Giving collage

At Open Gardens Victoria we are extremely proud of our Giving Program which benefits charities and organisations that have a connection with horticultural activities. Last financial year we were pleased to award $46,000 from funds generated from ticket sales to our garden openings, events and from Friends’ subscriptions.

Our Giving Program has supported The Heart Gardening Project, Cultivating CommunityGrowing Farmers and the Kingsville Little Seed Library. We have also donated to Wonderground/Planthunter.

In the past we have also given travel bursaries to horticulture students at The University of Melbourne Burnley Campus, donated to the Alkira Sensory Garden and also a therapeutic garden for Austin Health’s Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre in Melbourne. 

OGV grant applications are now closed for 2023. If you have a project in mind that falls within one of our giving arms (Education, Wellness, Innovation, Community, and Sustainability), require funding, and meet our stated criteria, up to $10K can be applied for.

* Applications for 2023 are now closed.

* We have chosen four wonderful new Giving recipients. Further details shortly.

Emma Brent Gaskin and team

Emma Sheppard-Simms won our MIFGS Student grant. The grant provided $10,000 to design and install a vibrant garden at our stand at the 2023 Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show (MIFGS). Emma and her all female team also secured sponsorship to build the garden. We are so excited to announce that her garden @aplaceforus.vic won The Best Visual Display Award - you can see pictured above: Emma (fourth from right) and Event Director Marcus Gale (3rd from left) and the all female installation team.