The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning is changing to the Department of State Development and Infrastructure. Work is underway to update this website. Read more about the new Ministerial portfolios. Access Planning and Local Government content as changes are being progressed.

Skip to content

Local government assistance to community organisations

Local governments can provide grant assistance directly to community organisations. Where a local government has allocated money for councillor discretionary funds, councillors may also grant some or all of their discretionary funds to community organisations.

A community organisation is defined by the Local Government Regulation 2012 and the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 to be an entity that carries on activities for a public purpose, or another entity whose primary object is not directed at making a profit.

The information provided in these pages is to assist local governments to design, implement, monitor and evaluate their community grants programs and the use of their councillor discretionary funds in accordance with legislative requirements and good practice.

In particular, local governments must comply with the local government principles contained in section 4 of the Local Government Act 2009 and the City of Brisbane Act 2010 which are:

  1. transparent and effective processes, and decision making in the public interest
  2. sustainable development and management of assets and infrastructure, and delivery of effective services
  3. democratic representation, social inclusion and meaningful community engagement
  4. good governance of, and by, local government
  5. ethical and legal behaviour of councillors and local government employees.

Last updated: 09 Nov 2021