Community Grants and Funding Opportunities

Local football clubs across Australia will have the opportunity to share in an $8 million funding boost over the next four years, as the AFL and Telstra launch Telstra Footy Country Grants. With a pool of $2 million to be distributed in 2025, eligible regional and metro clubs can apply for grants up to $20,000 – helping strengthen, sustain and grow local footy.

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

All Community Football Club’s affiliated to the AFL can apply.

Excluded are VFL, SANFL and WAFL clubs as well as umpiring groups.

Recreational fishing clubs and associated organisations are now invited to apply for fishing packages or grants to help run community fishing events and activities in their own local area on or around the NSW Gone Fishing Day, which will be held Sunday, 19 October 2025.

The following options are available:

1) a fishing package consisting of rod and reel sets, bags, giveaways and advisory information for participants attending events, or

2) a grant* of up to $2,000 to purchase items required to run their own Gone Fishing Day fishing events, such as casting and fishing activities and information sessions.

*Important: To receive a funding grant, successful applicants will be required to enter into a funding deed with the NSW Government and submit a written report and evidence of grant expenditure following completion of events. Organisations will also need to submit invoices as a condition of receiving grant payments.

AbbVie provide financial support for projects that promote excellence in patient care, support disease awareness and provide education to healthcare professionals.  In addition they also provide funding to support charities and their fundraising activities in the community.

AbbVie will ONLY consider requests for financial support for initiatives that include:

• healthcare education events or initiatives such as conferences, symposia or one-off meetings
• disease awareness activities
• production of education materials including print and digital content
• fundraising activities 
• donations to charities or not-for-profit organisations.

AbbVie will not fund requests for

• sporting clubs
• any profit-making entities - all organisations must be not-for profit or charities
• equipment that may be used for personal and professional reasons such as mobile phones or laptops
• funding of start-ups or operating costs of entities
• staff salaries and benefits
• Healthcare professional honorariums or travel costs. HCPs must apply directly to AbbVie for support through the individual funding process
• capital, infrastructure or operating expenses such as office equipment, furniture, or facilities modifications.
• events that are lavish or associated with sporting or recreational activities such as golf days, football matches or musical events.
• underwriting a commercial business or generate income for a practice or institution.

In the spirit of their guiding philosophy of Kyosei – living and working together for the common good – over the last 19 years, Canon Oceania has supported over 120 schools, not-for- profits and community groups with over $600,000 in monetary and product support.

This year, the Canon Oceania Grants Program returns to support four more worthy organisations to further their impact.

Community Grant valued at AU $5,000
Open to any group or organisation that has a positive impact on communities, cultural and societal causes. The winner will receive $2,500 cash, and Canon Product valued up to $2,500.

Education Grant valued at AU $5,000
Open to any project run by a primary, secondary, or tertiary school/educational institution. The winner will receive $2,500 cash, and Canon Product valued up to $2,500.

Environment Grant valued at AU $5,000
Open to any group or organisation that supports and protects the environmental sustainability of the community. The winner will receive $2,500 cash, and Canon Product valued up to $2,500.

First Nations Grant valued at AU $5,000
Open to any group or organisation that will have a positive impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and/or community. The winner will receive $2,500 cash, and Canon Product valued up to $2,500.

Backing the Future gives 20 individuals or groups of individuals* across NSW and QLD $50,000 to advance an idea to support rural and regional young people aged 12-30 to:

• Access Decent Work; or
• Care for the Environment; or
• Contribute to Society; or
• Explore Christian Faith and Values.

Backing the future is delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR). Each year, VFFF and FRRR will open applications for both a NSW and QLD round. 

They are eager to support early-stage work that might not otherwise be eligible for philanthropic funding. For this reason, Backing the Future does not accept applications from registered charities or organisations.

Other exclusions include: individuals seeking support for scholarships, public fundraising appeals, disaster appeals, political projects, litigation and/or political lobby groups.

* Groups of individuals will need to nominate one primary applicant to undergo the selection process and lead the project.

The Regional Australia Bank prides itself on operating at the heart of their community, providing essential support to community groups each year as part of their Community Support Program. Any community group is able to apply for support in the form of sponsorship, with applications opening on 1 July and closing 31 July each year ("Application Period")

The primary objective of community support is to benefit communities whilst keeping Regional Australia Bank engaged with them, facilitating a closer relationship that allows Regional Australia Bank to play a key role as champions for regional prosperity.

Sponsorships are assessed in accordance with the Community Support Policy and should fall into one of the following categories:

• Arts;
• Community activities (e.g. festivals & fairs);
• Education or employment related activities;
• Environmental;
• Health;
• Indigenous/cultural; or
• Sporting.

To be considered for Regional Australia Bank’s Community Support Program, your event or project should:

• Provide benefits for the local community;
• Be of interest to Regional Australia Bank members;
• Be local to the Regional Australia Bank’s areas of business;
• Be for groups which share the values of Integrity, Respect, and Fairness or exhibit similar behaviours of being flexible, supportive, approachable and friendly;
• Provide a means to reach Regional Australia Bank’s target audience;
• Provide the Regional Australia Bank with media, promotional and signage opportunities;
• Guarantee that no Regional Australia Bank competitor will be principal supporters of the activity (this includes all financial service providers);
• Be hosted by a committee or organisation willing to consider bringing their banking to Regional Australia Bank. Priority will be given to those organisations that have done so;
• For larger sponsorships, allow Regional Australia Bank to develop and implement an effective marketing communications program tailored specifically to the event or project; and
• For larger sponsorships, allow Regional Australia Bank to share the successes at the conclusion of the event or project.

A Community Support Application Form can be found on the Regional Australia Bank website or you can pick one up from your local branch. The form is used to obtain the information required to assess the application. Although  applications are accepted throughout the year, community groups are encouraged to submit applications in Application Period.

Whitehaven Coal takes great pride in our long-standing links with local communities, and are pleased to support a range of charities and community organisations.

Following community feedback, they’ve developed an approach to community investment that is structured and open and involves community representatives in the funding allocation process.

They provide support to initiatives across:

• Economic prosperity and resilience – town liveability, community services, facilities and infrastructure
• Environment – climate, environment and water (supply, drought and water treatment)
• Education, training and employment, – jobs for locals, upskilling, future of work, career pathways for local youth
• Community health and wellbeing – through services, availability of staff and liveability
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement – support and promote initiatives that collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, managed via our WHC Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

The Sisters of Charity Foundation provides charity grants of up to $15,000 to organisations that use clever ways to fight poverty, loneliness, suffering and oppression, but struggle to find funding.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation favours programs that:

• restore hope and build dignity
• fall between the cracks of other funding sources
• are not associated with well established organisations with significant reserves and or are not capable of raising their own funds
• are not eligible for funding from government or other sources.

IMPORTANT: from 2025 onwards, the Sisters of Charity Foundation will hold one grant round each year. This annual grant round will open mid-year.

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 Local Para Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international championships for athletes with a disability.

If successful, applicants will receive $750-$1000 towards the cost of attending their championships

• Base Grant: $750
• Applicants travelling 800km - 1999km to their nominated championships: + $100
• Applicants travelling internationally or greater than 2000km to their nominated championships: + $200
• Applicants residing in a rural electorate: + $50

This program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.

Between $500 and $750 is available towards the cost of attending their championships as follows:.

• Base Grant: $500
• Applicants travelling 800km - 1999km to their nominated championships: + $100
• Applicants travelling internationally or greater than 2000km to their nominated championships: + $200
• Applicants residing in a rural electorate: + $50

ANZ Seeds of Renewal is a small grants program designed to help build vibrant and sustainable rural communities, to ensure the ongoing prosperity of regional Australia.

The program demonstrates ANZ’s ongoing commitment to shape a world where people and communities thrive. It is built on two key tenets:

• Vibrant communities are diverse and inclusive with strong social capital, where everyone can participate and build a better life; and

• Sustainable communities innovate, expand, and create opportunities that will deliver demonstrable medium to long-term economic benefit to the community, contributing to economic sustainability.

 Who can apply?

Applications are invited from not-for-profit, community based organisations (with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate), including social enterprises, who will deliver projects with a demonstrable medium to long term benefit to a regional community of 15,000 people or less.

The 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 close on Friday 31 July 2025‍
• Recipients will be notified in October 2025‍
• Recipients will be announced November 2025‍
• Previous recipients will not be able to apply for 2025 grants
• Funds are to be spent by 1 March 2026
• 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.

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 close on Friday 31 July 2025‍
• Recipients will be notified in October 2025‍
• Recipients will be announced November 2025‍
• Previous recipients will not be able to apply for 2025 grants
• Funds are to be spent by 1 March 2026
• 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 Pathway to Paralympic grant is for aspiring Paralympians. This grant will help support two potential Paralympians with Paralympic-level performance and assist in the additional costs incurred.

The grants cover the cost of new and upgraded equipment, international competition, additional coaching support and travel (particularly where travel with equipment or a carer/guide is required). Applicants need to provide a written endorsement from their State or National Federation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Recipient must have achieved state or national representation in their sport, and state their plans or intentions to qualify for the next Paralympic or International competition
• Registered with a Sporting Club or intends to use the funds join a Sporting Club
• The applicant will need to provide a written endorsement from their State or National federation
• Applications close on Friday 31 July 2025
• Recipients will be notified in October 2025
• Recipients will be announced November 2025
• Previous recipients will not be able to apply for 2025 grants
• Funds are to be spent by 1 March 2026
• 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 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 2025‍
• Recipients will be notified in October 2025‍
• Recipients will be announced November 2025‍
• Previous recipients will not be able to apply for 2025 grants
• Funds are to be spent by 1 March 2026
• 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

This grant opportunity seeks to ensure that all Australian’s living with cancer have access to high-quality and culturally safe support throughout their cancer experience. Acknowledging the existing national cancer screening programs and funding provided for more commonly diagnosed cancers, this grant opportunity will prioritise activities that focus on increasing equity across tumour types and/or priority populations. 

The Cancer Patient Support Program (the Program) will support, one-off, time-limited activities that provide national leadership on emerging priorities across the cancer control continuum. 

Assessment and notification of outcomes will be divided into three Submission Periods during the life of this Program. Each Submission Period will include assessment of applications that have been submitted to the grant opportunity over the preceding Submission Period. 

• Submission Period 1 will contain all applications submitted to the grant opportunity between the opening date and 2:00pm AEST on 14 May 2024.
• Submission Period 2 will contain all applications submitted to the grant opportunity between 2:01pm AEST on 14 May 2024 and 2:00pm AEST on 18 September 2024.
• Submission Period 3 will contain all applications submitted to the grant opportunity between 2:01pm AEST on 18 September 2024 and 2:00pm AEST on 1 August 2025. 

To be eligible you must be one of the following:

• Indigenous Corporation (registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006)
• a registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
• Cancer advocacy groups
• Community Organisations
• Company
• Cooperative
• Incorporated Association
• Statutory Entity, or
• Partnership.

To be eligible, your grant activity must be for a project that will provide improved outcomes for Australian’s living with cancer. Your activity should:

• provide access to high-quality and culturally safe resources and/or care throughout the cancer experience, where applicable;
• be supported by evidence to align with a priority population group and/or increasing equity across tumour types;
• align with the strategic objectives as identified in the Australia Cancer Plan and/or the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Plan; and
• demonstrate national applicability.

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 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

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

In 2025, The Next Chapter will select a group of ten writers and provide each of them with a stipend of $15,000, a handpicked mentor to work closely with them on bringing their writing to life and opportunities 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 ten writers selected, there will be one fellowship place dedicated specifically to a humour writer, The John Clarke Fellowship, and one fellowship place dedicated to a poet, The Malcolm Robertson Fellowship.