About Gardiner Foundation

Gardiner Foundation is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation with a vision for vibrant, thriving Victorian dairy communities where people want to live, work and invest. From 2002 to 2025, Gardiner Foundation’s Community Grants program has invested over $2.5M across more than 600 community projects in regional Victoria.

Delivered in collaboration with regional community foundations, the program recognises the value of local insight and leadership in driving meaningful outcomes. In 2025, Gardiner partnered with Border Trust, Greater Shepparton Foundation, Gippsland Community Foundation and South West Community Foundation to distribute $150,000 in grants to projects that foster connection, wellbeing and resilience.

Funding of up to $10,000 is available for initiatives that promote social interaction, enhance wellbeing, enable digital inclusion, and improve access and mobility.

2026 Community Development Grants

Gardiner Community Development Grants invests in locally led projects that strengthen the social fabric and connectivity of Victoria’s dairy communities.

Approaches to social connectivity may include, but are not limited to, initiatives that:

·       Promote social interaction and community participation;

·       Enhance wellbeing;

·       Enable digital inclusion, and/or

·       Improve mobility and access to community.

Projects must seek to benefit disadvantaged or marginalised people or groups in Victoria's dairying communities, particularly those that intersect with the dairy supply chain.

Grants of between $5,000 - $10,000 are available for:

·       Deliver programs, events, workshops and initiatives that build social connection and/or improve mental health and wellbeing, particularly where cost-of-living impacts participation (e.g. reducing out-of-pocket costs, transport and access support).

·       Invest in capacity building that strengthens local leadership, volunteer capability and community readiness, supporting long-term connection and resilience.

·       Use the arts and creative practice to help people tell their stories, share lived experience and come together across generations and backgrounds.

·       Strengthen food and fibre connections by bringing people closer to local stories, producers and the dairy supply chain; supporting understanding, pride and stronger community engagement (not only on-farm impact, but whole-of-community benefits).

·       Purchase equipment and materials that enable community connection (e.g. resources that make it easier for people to gather, create, participate, or access services).

Eligibility

To be eligible for a grant, organisations must be either be:

A.      Non-profit (with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN) including place based organisations with a strong local presence, servicing Victorian communities where the dairy industry is a primary economic and social activity (refer to eligible LGAs in the Defining Dairy Communities section).

or

B.      A social enterprise with models of moderate to high benefit for dairy communities.

Applications are NOW OPEN. Closing 30 June 2026

For Further Information, eligibility or to apply, please contact -

Cherie Draper, Community Liaison, Eastern & Central Gippsland Region 0426 537 189 (Tues, Wed & Thursday’s)

Desley Gray, Community Liaison, Southern Gippsland Region 0491 827 117 (Thursday’s & Friday’s)