Our Sporting Future

The Our Sporting Future Program has been established to assist community sporting organisations with the implementation of small to medium sized facility development projects and development programs for new and emerging sporting organisations across the municipality.

About the grant

Aligned with the strategic priorities of Council, the Program seeks to:

  • Enhance community well-being through improved access to sporting facilities;
  • Strengthen sporting infrastructure to support long-term community engagement;
  • Promote inclusivity and increased participation across diverse sporting activities;
  • Encourage sustainable development practices within local sports facilities; and
  • Support emerging and developing sporting organisations in establishing programs and resources.

There are five categories of funding under the Our Sporting Future Grant Program. Please note an organisation/group cannot obtain funding in more than one category per round.

Note: Any work or project that contributes to a Council asset must be discussed with the Sporting Clubs Officer (Program Coordinator) prior to application.

Category 1: Minor

Minor will accommodate projects on a $1 to $1 basis requesting assistance from Council of up to, but not exceeding $13,000. Organisations may include up to 25% of the project cost as in-kind costs.

Category 2: Major

Major will accommodate projects on a $1 to $1 basis requesting assistance from Council for a minimum of $15,000, but not exceeding $30,000

Category 3: Sports Aid

Sports Aid will provide funding between $500 and $5,000 (without matching contributions) for the following types of projects:

  • projects that provide support to new and developing sporting organisations.
  • projects for special access and/or participation projects (that have not been tried before) i.e. a junior program to attract more members or a program that targets a specific group that have not been involved before with the organisation.
  • planning initiatives that address the future sport and recreation needs of the

club/organisation i.e. strategic or business plan, facility plan or detailed design work on a facility improvement.

Category 4: Women & Girls

Women & Girls will provide funding towards programs that increase participation opportunities for women and girls in sports clubs for development programs or training between $500 and $10,000 (without matching contributions) for the following types of programs:

  • Leadership development programs including governance and leadership programs or training.
  • Development programs aimed at increasing participation skills or official accreditation/training i.e. Female football umpires course, netball umpires courses for junior girls, swimming coaching accreditation.

Category 5: Junior and Youth Participation

Junior and Youth Participation will provide funding towards initiatives to increase participation in sport for teams/sport between eight and eighteen years of age where a significant decrease in participation has occurred over the previous 1-3 years, for between $500 and $5,000 (without matching contributions) for the following types of projects;

  • Development programs or skills training to assist the engagement of junior and youth participation in community sport where participation has decreased (decreased participation levels to be demonstrated).
  • Purchase of uniforms to help increase participation in junior and youth aged teams where participation has significantly decreased (decreased participation levels to be demonstrated with evidence provided from State Sporting Association’s or Leagues).

For further information on the Our Sporting Future Program, please contact Council's Sporting Clubs Officer on (03) 5832 9594.

Key dates

Our Sporting Future – Round One 2025-2026  

  • 14 July 2025 at 9am Applications Open
  • 18 August 2025 at 12pm noon Applications Close
  • September 2025 Notify all applicants of outcome
  • September 2025 to September 2026  Activity timeframes

How to apply

Please read the Guidelines and FAQs below before submitting an application. Council strongly advises you to make contact with the Sporting Clubs Officer at Council (call 5832 9594 or by email) prior to making an application to discuss your proposed activity and eligibility. 

This grant will be open from Monday 14 July 2025 at 9am and will close on Monday 18 August 2025 at 12pm noon.

Successful recipients from previous rounds

Below are the projects that received funding through Rounds 1 of Greater Shepparton City Council’s Our Sporting Future Funding Grants program for 2024/2025.