The Wesleyan Community Care Grant Program was established to support the community outreach initiatives of Wesleyan Methodist Churches. For 2026, the program will offer three grants: valued at $10 000; $5000 and $2500. These funds are to be utilised by 30th March 2027, to support community programs focused on one or more of the following areas: Indigenous Support, Migrant Support, Family Strengthening Initiatives, or Vulnerable Sector Support (e.g., elderly, homeless, at-risk youth, or individuals with disabilities).
Eligibility Criteria
Applications are exclusively open to Wesleyan Methodist Churches of Australia to be used for projects in Australia. All proposed projects must align with the policies of Wesleyan Community Care and focus on assisting vulnerable populations in the community. Importantly, the funds cannot be used for religious purposes, ensuring that the projects are inclusive and accessible to all community members, regardless of their faith background.
To be eligible, applicants must not have received direct funding from Wesleyan Community Care within the past 12 months, nor have an active campaign currently underway with the organisation. Please note, this restriction does not apply to grants that have been sponsored by Wesleyan Community Care in partnership with other funding sources. New projects will be looked upon favourably.
Assessment Criteria
Following is a list of the criteria for assessing community grants for vulnerable people.
- The project clearly aligns with Wesleyan Community Care’s focus on supporting vulnerable individuals, such as the indigenous, migrant, elderly, homeless, at-risk youth, or people with disabilities or be a family strengthening initiative.
- The project addresses a significant need within the targeted vulnerable population and directly contributes to their well-being.
- The project demonstrates the potential to make a measurable impact on the community, enhancing the quality of life for those it serves.
- The project has specific, measurable, and achievable goals that contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable people.
- The objectives are realistic within the timeline (must be started by December 31, 2026) and within the requested budget.
- The project has a plan for long-term sustainability beyond the funding period, including strategies for continued support and resources after the grant is used.
- The project includes a plan for monitoring progress and evaluating outcomes, demonstrating how success will be measured.
- The proposed budget is clear, realistic, and appropriately allocates resources to the key areas of the project.
- Grant holders will work alongside Wesleyan Community Care staff to evaluate and enhance project strategies throughout the funding cycle.
Application Process
Applications open on the 1st of March 2026 and closes on 10th of April at 5pm.
Apply here. Please note information can not be saved. You need to do the whole application at one time. .
An information session is available on the Wesleyan Community Care website under What We Offer – Grants. We encourage you to watch this video prior to completing the application.
Kathy will be available to assist writing any applications after the 17th of March. Please use the time prior to this to get your letters of support and quotes. If you would like assistance please email office@wesleyancommunitycare.au to arrange a zoom meeting
Committee Evaluation
In May a designated committee reviews all grant applications to ensure compliance with Wesleyan Community Care (WCC) standards.
Final Selection
The committee compiles a list of eligible projects and distributes information about participating churches to the voting committee (donors who gave $1000).
Voting Process
In June the donors vote on the projects they wish to support.
The voting will be divided into three categories: one large grant ($10,000) and a medium project ($5,000) and a small grant ($2500). You may only apply for one grant.
Grant Recipients
On the 1st of July 2025 we will announce the winners of the grants to all donors and the broader community.
Helpful Reminders for Grant Application
Outline specific, measurable, and achievable goals for your project. Ensure they are closely tied to the needs of vulnerable individuals and demonstrate how your program will have a direct impact on them.
Make sure your project falls under one of the four eligible categories: Indigenous Support, Migrant Support, Family Strengthening Initiatives, or Vulnerable Sector Support (e.g., elderly, homeless, at-risk youth, or individuals with disabilities).
Provide a detailed breakdown of how the grant funds will be allocated. Ensure the budget aligns with the project’s activities and needs and be transparent about any additional sources of funding or in-kind contributions.
Include data, community input, or other evidence that clearly demonstrates the need for your project in the target population. This helps show that your program is addressing a real and urgent need.
Provide a realistic timeline for the project, with key milestones and deadlines. Ensure the project can be started by December 31, 2026, as required.
Include a monitoring and evaluation plan to track the progress of your project. Explain how success will be measured and how you will assess the impact of the project on the target population.
Include any additional materials that support your application, such as letters of support, testimonials, past project success stories, or any other documents that strengthen your case.
Ensure your application is submitted by the specified deadline. Late submissions may not be considered for funding.