Small Grants for Rural Communities

Suitable For: Various Organisations 

Closing date: Various

Value: Various

Run By: Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal

Further Information: https://www.frrr.org.au/grant_calendar.php

Currently Open: https://www.frrr.org.au/grants/Strengthening_Rural_Communities

FRRR champions the economic and social strength of Australia’s rural, regional and remote communities. One of the key ways that we support communities to achieve their aims is by offering a broad range of grant programs. Each grant program has individual parameters and areas of focus but all have a common requirement that funds be used for a charitable purpose that benefits the residents of Australia's rural, regional or remote communities.

Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme

Suitable For: Eligible Primary Producers 

Closing Date: 30 June 2021

Value: $25,000 per farm enterprise.

Run By: NSW Regional Assistance Authority

Further Information: https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/emergency-water-infrastructure-rebate-scheme

Funding for the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate (EWIR) scheme has recently been extended, with an additional $9.25 million available to drought affected farmers in NSW for the purchase and upgrade of on-farm water infrastructure.

The Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate scheme is available to eligible primary producers who can claim rebates of up to $25,000 on new purchases and installation costs of water infrastructure projects for animal welfare needs. This includes the installation of pipes, water storage and water pumps, de-silting dams and associated power supplies such as generators. This Rebate scheme can be applied to costs incurred from 1st July 2018.

For invoices dated from 1 July 2019, the program is also open to horticulturalists with permanent plantings who can apply to install new bores or desilt dams.

The maximum that can be claimed is $25,000 per farm enterprise. The availability of rebates is subject to funds being available. No rebates will be offered beyond the allocated funding.

Applications close 30 June 2021 or when the funding allocation is exhausted, whichever occurs first.

Disaster Recovery – NSW Bushfires

Suitable For: Eligible Primary Producers 

Closing Date: 25 May 2020

Value: $15,000 per farm enterprise.

Run By: NSW Regional Assistance Authority

Further Information: https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/disaster-recovery-grants/bushfires

Grants-In-Aid Program

Suitable For: Schools and pre-schools, places of religious worship, community organisations and local councils 

Opening Date: Wed 15 January 2020. Check link below for Closing date once the fund has opened.

Value: $10,000 maximum

Run By: Department of Veterans Affairs

Further Information: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/grants-aid-0

A new grant round of the Grants-in-Aid program (the program) will open for applications on Wednesday 15 January 2020.

The Australian Government has announced a total of $145,000 (GST exclusive) for the 2020-21 financial year for the program. Funding is available for eligible organisations to apply through a targeted competitive process. The maximum grant amount is $10,000. Grants are limited to one per organisation.

The program aims to fund discrete projects or activities by national ex service organisations (ESOs) that address a specific problem or issue and will achieve a clear benefit to the ex-service and Defence community. 

This program is open to bona fide national ESOs and provides funding to encourage cooperation and communication between the ex-service community, ESOs and the Australian Government. Funding for national ESOs aims to encourage the advancement of the objectives of ESOs. 

This grant opportunity will be administered by the Community Grants Hub on behalf of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. 

Veteran & Community Grants

Suitable For: Most entities other than government, International organisations or sole traders. 

Closing date: 27 February 2020

Value: No minimum or maximum.

Run By: Australian Government

Further Information: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/veteran-and-community-grants-0 and Guidelines: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/03_2019/vcg-grant-opportunity-guidelines-002.pdf

The Australian Government is inviting organisations through an open, non-competitive process to apply for grant funding under the Veteran and Community Grants Program from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.

The objective of the program is to maintain and improve the independence and quality of life for members of the Australian veteran community by providing funding for projects that sustain or enhance health and wellbeing.

The intended outcomes of the program are to:

• Deliver projects that are sustainable, financially viable and have an ongoing benefit for members of the Australian veteran community; and

• Deliver projects that increase opportunities for members of the Australian veteran community, associated with social activity and community participation and/or improve health behaviours and support healthy places.

Empowering Our Communities

Suitable For: Organisations that can provide community led mental health, social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention initiatives that support communities significantly impacted by drought conditions.

Closing date: Open now. Submissions may close due to funding availability

Value: There are three tiers of grant funding available:

• Projects up to $10,000 (GST exclusive)

• Projects between $10,000 - $30,000 (GST exclusive)

• Projects between $30,000 - $50,000 (GST exclusive).

Run By: Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network

Further Information: https://peoplebank.hneccphn.com.au/farmer-support?tool=survey_tool#tool_tab

A range of activities and topics could be considered appropriate to receive one-off funding, including:

• Community events or workshops that promote resilience and reduce stigma associated with mental illness and accessing mental health and suicide prevention services

• Complementary and lifestyle activities known to improve physical and mental health, that can be delivered in a group setting, such as exercise classes, relaxation and yoga classes, mindfulness meditation classes; and

• Community education on topics such as managing stress, anxiety, depression and stigma. Community-led wellbeing initiatives should generally be group focused, promote individual and/or community resilience and reduce stigma associated with mental illness and accessing mental health and suicide prevention services.

Applicants should demonstrate that the proposed activity is:

• Community driven and likely to be well supported

• Likely to deliver mental health and wellbeing benefits to individuals and/or promote community resilience

• Whether the proposed activities will support stigma reduction and greater access to appropriate mental health and suicide prevention services.

Saluting Their Service – Commemorative Grants Program

Suitable For: Most organisations, including Local Government

Closing date: 31 March 2020

Value: Up to $10,000 for Community Projects and up to $150,000 for major works.

Run By: Department of Veteran Affairs

Further Information: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/saluting-their-service-cgp and guidelines: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/11_2019/saluting-their-service-grant-opportunity-guidelines_0.pdf

The Australian Government is inviting applications through an open competitive process to apply for grant funding during the 2019-20 financial year under the Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program (the program).

The program aims to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage and involve people around the nation in a wide range of projects and activities that highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations. Projects and activities should promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service and the roles that those who served have played in shaping the nation.

Safe Places Emergency Accommodation

Suitable For: Most organisations with specific criteria attached.

Closing date: 14 February 2020

Value: Capital works from $100,000 to $10 million.

Run By: Australian Government

Further Information: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/safe-places-emergency-accommodation and guidelines: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/11_2019/safe-places-emergency-accommodation-grant-opportunity-guidelines_1.pdf

The Australian Government is inviting eligible organisations, via an open competitive process, to apply for capital grants under the Safe Places Emergency Accommodation program from 2020-21 to 2021-22.

The objective of the grant opportunity is to deliver new emergency and crisis accommodation for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence. It could also fund purchasing/renovations/repurposing of buildings, where it creates new emergency accommodation.

It is important that accommodation delivered under this grant provides access to appropriate and specialist support for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence. Applicants who are not a domestic and family violence specialist, are required to provide evidence of a formal partnership with a domestic and family violence specialist service, or specialist Indigenous service, or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse service, that is ongoing and sustainable and must demonstrate an understanding of domestic and family violence.

The Government intends to maximise the return on its investment, the grant opportunity will prefer projects that bring together:

• different participants to deliver the most effective model

• contributions (whether cash or in-kind) from other levels of government, and from private and philanthropic sources.

Package Assisting Small Exporters

Suitable For: Australian registered entities and associations. 

Closing date: 28 February 2020

Value: No minimum or maximum

Run By: Department of Agriculture

Further Information: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/packageassistingsmallexporters and guidelines: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/12_2019/pase-grant-opportunity-guidelines_1_0.pdf

The Australian Government is inviting applications to apply to deliver activities under the Package Assisting Small Exporters program.

In 2013, the government established the Package Assisting Small Exporters to improve market access for small exporters in the dairy, fish, eggs, grain, plant, horticulture, meat and animal product industries. The program commenced with approximately $10 million available for funding projects that directly benefitted small exporters, particularly those that would improve market access for small exporters. A further $0.45 million was made available from 2017–18 for distribution over the period 2017-18 to 2021-22.

In 2019, the government announced $6.1 million over four years to extend the program to continue to support small exporters to overcome barriers to market access. $5 million is available for distribution over the period 2019-20 to 2022-23.

Under the program, grants are available to organisations and individuals for projects that support small exporters in the dairy, fish, eggs, grain, plant, horticulture, meat and animal products industries to overcome barriers to market access.

The objective of the program is:

• to assist small exporters in the dairy, fish, eggs, grain, plant, horticulture, meat and animal product industries to overcome barriers to market access.

The intended outcome of the program is:

• for small exporters (and potential small exporters) to increase their participation in the export sector.

Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST)

Suitable For: Various organisations. 

Closing date: 17 February 2020

Value: Case by Case basis

Run By: Department of Veteran Affairs

Further Information: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/best and guidelines: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/12_2019/building-excellence-support-and-training-best-grant-opportunity-guidelines.pdf

The Australian Government is inviting applications through a targeted, non-competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Assistance and Other Compensation for Veterans and Dependants Program – Payments to Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs) sub-program – Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Activity.

The BEST program (the program) forms part of the Government’s commitment to support the role of ex-service organisation (ESO) pension and welfare practitioners and advocates, who provide advice and assistance to the veteran and defence communities. It also links closely to the Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP), which provides the essential skills for claims, advocacy and welfare work.

BEST is intended to assist the veteran and defence communities by providing support and resources to ESO practitioners for pensions, advocacy and/or welfare work. It assists ESOs by providing a contribution to the work of these practitioners. It does not fully fund an organisation.

The objectives of the program are to assist ESOs to:

• improve the quality of claims received by DVA at the primary determining level

• reduce the rate of appeals to the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB) and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT)

• promote the provision of welfare services to the veteran and defence community.

The intended outcomes of the program are to ensure:

• the veteran and defence communities are able to benefit from having better informed ESO practitioners who can ensure claims lodged with DVA are of a high standard and contain all required information to enable timely and quality decisions

• ESO practitioners will assist in improving claims assessment efficiency

• the veteran and defence communities will have access to appropriate compensation and welfare advocacy services.

Traceability Grants

Suitable For: Various organisations. 

Closing date: 21 February 2020

Value: Minimum $20,000

Run By: The Department of Agriculture

Further Information: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/traceability-grants-program-round-1 and guidelines: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/01_2020/traceability-grants-program-round-1-grant-opportunity-guidelines_0.pdf

The Australian Government is inviting applications through an open competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Traceability Grants Program – Round 1 (the program).

The program was announced as part of the Modernising Agricultural Trade initiative. This program provides opportunities for successful applicants to conduct projects that will enhance the supply chain traceability systems and arrangements that support the export of our agricultural commodities.

The objectives of the program are:

• to support industry projects that will enhance our agricultural supply chain traceability systems, including developing and trialling technologies that digitise information flow

• to provide an advantage for our exporters in overseas markets to assist them in maintaining their competitive edge

• to increase opportunities to export Australian commodities.

The program has $7 Million (GST exclusive) for grants over the four financial years. The funding will be available in two grants round, one round in 2019-20 and the other round in 2020-21.

Volunteer Grants Activity

Suitable For: Not for profit Organisations and be invited to apply by your federal member of parliament and have 40% of staff as volunteers. 

Closing date: 6 April 2020

Value: Up to $66,000 for each federal electorate. Between $1,000 - $5,000 for eligible Not For profits

Run By: Department of Social Services

Further Information: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/volunteer-grants-activity-%E2%80%93-2019-20-volunteer-grants and guidelines: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/12_2019/2019-20-volunteer-grants-grant-opportunity-guidelines-3.pdf

The Australian Government is inviting organisations via a closed non-competitive process to apply for a Volunteer Grant under the Families and Communities Program – Volunteer Grants Activity in 2019-2020.

The Volunteer Grants Activity is an element of the Families and Communities Program.

The Families and Communities Program aims to strengthen relationships, support families, improve well being of children and young people, reduce the cost of family breakdown and strengthen family and community functioning.

Volunteer Grants aim to support the efforts of Australia’s volunteers as well as to encourage and increase participation in volunteering. The grants provide small amounts of money that organisations and community groups can use to help their volunteers.

The objectives of Volunteer Grants are to:

1. help community organisations to support the efforts of Australia’s volunteers

2. help community organisations to support the inclusion of vulnerable people through volunteering

3. encourage, support and increase participation in volunteering.

The intended outcome of the program is to strengthen community functioning by increasing participation in volunteering.

NSW Government Infrastructure Grant (Clubgrants Category 3 Fund)

Suitable For: Organisation with an ABN that is responsible for operating and/or maintaining the infrastructure. 

Closing date:

- March 2020 Round opens 16 March 2020 and closes 6 April 2020

Value:

- Arts and Culture $50,000 - $200,000 per project

- Disaster Readiness and Community Infrastructure $10,000 - $200,000 per project

- Sports and Recreation $100,000 - $300,000 per project

Run By: Responsible Gambling NSW which reinvests a contribution from the state’s registered clubs gaming machine profits back into community projects.

Further Information: https://www.responsiblegambling.nsw.gov.au/infrastructure-grants/infrastructure-grants

This year, the fund has expanded the emergency preparedness category to Disaster Readiness and Community Infrastructure, which will now include multi-use community facilities including halls and meeting spaces, community transport options; improvements to disability or community welfare infrastructure, infrastructure that supports youth, mental health, homelessness, and domestic violence services. In addition, community facilities that support the community suffering the impacts of drought will also be eligible. 

Benefit

Infrastructure that is accessible and available to the general public the majority of the time.

Purpose 

Infrastructure related to arts and culture, disaster readiness and community infrastructure, and sports and recreation.

Australian Government’s Youth Jobs PaTH

Suitable For: Businesses

Closing date: Ongoing

Value: Up to $11,000

Run By: Australian Government (jobactive)

Further Information: https://jobactive.gov.au/path

Trial a young person to find out if they're the right fit for your business and get $1000 to help cover the costs of the trial. During the trial, you don't pay the young person. Instead, the Australian Government gives them $200 a fortnight on top of their income support and covers their insurance.

Businesses can also receive up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) through a Youth Bonus wage subsidy if they hire an eligible young person between 15 and 24 years of age.

The young person must:

• be a fully eligible participant, commenced with a jobactive or Transition to Work provider

• have received employment services from a provider (jobactive, Transition to Work, Disability Employment Services or Community Development Programme provider) continuously for the last six months

• have mutual obligation requirements at the time they commence in the wage subsidised job

• not been in a pre-existing employment relation with you in the previous six months

• not be an immediate family member

CWA of NSW Drought Aid

Suitable For: Farmers, farming dependent contractors and farming dependent families in drought areas.

Closing date: Open Now

Value: Up to $3000 for outstanding household expenses

Run By: Country Women’s Association of NSW

Further Information: https://www.cwaofnsw.org.au/droughtaid.html

The Country Women’s Association of NSW is providing funds from its Disaster Relief Fund for drought relief in NSW. These monies are available for farming businesses that are drought affected and dependent on farming as their primary source of income. The monies are available for a wide range of expenses

Drought Assistance Fund NSW

Suitable For: Owner/Operator of a farm business in NSW.

Closing date: Applications may be made at any time.

Value: Interest free loans up to $50,000 Run By: Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

Further Information: https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/drought-assistance-fund-nsw

Drought Assistance Fund provides NSW farmers with interest free loans to help them implement systems and management practices to increase the sustainability of their farm business. The loan can be used for:

• transport of livestock, fodder and / or water

• improving water and fodder infrastructure

• desilting dams

• collection and banking of genetic material of livestock

Interest free loans of up to $50,000 are available. The loan term is two years repayment free and then up to five years of principal only repayments. The loan must be repaid within seven years.

Regional Skills Relocation Grant 

Suitable For: Eligible businesses must be operating in a NSW regional eligible industry and: 

• relocating to, or setting up in, regional NSW and creating at least five ongoing full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs in a regional local community, or

• already operating in regional NSW and seeking to recruit eligible workers.

The business must be seeking employees that:

• are relocating from a metropolitan area to regional NSW. Regional residence must be at least 50km from original metropolitan residence and within the same region as the eligible business

• have an occupation listed on the NSW Skilled Occupation List(opens in a new window)

• are Australian citizens or permanent residents on the date they commence employment.

Closing date: Currently Open

Value: Up to $10,000

Run By: NSW Government

Further Information: https://invest.nsw.gov.au/assistance/regional-investment-attraction-package/regional-skills-relocation-grant

The NSW Government has established the Regional Skills Relocation Grant to increase the availability of skilled and experienced workers for businesses setting up in, relocating to, or existing in regional NSW. 

Grants will be available for businesses operating in NSW regional eligible industries. The funding is available to assist with the relocation costs of eligible skilled workers they employ that move from metropolitan areas to regional NSW.

Approved businesses will be reimbursed up to $10,000 to assist with the following relocation costs incurred by eligible skilled workers they employ:

• furniture removal

• travel for immediate family to relocate

• temporary accommodation for up to three months

• furniture storage for up to three months.

The NSW Government has committed $10 million for applications over the next four years—$2.5 million will be available each year, providing 250 grants of up to $10,000.

Australian Communities Foundation

Suitable For: Australian Registered Charitable Organisations 

Closing date: Various

Value: Various

Run By: Australian Communities Foundation

Further Information: https://www.communityfoundation.org.au/submit-a-funding-request/

ACF is committed to helping build healthy and resilient communities. To achieve this, ACF supports a range of charitable organisations and projects each year. Grants are made domestically and internationally through Australian registered charitable organisations for specific projects, or for purposes that support the ongoing activities of those organisations.

With over 300 sub-funds, ACF provides over 500 grants annually that broadly fall into the following categories: arts and culture, community development and advocacy, community services and welfare, disability, training and employment, environment, health and medical research, education and overseas aid and development. Within these categories, target groups are also supported, including Indigenous communities and refugee/asylum seekers.

ACF also administers a number of specific scholarships and awards to promote educational achievement.

Quick Response Grants

Suitable For: Regional artists, art organisations and community groups.  

Closing date: Ongoing

Value: Up to $1,500

Run By: Regional Arts NSW

Further Information: http://regionalartsnsw.com.au/grants/qrg/

  Made available under the Regional Arts Fund allocation for NSW, Quick Response Grants offer funding of up to $1,500 for regional artists, arts organisations and communities to respond to unique arts opportunities that present themselves at very short notice. The program is intended to: 

• support professional development opportunities for artists and arts workers involved in community programs that will increase their knowledge, skills and experience

• support skills and or arts development for individuals and groups in regional communities through the employment of arts and cultural workers to conduct workshops, seminars and forums.

  ‘Quicks’ are offered on a quarterly basis. There is no deadline for applications, which may be made as required, although applications are processed on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Applicants MUST speak to the Funding Manager at Regional Arts NSW before applying (see contact details below). Decisions will be advised within 5 working days of receipt. 

National Cultural Heritage Account

Suitable For: Public Cultural Organisations 

Closes: Applications are ongoing on a case-by-case basis

Value: $500,000 is available each year

Run By: Australian Government Department of Communications and the Arts

Further Information: https://www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/national-cultural-heritage-account

The National Cultural Heritage Account helps Australian public cultural organisations buy significant objects that they could not otherwise afford. Australian cultural institutions can apply for funding. This includes museums, art galleries, libraries, archives, historic buildings, national trusts and local history museums and galleries, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander keeping places for sacred/secret material.

Thriving People and Places

Suitable For: NSW Charities and Not-for-profits 

Closes: Ongoing

Value: $20,000 and over

Run By: Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation

Further Information: http://vfff.org.au/apply/guidelines/

VFFF aspires to a stronger and brighter future for people and places experiencing disadvantage, enabling them to reach their educational, social and economic potential and build thriving communities by making grants to charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). 

The foundation has a strong focus on supporting regional areas, with 59% of funds approved in the 2018 financial year being for work in regional areas. 

Community Grants:

A quick guide to key internet links: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1718/Quick_Guides/ComGrants#_bookmark9

Further Community Grants may be found here: http://www.rdani.org.au/our-region/grants-and-funding-opportunities/community-grants.php

Or here: https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants

Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme

 The Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme is now accepting Business Evaluation and Business Growth Grant applications. 

The Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme, which is delivered through the Australian Government’s new Single Business Service, offers easy to access practical support to Australian businesses in a simplified and streamlined way. It is a new approach to the way government provides services to business that recognises Australia’s diverse business landscape and that the market and industry is changing in the global economy. 

The Programme aims to improve the capabilities of small to medium enterprises to become more competitive and grow. 

The Programme is now accepting applications for Business Evaluations, and Business Growth Grants under the Business Management stream. Information, including guidelines and application forms, are now available through www.business.gov.au. 

Business Evaluations – provide a top to bottom analysis of an eligible business, which meet the eligibility requirements and threshold qualifications, at their premises at no fee to the business for this service. The business receives a detailed report and recommendations for the business to make improvements. Evaluations are delivered through our national network of more than 100 experienced private sector advisers. 

Business Growth Grants – are small, co-funded grants to engage external expertise to assist businesses with implementing improvements recommended by their Business Evaluation. Businesses must have received a Business Evaluation to be eligible to apply for a Business Growth Grant. 

The Research Connections (September) and Commercialising Ideas (November) streams of the Programme will come online later this year and information about those services will be available in coming months. 

Further Business Grants may be found here: 

http://www.rdani.org.au/our-region/grants-and-funding-opportunities/business-grants.php

Or here: https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/business-and-industry-in-nsw/assistance-and-support/women-in-business/funding-programs