance-Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club Inc - Youth Leadership Pathway Course
  • Esperance Taekwondo Academy (Inc) - Improve the Esperance Taekwondo Academy
  • Esperance Sonshine Broadcasters Inc / 103.9HopeFM Community Radio - Christmas Movie Night
  • Esperance Golf Club (Inc.) - Esperance Golf Classic 2023
  • Rotary Club of Esperance Bay 2022 - New Years Eve Fireworks
  • Esperance Tennis Club - March Tournament
  • Esperance Cycling Club - Tour De Esperance
  • Ports Football Club Inc - Umpires Dressing Room Upgrade
  • Des Neale - State Representation - Clay Target Shooting
  • Country Womens Association of Western Australia (CWA Esperance) - Improve Security
  • Esperance Hockey Association - Equipment
  • Cannery Arts Centre Inc - Clay Pottery Sump Clean-out
  • Esperance Wildflower Society Inc - Safety Equipment for Volunteers

Annual Grants

  • Esperance-Goldfields Surf Lifesaving Club Inc - Emergency Response & SLS Storage Facility
  • Esperance Rotary Club Inc Esperance - Community Storage Shed Extension
  • Esperance Care Services - Waste Recycling & Disposal / Fabric Recycling
  • Esperance Zone Innovation EZI Group Inc - Bushfire Water Network Pilot
  • Esperance Rotary Club Inc - Australia Day at Adventureland Park
  • Esperance Community Arts - Esperance Wildflower Festival 2022
  • Cannery Arts Centre - Esperance Art Awards
  • Esperance Pistol Club Inc Air Pistol - Target System Upgrade

2021/2022

Support Category Grants

  • Esperance District Football Association - Hepburn Medal Awards Night
  • Aiden Finlay-Mulligan - State Sports Representation - Squash
  • Esperance Mechanical Restoration Group Inc - Annual Collectors Fair
  • Esperance Lifespan Network - Mental Health Week Pop Up Café
  • Clontarf Foundation (Esperance Academy) - Awards Night
  • Stars Foundation (Esperance Girls Academy) - Awards Night
  • Restore Hope Foundation - New Fridge
  • Esperance Goldfields Surf Life Saving Club Inc. - Cadets Development Weekend
  • Esperance Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service - State Jnr Open
  • Esperance Golf Club - Golf Classic
  • Lions Club of Esperance - Carols in the Soundshell
  • Rotary Club of Esperance Bay - New Year's Eve Event
  • Esperance Cycling Club - Tour de Esperance 2022
  • Rotary Club of Esperance - 2022/23 Esperance & Districts Telephone Directory
  • Esperance Community Arts - Harmony Week Event
  • Esperance Clay Target Club - 60th Annual Easter Carnival / State Championship Event
  • Salmon Gums Development Group - Community Party
  • Restore Hope Foundation Esperance - Purchase of Fridge
  • Saving Animals From Euthanasia - Puchase of Cat Enclosure
  • Esperance Soccer Club - ANZAC Cup 2022
  • Esperance Veteran Car Club - Electrical Upgrades
  • Esperance Bay Yacht Club - HiVis Vests
  • Esperance & Districts Agricultural Society - Equestrian Jumping Equipment
  • Esperance Tennis Club - Junior Development Coaching
  • Esperance Basketball Association - Hosting NBL1 Game
  • Esperance Netball Association - Coaching Equipment

Assistance Category Grants

  • 103.9 Hope FM Esperance Community Radio - Equipment Upgrade
  • Coastal Warriors Cricket Club Inc - Bowling Machine
  • Condingup Basketball Association Inc - Upgrade of Fixtures & Court Safety
  • Esperance Playgroup Association - Shade Sails
  • Esperance Soccer Association (Inc.) - Soccer Goals
  • Moving Movies Esperance Inc. - Summer Season
  • Mudjar Aboriginal Corporation - Eradicate Castor Oil Plant
  • Bay of Isles Babes - Red Hatters Riot in the Regions
  • Christian Aboriginal Parent-Directed School Inc - Wongutha Campus - Sports Supports School Success

Development Category Grants

  • The Cannery Arts Centre (Inc) - Core Costs
  • Esperance Brass Band Incorporated - Operating Costs
  • Esperance Care Services Inc. - Waste Recycling & Disposal Project
  • Esperance Community Arts (Inc) - Annual Program
  • Esperance Golf Club (Inc.) -  Automated Reticulation Installation
  • Esperance Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service Junior -  Fire Brigade Building Additions
  • Ports Football Club - Lighting

Events Category Grants

  • Cannery Arts Centre (Inc) - Art on the Move Exhibitions
  • Condingup Primary School Parents and Citizens' Association Incorporated - Condingup Community Fair
  • Esperance Community Arts (Inc) - Esperance Wildflower Festival
  • Grass Patch Community Development Association - Grass Patch Yabby Classic
  • Kids Fun Day Out Committee - Kids Fun Day Out
  • Esperance Music Festival (Inc) - 49th Annual Esp. Music Fest.
  • Rotary Club of Esperance Inc - Australia Day Family Fun Day

2020/2021

Support Category Grants

  • Esperance District Football Association - Awards Night Venue Hire
  • Local Environmental Action Forum LEAF - Enviromentaly Friendly Weed Killer Trial
  • Esperance Care Services - Live Music / Community Engagement
  • Cannery Arts Centre - Art of Isolation Workshops & Exhibition
  • Royal Flying Doctor WA Esperance Auxiliary Inc - Removal of Excess Bark/Mulch
  • Esperance Girls Academy - Awards Night Venue Hire
  • Clontarf Foundation - Awards Night Venue Hire
  • Surfers Netball Club - Mixed Netball Competition
  • Coastal Safety Work Group - Awareness Campaign
  • Esperance Surf Lifesaving Club - Bremer Bay Carnival
  • Condingup Bowling Club - Coaching Equipment
  • Ports Cricket Club - Synthetic Cricket Pitch
  • Esperance Lions Club - Carols in the Soundshell
  • Esperance Squash Club Inc - Esperance Squash Club Open 2021
  • Esperance Golf Club - Esperance Golf Classic
  • RSL Esperance Sub Branch -  Exhibition: The ANZAC Victoria Cross Story (19th-21st April)
  • Esperance Clay Target Club - 59th Annual Easter Carnival 2nd-4th April
  • Esperance Toy Library - Portable Shelving
  • Esperance Motorcycling Club - Kitchen Fixtures & Fittings
  • Esperance Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service - Easter Carnival
  • Esperance Community Arts - Chris Seimer Retrospective Exhibition
  • Esperance Bay Yacht Club - Hobie Cat 16 2021 WA State Title Regatta
  • 10th Light Horse - Esperance Troop Inc - Uniforms
  • Esperance Taekwondo Academy - Training Equipment
  • Ports Football Club - Injury Prevention Workshop
  • Esperance Community Fundraising Group - Trailer Cover
  • Esperance Pistol Club Iinc - National Come & Try Day
  • Veteran Car Club Esperance Branch - Seal ground in front of Clubrooms

Assistance Category Grants

  • Esperance & Districts Agricultural Society - Rent Assistance
  • Cannery Arts Centre Inc - Touring Exhibition
  • Castletown Primary School P&C Association Inc - Nature Playground
  • Moving Movies Esperance Inc - 2020/21 Summer Season
  • Esperance Scout Group - Revitalisation Of the Scout Hall - Stage 1

Development Category Grants

  • Esperance Brass Band inc - Operating Costs
  • The Cannery Arts Centre Inc - 2020/21 Artistic Program
  • Esperance Care Services Inc - Rubbish Disposal
  • Esperance Community Arts Inc - Annual Program
  • Esperance Pony Club - All Weather Surface Horse Riding Arena
  • Ports Football Club - Upgrade Public Toilets & Replace Windows
  • Tor Youth Shed Incorporated - Multi-Court Project
  • Remote Control Car Club - Toilets

Events Category Grants

  • Cascades Town Recreation Association - 40th Anniversary Cascades Hall
  • Condingup Primary School P&C - Condingup Community Fair 2021
  • Esperance Community Arts -  Readers & Writers Esperance 2021 Program
  • Kids Fun Day Out - Kids Fun Day Out 2021
  • Rotary Club of Esperance - Australia Day 2021

2018/2019

Support Grants

  • Saving Animals from Euthinasia Inc -  Esperance Live Performance at Bijou
  • Esperance Motorcycle Club - Riding School
  • Keep Esperance Beautiful - Hungry Bins
  • Esperance Anglican Wildflower Festival - Esperance Anglican Wildflower Festival
  • Esperance Mechanical Restoration Group Inc - Collectors Fair
  • ECA for Esperance Photographers Club - Steve Parish Workshop
  • Esperance Anglican Community School - Volleyball Team
  • State Representation - Zoe McCann
  • EDRA - Sports Star of the Year
  • Esperance Girls Academy - Graduation Ceremony
  • Our Lady Star of the Sea - Automated External Defibillator
  • Ruby Benjamin Animal Foundation - Subsidised Sterilisation
  • Anchor WA - Pilot Program
  • Escare Inc - Mental Health Week Community Event
  • Esperance Aboriginal Family and Community Development Group  - NAIDOC Family Fun Day
  • Esperance Theatre Guild - Halloween Event
  • Cannery Arts Centre - Flotsam & Jetsam Exhibition
  • Esperance Goldfields Surf Life Saving Club - Mooring Bouys
  • Cascade Recreation Association - Replacement Cricket Pitch
  • Esperance Softball Association - Corporate Fun Day (7th Oct)
  • Esperance Crisis Accommodation Service - White Ribbon Family Day
  • RSL Esperance Sub-Branch - Rememberance Day Event
  • Local Environmental Awareness Forum (LEAF) - Documentary Screening
  • Esperance Ultimate Frisbee Club - Skylab Classic 2019
  • Moving Movies Esperance Inc - Soundshell Hire
  • Lions Club of Esperance - Carols By Candlelight
  • Kids Fun Day Out - Storage
  • Esperance Scout Group - State Camp
  • Esperance Triathalon Club - Olympic Distance Triathalon
  • Outta The Shed - Go-to-Whoa & 1/8 Mile Speed Test
  • Gibson Football Club - Automated External Defibillator Cabinet
  • Esperance Clay Target Club - 58th Annual Easter Carnival
  • Esperance Golf Club - Esperance Annual Classic
  • St John Ambulance Sub Centre - Equipment - Shredder
  • Hope FM - Watoto Chior Concert
  • Adventureland Management Committee - Planning Fee
  • Esperance Soccer Association - Canteen Equipment
  • Esperance Cycling Club - Tour De Esperance 2019

Assistance Grants

  • Cannery Arts Centre - Kickarts School Holiday Programming
  • Esperance Volunteer Sea Search & Rescue - Equipment - Drone
  • Esperance Brass Band - Operational Costs
  • Esperance Amateur Swim Club Swim Club - Shade Shelters
  • Esperance Triathlon Club - Trailer
  • Esperance Toy Library - Improve the Esperance Toy Library
  • Esperance Emergency Services Day Committee - Esperance Emergency Services Day
  • Esperance Table Tennis Club - Table Tennis Tables 

Development Grants

  • Cannery Arts Centre - Art Lab Workshops
  • Esperance Cycling Club Esperance - Velodrome Upgrade
  • Esperance Squash Club Inc - Kitchen Amenities and Flooring Upgrade
  • Clontarf Foundation - Engaging Teenage Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Males in Education & Employment
  • Esperance Care Services - Rubbish Disposal & Recycling

Events

  • RSL Esperance - Armistice Learning Journey
  • Esperance Music Festival - 47th Annual Esperance Music Festival
  • Esperance Cycling Club - Tour d'Esperance
  • Rotary Club of Esperance Bay - Esperance Foreshore Festival & Fireworks
  • Esperance Squash Club - WA Squash State League Matches
  • Esperance Volleyball Association Inc. - Volleyball WA Beach Volleyball Tour Round
  • Condingup Primary School P&C Association - Condingup Community Fair

Assistance & Support

Our Community Development Officer is here to support you through the entire Community Grants Process.

They can be contacted directly on 9071 0641, or pop into the Shire Administration Building to discuss your application.

You can also send an enquiry to the Community Development Officer: community@esperance.wa.gov.au