Social Enterprise Grants

Open stream​

• For Change Co.Opens in new tab
  For Change Co. exists to support young people out of the cycle of homelessness through employment and training in coffee making. Funding to expand its operations in CoM by offering a new catering arm 'Catering for Change' to Melbourne based businesses. This includes the development of a kitchen and cooking module as a paid, on-the-job, employment and training program for young people living in the city who are at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. 
• Professional Migrant WomenOpens in new tab (PMW)
  PMW provides support, resources, and opportunities that foster professional growth and personal development for migrant women. Proposal is to develop a digital platform that will serve as a secure online hub, fostering genuine connections, collaboration, and networking opportunities amongst members, job providers, and community partners. From resources and webinars to job search features and professional contacts, it will help bridge the gap between migrants and career success. 
• Cultivating CommunityOpens in new tab
  Cultivating Community's mission is to work with diverse and low-income communities to create fair, secure and resilient food systems. "Everything but the Kitchen Sink" is a program that will work alongside CALD community and in particular women from multicultural backgrounds in supporting them on a journey to build confidence, emotional intelligence, empathy, leadership skills as well as opportunity to build self-employment, advocacy and enterprise skills. This will be delivered via an immersive kitchen challenge that works to create a cultural food product to market at Queen Victoria Market via the use of the Upcycle Kitchen in collaboration with STREATOpens in new tab.
• ​ReadyTeacherOpens in new tab
  ReadyTeacher is an online teacher recruitment platform, matching education providers with education specialists. Proposal to deliver a pilot of the 'Try Childcare' program to provide employment readiness, training and placement to disadvantaged, diverse and marginalised groups who live in public housing whilst simultaneously providing qualified childcare teachers to the local community, specifically Kensington Community Children's Cooperative.​​
• Code Like a GirlOpens in new tab
  Code Like a Girl's social mission is about increasing the representation of women and gender-diverse individuals in software engineering and technology roles within the Australian workforce. Funding to deliver "Diversity Dialogues", a program of engagements with CoM based employers and industry groups that will focus on connecting and introducing alternative approaches to recruit women into tech positions. 
• The Cheese Group Pty LtdOpens in new tab
  ​​​This grant will assist The Cheese Group (trading as Ripe Cheese) to launch a social enterprise initiative called 'The Cheese Social' at the Queen Victoria Market to connect Australian migrants and international students with Australian culture. The program will teach participants about the importance of cheese in Australian food culture, whilst helping foster connections and support for those feeling isolated. 

Circular Economy recipients​

• RegroundOpens in new tab
  Reground's vision and mission is to turn waste into a resource to create a waste free world. This project will develop The Circular Economy Exchange, a digital platform that will help businesses with office waste find circular economy businesses who will utilise this waste as a resource.
• Wholefoods UnwrappedOpens in new tab
  Wholefoods Unwrapped reduces single-use packaging through the distribution of ethical wholefoods in reusable bulk containers to suppliers, and stainless steel containers to customers. This funded project will deliver zero-waste, zero packaging food relief packages to university students in the City of Melbourne. The grant funding will go towards the purchase of reusable containers and crates that can be returned in a closed loop system. 
• Upcycle MelbourneOpens in new tab
  Upcycle empowers individuals by providing them with a way to participate actively in the circular economy while addressing social and environmental challenges. The grant will enhance marketing efforts, website upgrades and partnerships, amplifying Upc​ycle's impact in diverting waste and promoting the circular economy to City of Melbourne residents.
• ​Brainwave AustraliaOpens in new tab
  Brainwave Bikes receives, refurbishes and retails used bikes and donates bikes to low income and CALD families. The grant will enable Brainwave Bikes to have an ongoing presence in the City of Melbourne for sales, repairs and collections of abandoned bikes at the Purpose Precinct at QVM by part funding the cost of staffing the pop-up store on weekends. 
• City Compost NetworkOpens in new tab
  City Composting Network supports local communities to establish composting/food waste recycling systems on an individual and community level. The grant will fund activities to support the Circular Economy Precinct program and other areas within CoM where community participation and business circularity is to be improved. 
• Boomerang LabsOpens in new tab
  Boomerang Labs is Australia's first dedicated circular economy business accelerator program. Proposal is to deliver an online circular economy startup business accelerator program for the City of Melbourne. Boomerang Labs is looking to establish a stronger presence in Melbourne which will include in-person events for participants.

Open stream​

• Kinaway/ KIN-Fashion
  KIN Fashion will take up residence at Koorie Heritage Trust in Fed Square to promote and sell a Curated Collection of digitally printed 'Item Jackets'​ cut in quality textiles designed by First Nation Artists, as rentable high-end fashion.
   
• For Change Co.
  For Change Co. exists to support young people out of the cycle of homelessness through employment and training in coffee making.
• ​Villa Maria Catholic Homes
  Establishing a hospitality cafe in East Melbourne providing work opportunities for people with disability to gain purposeful paid employment, training, and work readiness.
• The Nicholas Building
  For more than 40 years The Nicholas Building’s iconic art deco edifice situated in the heart of Melbourne has housed every sector of the creative industries. 
• Recova Wear
  Recova Wear is working with the Parkville medical precinct to help to provide dignified and appropriate apparel for customers managing long term injury.
• The Little Social
  The Little Social is a social enterprise café of Youth Projects. Its revenue directly tackles underemployment for youth experiencing homelessness in Melbourne.

Circular Economy recipients

• ​City Compost Network
  City Composting Network supports local communities to establish composting/food waste recycling systems on an individual and community level.
• Wholefoods Unwrapped
  Wholefoods Unwrapped reduces single-use packaging through the distribution of ethical wholefoods in reusable bulk containers to suppliers, and stainless steel containers to customers. Since inception in 2021, it has diverted 14.5 tonnes of waste from landfill using these practices.
• Hanlen Australia
  Hanlen Australia encourages customers to continue using their existing glasses frames and only replace them if their eye prescription changes, at an affordable price. It uses HOYA frame machines to cut new lenses to customers’ existing frames.
• Brainwave Australia
  Brainwave Bikes receives, refurbishes and retails used bikes and donates bikes to low income and CALD families. It does this to reduce landfill and provide affordable bikes for families. It also enables young people living with disabilities to transition to mainstream employment through structured work experience and accredited training.

You must:

• be located within the City of Melbourne municipality  
• hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN)
• have documented evidence of an appropriate legal structure, such as a sole trader, an Australian registered company, business cooperative or partnership
• have no outstanding acquittals or debts to the City of Melbourne
• demonstrate financial viability as evidenced by a basic business plan, including projected financial statements
• demonstrate sustainable business practices in line with the Australian ethical charter
• be able to commence the funded activity upon receiving the grant
• complete and acquit the funded activity within 12 months.

Read our guidelines to see how your business aligns with the grant’s key objectives:

Watch our Social Enterprise Grants Program Information SessionOpens in new tab on Youtube.

Research and gather information required for your application.

Download our projected financial templates:

We only fund expenditure items directly related to the proposal and not operational expenses such as rent, utilities, wages and personal expenses.