Wingecarribee Shire Council will invite applications from local community groups as part of the Southern Phone Grants Scheme.

The scheme is allocating up to $25,000 in total to community-based projects located within the Wingecarribee Shire.

The funding is as a result of a dividend received from Southern Phone Company Ltd which is a public company owned by 41 local councils, one of which is Wingecarribee Shire Council.

The grants will be distributed to community groups with the Mayor Duncan Gair nominated as the trustee. The money is not being given to the council. Southern Phone managing director Mark Warren said the objective was to support community groups and projects which would otherwise not receive funding support by council.

Funds may only be used to provide a physical asset for, or service to, the local community within the Wingecarribee local government area.

"Southern Phone is a unique business," Mr Warren said.

"We create quality jobs in regional Australia and the dividends we generate are reinvested back into the community via our local government shareholders."

Priority will be given to organisations and community groups that:

Have a project requiring funds between $5000 and $10,000

Have a start and finish date for project delivery

Have a project plan in place detailing how the project will be delivered

Identify specific project objectives and outcomes to be achieved as a result of funding

Funding will not usually be provided for costs part of day-to-day operations (such as rent on premises) unless it is an additional expense associated with the project.

Funding will only be available to legally constituted, not-for-profit, non-political and non-advocacy community groups or organisations.

The grants must be expended between January and June 2015, with the final acquittal occurring in June 2015.

Applications close at midnight on Sunday, November 30.

Grants which are approved will be announced on December 19, 2014.

Details: www.yoursaywingecarribee.com.au/giving-back