Search Grants & Funding

In March 2025, Bunnings launched the Green Shoots Program to contribute $1 million in grants over five years to support Australian and New Zealand growers.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to help growers access confidential business development services from industry experts so they can build and refine their commercial skills. Grant opportunities are also available for financial relief in times of crisis.

Capability Building Grant

A Capability Building Grant gives you access to confidential business development courses delivered by experienced third-party industry experts. The courses are practical and adaptable, so you can focus on what’s most relevant to you and your business. Courses under this first round of funding will be facilitated by the Australian Institute of Management (AIM).

Crisis Relief Grant

Whether it’s an extreme weather event, a bushfire or another unexpected disaster—it can put real strain on your business and team. A Crisis Relief Grant offers you a helping hand when you need it most, providing short-term financial relief during those tough times that materially or severely disrupt your business operations.

The ILA Program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians to express, conserve and maintain their cultures through Indigenous languages and arts activities. Grant funding allocated through the ILA Program supports activities that:

• Conserve, revitalise and sustain Indigenous languages and
• Create, promote and celebrate Indigenous community-based arts activities.

 To be eligible for an ILA program grant, your organisation must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered for the purposes of GST - if your business has a gross annual income minus GST of $75,000 (or $150,000 for non-profit organisations)
• have an account with an Australian financial institution

• be one of the following entity types:
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 and are compliant with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission’s (ASIC) requirements regarding director ID numbers
  • a Commonwealth or State or Territory government corporate entity
  • a company incorporated in Australia
  • a company limited by guarantee
  • an incorporated association
  • a not-for-profit organisation
  • a partnership (as defined in the Glossary)
  • a joint (consortia) application with a lead organisation
  • a publicly funded research organisation
  • a State or Territory local government council

Community Project Funding aims to provide local organisations and charities with the financial support they need to expand their reach and deepen their impact. If your organisation works in one of the priority areas, this is your chance to make a bigger difference.

All submissions must meet all three core criteria and address at least one of the priority funding areas listed below:

1. Impact - Genuine and clear impact shown to improve/support women’s mental health in Australia.

2. Reportability - The outcome achieved should be succinctly reported and easily communicated to the wider community.

3. Awareness & reach - The project has the potential to reach wider networks to promote the outcome achieved to bring further awareness around women’s mental health.

These priority areas were identified through our 2025 Women's Mental Health Research, highlighting critical opportunities to deliver meaningful change for these specific groups of women across Australia.

1. Women’s Physical Health Conditions

2. Women in Key Life Stages and Transitions

Application Requirements:

• The organisation must be an ACNC registered non-profit, based in Australia with DGR status. Auspicing is not accepted.
• Applications for the 2025-26 funding pool must be received in full by 5pm, 5th March 2026.
• Applications must meet all three core criteria and address at least one of the priority funding areas.
• Applications must be submitted online.
• Detailed budgets are required as part of the Application. Only expenses that are essential to ensuring an initiative or project can occur will be considered for funding.

Other Information:

• Access to funding is not guaranteed and applications undergo a competitive and rigorous process before being accepted.
• Only shortlisted and successful organisations will be contacted.
• Applications for Research Funding are no longer accepted, as they have fulfilled these ongoing commitments with Research and Educational Institutions.

The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund supports leading Australian creative organisations and key industry stakeholders with grants to create and deliver exceptional opportunities for Australian writers, journalists, editors, publishers, English and literacy teachers, and visual artists, and especially for those from First Nations and diverse backgrounds.

The Cultural Fund’s priorities are:

• Commissions and paid opportunities for writers and visual artists through audience development projects
• Targeted leadership and sector development projects for the writing, publishing and visual arts sectors
• To complement Reading Australia, we are interested in supporting targeted writers-in-schools programs for Australian writers whose work is featured on Reading Australia or is used in the classroom

The Cultural Fund will consider applications for the following projects:

Audience Development

• Audience and reader development projects
• Payments to creative writers published in literary magazines and journals
• Reviews of new Australian books in national publications
• Projects connecting teachers with Australian Literature
• Writers/artists-in-residence/schools/universities
• Literacy-based projects for children involving professional writers
• Significant national writers’ awards for payments to writers (excluding prizes offered by publishers and literary journals)
• Publishing commissions to write new work by First Nations and culturally diverse authors
• Commissions for visual artists to create new work and whose work will be exhibited in galleries or institutions in Australia

Sector Development

• Publishing industry – leadership initiatives and opportunities for First Nations and diverse editors, publishers and journalists
• Visual arts sector – leadership and policy development and opportunities for First Nations and diverse curators at galleries and cultural institutions

This excludes visual arts publishing, mentorships and professional development.

Who can apply

• Legally constituted Australian organisations and incorporated associations may apply
• If applying as a University, only one application from the University may be submitted per round. You must confirm this before applying.
• Applicants may submit only one application per round to the Cultural Fund
• Applicants must have acquitted any overdue Cultural Fund grants to be eligible to apply for further funding

The Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund supports leading Australian creative organisations and key industry stakeholders with grants to create and deliver exceptional opportunities for Australian writers, journalists, editors, publishers, English and literacy teachers, and visual artists, and especially for those from First Nations and diverse backgrounds.

The Cultural Fund’s priorities are:

• Commissions and paid opportunities for writers and visual artists through audience development projects
• Targeted leadership and sector development projects for the writing, publishing and visual arts sectors
• To complement Reading Australia, we are interested in supporting targeted writers-in-schools programs for Australian writers whose work is featured on Reading Australia or is used in the classroom

The Cultural Fund will consider applications for the following projects:

Audience Development

• Audience and reader development projects
• Payments to creative writers published in literary magazines and journals
• Reviews of new Australian books in national publications
• Projects connecting teachers with Australian Literature
• Writers/artists-in-residence/schools/universities
• Literacy-based projects for children involving professional writers
• Significant national writers’ awards for payments to writers (excluding prizes offered by publishers and literary journals)
• Publishing commissions to write new work by First Nations and culturally diverse authors
• Commissions for visual artists to create new work and whose work will be exhibited in galleries or institutions in Australia

Sector Development

• Publishing industry – leadership initiatives and opportunities for First Nations and diverse editors, publishers and journalists
• Visual arts sector – leadership and policy development and opportunities for First Nations and diverse curators at galleries and cultural institutions

This excludes visual arts publishing, mentorships and professional development.

Who can apply

• Legally constituted Australian organisations and incorporated associations may apply
• If applying as a University, only one application from the University may be submitted per round. You must confirm this before applying.
• Applicants may submit only one application per round to the Cultural Fund
• Applicants must have acquitted any overdue Cultural Fund grants to be eligible to apply for further funding

Lesbians Incorporated has established a community grants program to give out up to $5,000 in grants per successful application for 2026. 

To be eligible for funding, projects must demonstrate that they:

• meet an identified social, cultural, educational, health, welfare, recreational, personal development or legal need of the lesbian community;
• target discrimination against lesbians and/or aim to improve the civil rights and/or status of lesbians within the general community;
• aim to improve the access of lesbians to programs, services, activities and opportunities available to the general community;
• aim to increase the vocational training and/or employment opportunities of lesbians.

Projects may aim to benefit the lesbian community in general or one or more groups within the lesbian community. Groups may be racial, cultural, or geographic, or may have specific identified needs or shared interests and concerns. LInc considers the children of lesbians as part of the lesbian community.

Who May Apply?

Individual lesbians or lesbian-based/lesbian-friendly non-profit organisations from throughout Australia are eligible to apply for funds. LInc is an inclusive organisation and supports those who identify as women, wom*n, trans-femme and femme identifying, or non-binary and all are welcome to apply for a grant. Projects creating and supporting spaces for lesbians, dykes, gay, bisexual, gender diverse, asexual and queer women are encouraged.

Lesbians Inc, grants are not available to assist businesses. If you are a sole trader/business and have an idea for a project, you may apply as long as the project shows a clear benefit to the LGBTQ+ community. Applicants will need to demonstrate expertise or experience relevant to the project.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects reflect the objectives of the Community Grants Program and fall within a category appropriate to the funding program. Categories are:

• Literary, visual or performing arts activities or functions
• Social functions
• Classes or workshops
• Production of information or resources for educational or promotional purposes
• Support groups or services
• Advisory services
• Sporting and recreational activities or functions
• Other appropriate activities or services approved by LInc

If you do not qualify for legal aid from a legal aid commission and cannot pay for your legal costs, you may be able to get help through a Commonwealth legal financial assistance scheme.

Help can be provided for the payment of costs for certificates issued by federal courts under the Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981.

Some schemes provide legal representation costs and disbursements. Some schemes are limited to disbursements only. Disbursements are costs your legal representative incurs while acting for you such as obtaining reports, court transcripts and expert opinions.

They will not usually provide legal financial assistance:

• if you can meet your legal costs without incurring serious financial difficulty
• for costs incurred before you apply, unless the scheme allows for reimbursement.

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.

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 NSDP is a competitive grants programme and applications are open to all Men’s Sheds across Australia regardless of location or AMSA membership.

The NSDP provides direct financial assistance to address the health and wellbeing of the shed members within the shed environment; support health education for shed members, deliver appropriate activities and programmes, improve facilities and the sustainability of Men’s Sheds across Australia.

To reflect Government policy, priority is given to:

• those Sheds in areas of greatest need e.g. regional, rural and remote and those that engage and meet the needs of members from the designated Priority Groups
• applications requesting events/improvements/equipment with a strong health, wellbeing or safety emphasis, in acknowledgement of the impact of COVID-19 and the needs of sheds in the recovery period (and beyond).
• IT equipment and training to facilitate connectivity.
• Defibrillators

Individual Men’s Sheds in Australia can apply for a range of financial support across the following five funding categories:

1. Health and Wellbeing and Events-up to a maximum of $8000-assistance with costs incurred for the delivery of men’s health screening programmes, activities that advance health and well-being of their male members, costs to attend health focussed events and education programmes, planning and delivery of regional Men’s Health events, health and safety equipment and resources
2. Shed Improvements up to a maximum of $8000– funding to be used for improvements, modifications or refurbishment to an existing building or space to allow for the operation of the Men’s Shed. PLEASE NOTE: the building of a new Men’s Shed is not supported under this Programme.
3. Tools and Equipment – $5,000 maximum -the priority focus in Category Three is providing financial support to new Men’s Sheds (less than 2 years old) and those Men’s Sheds that can who can clearly demonstrate a high need.
4. Mental health and wellbeing and events – $8000 maximum-assistance with costs incurred for the delivery of men’s Mental health activities that advance health and well-being of their male members, costs to attend events and education programmes, planning and delivery of regional Men’s Mental Health events, equipment and resources.
5. Automated External Defibrillators – $2,250 maximum- Men’s Sheds are eligible for funding to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator, where either: the Shed does not currently have a working defibrillator on its premises; or it has a defibrillator that was purchased prior to 2016 (hence is older than 6 years). Applicants that currently have a defibrillator can also apply for replacement batteries and pads that are not under warranty.

For over twenty years, the Community Grants program has supported and empowered communities at the margins of Australian society by walking alongside community-based organisations to improve lives through education in all its forms.

The 2026 round of the Community Grants Program will support two streams of funding:

Stream 1: Open ONLY to Sisters of Saint Joseph (SOSJ) and associated entities.

• This will be a competitive process with the stated eligibility criteria applicable to the SOSJ and associated entities who wish to apply.
• $50,000 AUD in grant money allocated for Stream 1.

Stream 2: Open to ALL applicants who meet the eligibility criteria (SOSJ and associated entities not eligible to apply under this Stream).

• This will be a competitive process with the stated eligibility criteria applicable to all organisations applying under this Stream.

Backing the Future is a unique philanthropic initiative from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) that recognises the power of passionate individuals to drive meaningful change for young people in rural and regional communities.

Each year the program offers up to 10 grants of $50,000 to individuals or groups of individuals in both QLD and NSW. These grants enable recipients to develop and test early-stage ideas that support young people aged 12-30 in one or more of the following areas:

• Access decent work;
• Care for the environment;
• Contribute to society; or
• Explore Christian faith and values.

The program was designed in response to feedback from VFFF’s current innovators and changemakers, who shared that the most difficult part of their impact journey was securing initial support. Backing the Future addresses this challenge by reducing the red tape often associated with grant funding and instead creating space for individuals to explore new ideas and discover what they can achieve.

The Circular Fashion Fund is to help fashion businesses scale up sustainable ideas. It aims at supporting businesses who offer circular fashion solutions by offering a $50K (USD) grant to eight businesses selected as Circular Fashion Fund finalists. Additionally, eBay Ventures is offering an opportunity to receive an additional $300K (USD) investment for one business selected as the Circular Fashion Fund Global Winner.

This annual program, first launched in 2022, has already partnered with over 25 incredible businesses, helping them tackle the fashion industry’s environmental footprint, from production to end-of-life.

• Financial backing: Get the resources you need to bring your sustainable fashion ideas to life
• Brand growth: Build your reputation and get noticed as a leader in sustainability
• Mentoring: Finalists will have access to investor workshops and mentoring to help make their circular fashion dreams a reality

Who should apply?

Fashion businesses and startups that:

• Focus on solutions that keep clothing and accessories in use longer, unlock more items into circular flows and reduce waste
• Have sustainable practices in place or a clear plan to start them
• Are ready with a growth strategy that could benefit from our funding and partnership
• Build circular fashion solutions that align with eBay’s fashion business

Application assessment criteria

Applications will be reviewed based on the following areas:

• Ability to leverage emerging technologies to create products or services which advance fashion's circular economy
• A unique value proposition that has game-changing advantages over other alternatives
• A commercially viable and economically desirable business model
• The business not only addresses a need but also solves a problem
• The business has an immediate and long-term impact on people and the planet
• Quality and completeness of the application form
• The business solution aligns with our fashion business

The Mercy Foundation’s Social Justice Small Grants Program provides seed funding to assist communities and organisations to build capacity that will help create structural change and bring about greater social justice in Australia.

Projects that focus on bringing about greater inclusion for marginalised groups will be prioritised. 

Priority will be given to small organisations and those groups that receive no other funding.

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.