Impact Café Series 2026 - City of Belmont / East Metro

Join Lotterywest and the City of Belmont to discover how to make more of an impact with your future initiatives and grant applications.

From Issue to Impact: Designing Initiatives, Measuring Outcomes & Strengthening Grant Applications

Got a powerful idea, a community challenge to solve, or a project ready to grow — but not quite sure how to clearly show its value to funders like Lotterywest, Healthway, or other grant and partnership programs?

The Impact Café Series is your friendly, practical space to sit down with a cuppa and work through the how of turning good intentions into fundable, measurable impact. Whether you’re developing a new initiative, preparing a grant, funding or sponsorship application, or wanting to sharpen your outcomes measurement and reporting, this workshop gives you the tools, frameworks and confidence to back your idea with a strong case for support.

This hands-on session will explore:

☕ How to define the real-world change your initiative aims to create
☕ How to design project outcomes that align with funder priorities — including Lotterywest and Healthway
☕ How to use logic models and theories of change to build compelling narratives for grants, funding and partnership proposals
☕ Simple, meaningful ways to measure and communicate progress so your impact story resonates with funders, partners, and your community

You’ll leave with greater clarity, strengthened project logic, and practical tools that help your initiatives demonstrate genuine value — to funders, partners, collaborators, community stakeholders, and most importantly, to yourselves.

Supported by the City of Belmont.

Full Venue Address: Events Space - Ruth Faulkner Library HUB – 215 Wright Street Cloverdale

Facilitator: Melanie Bainbridge
Melanie Bainbridge is a social impact and sustainability professional with over 20 years’ experience in strategy, policy, and community engagement. As Senior Manager, Impact Design and Capability at Lotterywest, she helps organisations design for measurable, meaningful impact. Mel has worked extensively with local governments and community groups to develop strategies focused on sustainability, equity, wellbeing, and culture. She’s passionate about turning big ideas into practical action and helping groups define their goals, plan their path, and share their story with clarity and heart.