funding · Woollahra Municipal Council
Woollahra groups approved for 2026 - 27 grants and sponsorships
Council approved staff recommendations for community grants and sponsorships, with future applications required to detail plans for reducing reliance on recurring funding.
Community organisations in the Woollahra local government area have been approved for support through the 2026 - 27 Council Grants Program and Outgoing Sponsorship Program. The decision does not identify individual recipients or funding amounts.
The funding recommendations were prepared by the staff selection committee and approved by councillors. A new reporting requirement will require future grant reports to include specific commentary on how applicants address Council’s recurrent-funding criteria.
Under the criteria, grants can be used as seed funding while applicants build skills and capacity and work towards self-sustaining practices. Groups that have received grants for three consecutive years must show they are actively seeking alternative and ongoing funding, trying new and innovative ideas in each annual application, or attracting new local participants who will benefit from their proposal.
The amendment was moved by Councillor Harriet Price and seconded by Councillor Lucinda Regan. It passed 8-5 and became part of the final resolution. Voting for it were Councillors James Ardouin, Sarah Dixson, Jeanette Mitchell, Harriet Price, Lucinda Regan, Mark Silcocks, Witt and Toni Zeltzer. Councillors Alexander Andruska, Sean Carmichael, Mary-Lou Jarvis, Julian Parmegiani and Hugh Woodgate voted against.
Successful grant recipients must also notify Council about associated events so the Mayor or a representative and councillors can attend. They must provide appropriate photographs and testimony for promotional purposes under the grants policy.
A Grants Awards Presentation will be held at 2pm on Thursday, 20 August 2026, hosted by Mayor Sarah Dixson.
Councillors Jarvis and Price remained in the meeting and voted after declaring non-significant, non-pecuniary interests linked to organisations associated with the grants item. Councillor Torsten Merrill Witt left during the item and did not debate or vote after declaring an interest connected with Cooper Park Community Garden.
Reference minutes
Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council, 22 June 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Woollahra Council approved the staff selection committee’s recommendations for the 2026 - 27 Council Grants Program.
- The 2026 - 27 Outgoing Sponsorship Program recommendations were also approved.
- Future grant reports must explain how applicants address recurrent-funding criteria.
- Applicants funded for three consecutive years must demonstrate steps towards alternative funding, new ideas or new local participation.
- The amendment requiring additional commentary passed 8-5.
- A Grants Awards Presentation is scheduled for 2pm on 20 August 2026.
Why it matters
- Community organisations have been approved for 2026 - 27 Council funding, while future applicants receiving repeated grants will face clearer scrutiny about long-term funding plans.