Community Grants and Funding Opportunities

Building Digital Skills grants help organisations deliver free Be Connected digital literacy programs to older Australians in their community.

Building Digital Skills grants of up to $20,500 help organisations to support older Australians aged 50+ through free digital mentoring sessions. A range of resources and support materials are available to help organisations to deliver this program, including the learning courses available on the Be Connected learning site.

The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program supports multicultural festivals and events across NSW. We invest in community events and activities that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity as a precious part of our identity and way of life.

The Stronger Together Festival and Event Grant Program supports multicultural and multifaith community groups to produce festivals and events that celebrate and embrace our state’s vibrant cultural diversity.

In 2026-27, Multicultural NSW will be opening only one round of the Stronger Together Festival and Event Grant Program for festivals and events held between 1 October 2026 and 30 September 2027.

Types of projects funded under this grant

• Projects that promote cross-cultural awareness and understanding. They must engage a broad cross-section of the NSW community
• Projects that ensure NSW’s multicultural communities can celebrate, preserve and share traditions
• Projects that are accessible by the general public and are for all communities of NSW.

Established in 1997 in memory of the artist Penny Meagher, the emphasis of the Windmill Trust Scholarship is to support visual artists from regional NSW to take up career development and/or presentation opportunities for their work.

The Windmill Trust Scholarship supports artists in various career aspects, including independent artistic research or practice, professional development, exhibiting and presenting work in new ways. Financial support encompasses studio rental, materials or labour costs, framing, space rental, promotion, artists’ fees, freight, installation, and documentation.

Funding Available

One individual or group will be awarded up to $10,000.

This scholarship provides assistance towards the cost of:

• Exhibiting work, including space rental, artist fees, travel, documentation.
• Professional development and education.
• Independent artistic research or practice including studio fees, residencies and travel.

As part of Bupa’s ‘Healthy Cities Challenge’, Landcare Australia and Bupa have partnered to deliver the 2026 Healthy Cities Landcare Grants. The Challenge’s goal is simple, the more movement by participants, the more nature regeneration projects will be funded making our cities greener and healthier.

They will support environmental community groups and organisations to establish native plants (trees, shrubs and groundcovers) across Australia in urban and peri-urban landscapes. Project locations must be in high community use areas to support positive health outcomes for people and the planet. 

The Bupa Healthy Cities Landcare grant planting sites must be:  

• located in an urban or peri-urban area where people live, work, or regularly visit; 
• be accessible to the public and provide a clear community benefit; 
• in high community use areas suitable for recreational physical activity such as walking and cycling; 
• include a minimum of 500 plants; and 
• project sites must have landholder consent. 

Projects must plant native species that will improve the extent, condition and connectivity of native vegetation in urban and peri-urban areas. 

Project planting activities will contribute to the following: 

• reconnecting areas of important natural habitat in the urban and peri-urban landscape;  
• encouraging greater community participation in landcare and outdoor recreation activities; 
• improving the amenity and liveability of cities/towns by creating urban green space; and 
• contributing to the health and wellbeing of local community members. 

Grant recipients should engage local community volunteers, which can include Scouts/Guides, schools, and other community groups, to help deliver the on-ground revegetation activities. 

The Australian Government is inviting applications via an open non-competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Outcome 1, Program 1.2: Support reliable, secure and affordable energy. The Game on: Teaming up for climate action program will provide support for up to 500 community sports clubs, helping them upgrade their facilities to be more climate resilient and energy efficient.

Eligible sporting clubs will be able to apply for one-off grants of up to $100,000. Groups of clubs can also apply together. This allows funding to support upgrades across multiple clubs.

The Small Grants program supports projects proposed by individuals and or organisations and or communities who would otherwise be limited by the constraints of other funding programs.

The maximum grant has been increased to $1000 in 2022 and there will be more grants awarded (if successful) each round. The project needs to directly or indirectly assist, involve and benefit LGBTQIA+ people and promote positive social outcomes and mental health in the community.

They welcome applications that are particularly creative and innovative, and those that are put forward by individuals, communities and organisations that have not received small grant funding in the previous 2 years. They regard favourably projects that work as partnerships between individuals and organisations.

Round 1 2026
Funding priority to transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people and communities
Opens at 9am AEDT Monday 19 January 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST Monday 13 April 2026.

Round 2 2026
Funding priority to projects supporting healthy ageing for older people
Opens at 9am AEST on Monday 4 May 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST on Monday 13 July 2026.

Round 3 2026
Funding priority to regional and rural communities
Opens at 9am AEST Monday 3 August 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEDT on Monday 16 November 2026.

Parents, guardians and carers receiving Family Tax Benefit can apply for an Active and Creative Kids voucher for each eligible child.

The $50 voucher is available twice a year to use towards sport, creative and cultural activities.

Voucher 1 – 2025: Available now

• Apply for and use the voucher by: 31 December 2025

Voucher 2 – 2025: Available now

• Apply for and use the voucher by: 14 July 2026

Note:

• Vouchers must be used with a registered activity provider.
• If you have 2 vouchers that have not expired, you can use them together for a combined value of $100. Each voucher can only be used once.

The Service Delivery grant opportunity funds organisations to provide individual disability advocacy to people with disability, their families, carers and kin in defined service areas nationally. Services are expected to be delivered predominantly in person, where possible and appropriate. This includes the organisation’s business premises as well as community settings.

Grantees must demonstrate the experience and capabilities needed to achieve program outcomes (Appendix A of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines). Non negotiable capabilities form eligibility criteria in the Guidelines, while desirable capabilities (Appendix B) may be developed over time. 

Six year grants will be offered to successful applicants with strong capabilities that improve national coverage, including: lead organisations in networks/consortia; individual providers able to deliver across large regions, including at national, state or territory coverage; and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations with advocacy experience.

Applicants not fully meeting desired capabilities may receive three year grants and must show progress to be considered for funding beyond June 2029. Smaller organisations serving limited regions may apply, but are unlikely to receive six year grants due to limited funding and the focus on national coverage.

NSW FLIP helps ensure women's talents and ideas are fully leveraged in the NSW entrepreneurial ecosystem. Delivered online and open to women aged 18 and over, this program is designed specifically for women entrepreneurs, innovators and aspiring leaders, providing a safe and supportive space to develop essential business validation skills and build authentic leadership presence.

If you have an idea that you’ve been considering, a solution to a problem you’ve lived, but don’t know where to start to make it real then FLIP has the practical tools and community needed to help you bring your idea to life. FLIP is designed for women at different stages of the founder journey, starting with a wide doorway and narrow into deep, hands-on support for those ready to commit.

Key dates

• Phase 1 EOI's close: Sunday 19 July 2026, 11:59pm
• Phase 1: Founder Readiness runs: Tuesday 4 August to Tuesday 15 September 2026
• Phase 2 applications open: Monday 3 August 2026
• Phase 2 applications close: Sunday 20 September 2026
• Phase 2: Pre-Accelerator Intensive runs: Thursday 8 October to Thursday 3 December 2026.

Intellectual Property (IP)

The University of Newcastle makes no claim over the intellectual property (IP) generated by participants as part of FLIP (subject to the University’s IP Policy and Procedure) provided your use of the IP acknowledges that the IP was developed as part of FLIP (unless it is unreasonable to do so).

If a team member is an employee or student of the University of Newcastle, they agree and acknowledge that ownership of the IP will be in accordance with the University IP Policy and Procedure, as amended from time to time.

The Facility Enhancement Fund (FEF) is an initiative established by Tennis NSW to stimulate investment in community tennis facilities with the aim to support the growth of the sport by making tennis venues more sustainable and accessible.

The FEF is for small to medium sized facility upgrades or enhancements typically between $8,000 and $200,000 in total value. The FEF may fund up to 40% of eligible total project value or between $3,200 to a maximum of $80,000.

The Trees for Bees Community Tree Grants support the planting of bee-friendly trees in extended gardens, community-owned land, school grounds, sporting club precincts and urban corridors.

The program provides funding to community groups and organisations to increase vital habitat, providing spaces for bees to forage, live and breed.

This year, 40 grants of $500 are available for not-for-profit organisations, school groups, Landcare groups, community organisations and sustainability groups.

Applications require a brief summary of the bee-friendly planting proposal, planting area and planting dates.

Applicants will be judged on three criteria:

• Pollinator Impact: How the planting will benefit bees and other pollinators.
• Area covered: The size of the planting and the details of the area (was it previously an unused site, does it extend existing pollinator-friendly garden).
• Community reach: How many people are involved in the planting, how many people will learn more about the importance of planting for pollinators as a result of the grant. 

The Telstra Footy Grants is designed to financially assist initiatives that can support Community Clubs affiliated to the AFL to strengthen the base and secure the future in three key strategic areas:

• Grow and assist volunteer capacity.
• Grow and diversify participation.
• Improve club environments and experiences.

Whether it’s upgrading to an electronic scoreboard, upskilling volunteers or introducing new initiatives to attract more participants, Telstra Footy Grants aims to provide tangible support for clubs and alleviate the challenges they may face.

Get Online Week event grants help community organisations host a digital skills event during Get Online Week, 19-25 October 2026.

Get Online Week events give people the chance to find the local support they need to improve their digital skills and get motivated to learn more.

Get Online Week grants support community organisations to host fun digital skills events during the campaign, promote their digital inclusion program and reach new people. Grant funding can be spent on marketing, learning resources, catering, venue hire, staff and volunteer expenses and event costs.

The Australian Government is inviting eligible organisations to apply for grant funding under the Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program (STS program).

The objective of the STS Program is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel who served in wars, conflicts and peace operations, including National Service personnel, and their families.

The intended outcome of the STS Program is to provide funding for projects and activities that:

• promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service, and the role of service personnel
• preserve, add to the sum of knowledge on, or provide access to information about Australia’s wartime heritage.

1. Community Grants

Grants up to $10,000 are available for projects and activities that:

• are focused on the local community
• commemorate the service and sacrifice of local community members
• are primarily accessed by the local community.

2. Major Grants

Grants between $10,001 and $150,000 are available for major commemorative projects and activities that are significant from a national, state, territory and/or broader regional perspective. These projects may include the construction of new war or peace memorials where none currently exist, as well as additions to existing memorials.

If your project relates to restoring or changing a memorial or other commemorative artefact, there may be heritage and conservation considerations.

Eligibility:

To be eligible, you must be one of the following entity types:

• Company
• Cooperative
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation
• Local Government
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
• Partnerships 
• Person
• Sole Trader
• Statutory Entity
• Unincorporated Association – only for Community Grants (up to $10,000).

If you are applying as a Trustee on behalf of a Trust, the Trustee must be one of the eligible entity types listed above.

The grants program provides financial support to organisations and projects that contribute to the development and promotion of the communities in which we live and work.

There are two types of activities that GrainCorp’s Grants program funds:

1. Community-related programs & activities (Maximum funding limit: $20,000)
2. Community infrastructure projects (Maximum funding limit: $20,000)

To be eligible for a grant, the organisation or project must:

• Be based within a GrainCorp operational region or region linked to grain growing activities;
• Be intended to have a positive effect on local communities in rural and regional areas;
• Demonstrate a direct connection with community development; and
• Align with at least one of GrainCorp’s Community Foundation Pillars.

GrainCorp opens two rounds every year for grant funding applications:

• 1 – 28 February
• 1 – 31 July

The Kick Start grant will help young Australians with a disability access financial support to re-join their supporting club and/or sporting competitions. The funds can help pay club registration fees, carer costs, extra coaching, team uniforms or travel to participate in the sport.

Eligibility Criteria

• Funds to help reconnect to sports post lifting of social isolation. Including competition cost, equipment, coaching fees
• Applications close on Friday 31 July 2026‍
• Recipients will be notified in October 2026‍
• Recipients will be announced November 2026‍
• Previous recipients will not be able to apply for 2026 grants
• Funds are to be spent by 1 March 2027
• All receipts and acquittals forms must be submitted
• If awarded a grant, accept the T&Cs including publishing details of your name, age, place of residence, sporting club, and photos

The Next Chapter program elevates Australian stories that aren’t being told and nurtures a new wave of writers to tell them.   

Each Next Chapter writer will receive a $15,000 stipend and be paired with a handpicked mentor to work closely with them over a twelve-month period as they progress a major writing project. The program also offers meaningful opportunities for the recipients to connect with peers, agents, publishers and readers. 

Participants will also receive the opportunity to attend a residency at Varuna, The National Writers’ House, and attend an end-of year publishing intensive at The Wheeler Centre. 

Of the writers selected, there will be one fellowship place dedicated specifically to a poet, The Malcolm Robertson Fellowship. 

BlueScope Sporting Club grant will be awarded to four registered sporting clubs affiliated with a National Sporting Organisation (as recognised by Sport Australia). The grant is for specific programs to include children with a disability and/or enable children with a disability to be members of their clubs.

The funding can be used for new and upgraded equipment such as marquees, lights, accessible club rooms and restrooms, accessible technology for club digital equipment, cost to implement programs specifically for children with a disability and/or to educate club officials/coaches/volunteers on working with children with a disability.

Eligibility Criteria

• Registered Australian sporting Club affiliated with a National Sporting Organisation
• Criteria must be addressed in the application and this relates to how the grant will directly benefit and improve registration of children with a disability in their club
• If shortlisted, a letter from your Club President must be provided, confirming and supporting this application
• Applications closed on Friday 31 July 2026‍
• Recipients will be notified in October 2026‍
• Recipients will be announced November 2026‍
• Previous recipients will not be able to apply for 2026 grants
• Funds are to be spent by 1 March 2027
• All receipts and acquittals forms must be submitted
• If awarded a grant, accept the T&Cs including publishing details of sporting club name, location and photos

The Huperco No Barriers grant will help young Australians aged 7-12 with a disability over come initial start-up costs to participate in sport. The funds are to be used towards new and upgraded equipment, club and competition fees, cost of travel and accommodation. 

Eligibility Criteria

• Funds to help reconnect to sports post lifting of social isolation. Including competition cost, equipment, coaching fees
• Applications closed on Friday 31 July 2026‍
• Recipients will be notified in October 2026‍
• Recipients will be announced November 2026‍
• Previous recipients will not be able to apply for 2026 grants
• Funds are to be spent by 1 March 2027
• All receipts and acquittals forms must be submitted
• If awarded a grant, accept the T&Cs including publishing details of your name, age, place of residence, sporting club, and photos.

The Program aims to help the NSW community rediscover the culture, the events and the people that shaped transport in NSW over the past 170 years, as well as support the restoration and conservation of, and access to our valuable heritage assets (including buildings, rolling stock, vehicles, museum objects and collections).

Depending on the type of project, the following are eligible to apply for grants:

• Organisations: NSW or ACT¹ based bodies corporate that are not-for-profit or charitable institutions with transport heritage and/or NSW heritage or history as their primary objective and purpose.
• Individuals: Members of Transport Heritage NSW. Individuals may apply in the following categories but only in partnership with an eligible organisation:
  • Restoration, reconstruction or preservation
  • Exhibition, interpretation, education or publication
  • Audience development, accessibility and inclusion.

¹ ACT organisations may only apply for heavy rail projects relating to the history and heritage of NSW
Government Railway