Search Grants & Funding

In 2025, ten diverse project categories will shine a light on heritage excellence in the conservation, protection, and interpretation of NSW’s Aboriginal, built, natural and cultural heritage.

Organisations, councils, government departments, community groups and individuals from right around the state are encouraged to share heritage projects big and small for recognition.

Previous entries have included transformations of historic buildings, conservation of timeless treasures, impactful events and advocacy campaigns, public art installations, historical publications, and many more.

Categories:

Aboriginal - For projects that seek to promote understanding, appreciation, conservation and/or awareness of Aboriginal heritage.

Architecture - For projects which are sympathetic to the heritage significance of a place or complement and utilise existing built heritage, including adaptive reuse or new work in historic contexts.

Advocacy - To recognise the commitment of a community group and/or individual who have pursued the protection and conservation of key heritage places, items or objects.

Built Conservation - For projects that relate to conservation of our built heritage including capital works and repair. Such projects may include buildings, structures or sites. Awarded to one large and one small project.

Enduring - NEW! - This recognises ongoing care and conservation across time. Includes evidence of regular maintenance using appropriate materials and techniques or the ongoing conservation of heritage (built, natural or cultural).

Interiors and Objects - For projects that relate to the conservation of historic interiors and objects. Movable heritage and collections may be included.

Landscape - For projects that relate to the conservation, care and promotion of our landscape heritage. This may include natural, urban and cultural landscapes.

Education and Interpretation - For projects that serve to educate about or interpret our heritage in an engaging way. This may include curriculum-based educational projects and resources, and specific interpretation projects relating to a place or item.

Events, Exhibitions and Tours - For events, exhibitions and tours which emphasise and promote education, interpretation and community engagement in heritage.

Resources and Publications - For any public facing resource or publication that promotes the conservation of our heritage. This may include books, research, websites, archaeological resources, heritage guidelines, fact sheets, field guides and heritage studies, both in print and online.

To be eligible for entry, projects must have been completed (or will be completed) between 1 March 2024 – 31 March 2025*.

*Timeframe not applicable to the ‘Enduring’ category which highlights ongoing or long-term conservation/care.

A singular project can be entered separately in multiple categories. The entry fee per category entry is $85 for an individual, community group or charity, and $230 for a business or government organisation. Entrants must be a National Trust member. A discounted membership ($100) can be added to your cart at the time of entry submission.

Individual Awards

Individual awards are free to enter. Three peer-nominated categories will be recognised in 2025:

Lifetime Achievement - For an individual who has dedicated their career to the conservation, promotion and protection of New South Wales' heritage.

Heritage Skills - For an individual who has demonstrated the long-term application of craft skills that have been key in heritage conservation.

Young Achiever - For individuals aged 35 years and under who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to heritage excellence.

Narrabri Shire Council’s Community Financial Assistance Grant supports the delivery of projects and activities that pursue their values of a connected, unique, and culturally rich community.  The Community Financial Assistance Grant aims to support and empower local clubs and not-for-profit community organisations to deliver activities, programs, and events that contribute to the economic, infrastructure, social connections, and vibrancy of Narrabri Shire.

The Community Financial Assistance Grant is designed to assist our community’s development, provide funding for capacity-building events, projects, programs, and activities that benefit the people and the Shire.

The financial support offered through Council’s Community Financial Assistance Grant seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• Increase the range of, and access to, recreational, social, cultural, and environmental activities, programs, and services to the people of Narrabri Shire.
• Encourage a sense of community pride that allow communities to promote their towns and villages through promotional activities.
• Reflect the community’s priorities and vision
• Provide for the inclusion and participation of all members of the community that enable vulnerable individuals and groups to participate in local activities and opportunities.
• Foster community partnerships and encourage cooperation between community groups, organisations, and Council to ensure that residents and organisations benefit from common resources.
• Promote Narrabri Shire as a vibrant, diverse place to live and visit.

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)

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)

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)

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)

Participation Grants (previously known as CEO Grants) provide up to $15,000 to enable residential or small business consumer advocacy by participation in current or forthcoming government, regulatory, or industry decision-making processes, or for small, targeted research projects.

They will support and accommodate advocates engagement and decision making in:

• government;
• regulatory and policy reviews; and
• the energy sector as a whole.

Examples of activities that may be funded include:

• engaging a consultant to provide technical or specialist expertise for a submission;
• undertaking research;
• undertaking workshops; and
• funding for reasonable travel costs (flights, accommodation, transfers) to engage in government, regulatory and industry forums relating to that process, and where video conferencing is not provided.

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.

This grant program is aimed at organisations or partnerships that are already undertaking primary prevention of family, domestic, and sexual violence in local, place-based settings. This grant is designed to support community-led, three-year initiatives with clear and actionable delivery plans across metro, rural, and regional NSW that engage a range of different communities and marginalised cohorts.

All applicants are required to meet the following eligibility criteria:

be an eligible legal entity located in NSW, including:

• Local government organisations, including:
  • NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993 (LG Act)
  • Joint Organisations (s400O of the LG Act)
  • County Councils (s383 of the LG Act)
  • Regional Organisations of Councils (which are voluntary groupings of councils).
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) – these Applicants will be required to provide documentation to support their ACCO status
• Incorporated organisation registered and approved as a not-for-profit body by NSW Fair Trading. Not-for-profit organisations will be considered eligible, if they are:
  • incorporated organisations that are registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading
  • not-for profit companies limited by guarantee, registered in NSW (must have ACNC registration and/or DGR status)
  • Indigenous Corporations (must be registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
  • NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils
  • religious organisations operating in NSW
  • NSW non-government organisations established under their own Act of Parliament.
• be able to enter into a grant funding agreement with Department of Communities and Justice
• have an Australian bank account
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• have appropriate insurance; this must include but is not limited to a minimum of $10 million Public Liability Insurance
• address the NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions (included in this template),

This is a great opportunity for emerging filmmakers (writers and directors) to launch their careers and for mid-career producers to gain further practical experience, producing a short film in the Romantic Comedy genre, and grow their slate with at least one pitch-ready film (not the short film) to take to both local and international markets. 

Proper Loved Up is a new program combining previous short film and producer initiatives. This will enable practical experience for the producer, gaining knowledge in story, development, business, drama production and local & global markets. 

This quick response funding program is designed for domestic and international touring and travel activity for NSW contemporary music artists, acts and music industry professionals.

Funding can support domestic and international travel and accommodation costs for:

Artists and Acts

• tours by artists and acts performing new and original contemporary music
• performance at significant contemporary music industry events by artists and acts performing new and original contemporary music
• professional development opportunities including attendance at events, workshops, camps, mentorships and residencies.

Funding can support up to six people per touring party. This includes the artists and a maximum of two people with roles that support the artists to undertake the tour. These support roles include:     

• one operational crew member (e.g. tour manager or key technical production crew)      
• one support person for people with disability, family or cultural needs.

Sound NSW may consider supporting travel and accommodation costs for more than six people for larger groups or those with additional support needs. Please speak to Sound NSW staff for further advice.

Music Industry Professionals

• music industry professionals working in contemporary music to attend professional development opportunities, significant music industry events and/or identified business opportunities.

This program is open all year for applications, with monthly assessment meetings. Applications submitted by 12pm on the last Friday of each month (excluding December) will be grouped together for assessment. Applicants will be notified of the decision within 4 weeks of this date. 

Please see the frequently asked questions for a list of submission dates and activity start dates here.

Sound NSW may consider supporting applications outside this schedule for exceptional international opportunities (excluding tours). Please speak to Sound NSW staff for further advice.

This funding aims to:      

• increase performance opportunities for NSW artists     
• support NSW artists and industry professionals to have a national and global presence     
• strengthen the live music ecosystem     
• grow music audiences for NSW artists. 

The Youth Empowerment Program will provide funding of $28.377 million to organisations for programs for youth aged 10 to 17 who are engaged in, or at-risk of becoming engaged in, criminal and/or anti-social behaviour. It is expected that activities will be aimed at the participation of young people at-risk aged between 10 to17 to reduce the incidence of low-level engagement in criminal activity and decrease recidivism rates.

The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:

• provide alternative pathways for young people who are at risk of being engaged in criminal and/or anti-social behaviour
• enable young people at-risk to break patterns of recidivism and cyclical engagement in criminal activity
• help young people at-risk to develop life skills to prevent them from becoming entrenched in the criminal justice system, to promote inclusion, build community resilience and strengthen family support structures.

The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are:

• improved engagement of young people at-risk in education, work ready programs and the community more generally
• decrease anti-social behaviour or engagement in criminal activity and an increase in positive community and family engagement
• reduce the incidence of low-level engagement in criminal activity by young offenders and decrease recidivism rates among the same cohort.

You can apply if you:

• have an Australian business number (ABN)
• have an account with an Australian financial institution

And are one of the following entities:

• an incorporated association
• an incorporated not-for-profit organisation.

You will also be required to provide a letter from your board or governing committee (or CEO if there is no board or committee) that confirms that your organisation delivers or has delivered programs that engage young people at-risk of engaging in crime or anti-social behaviour.

Partner with other organisations - Joint applications are acceptable, provided you have a lead organisation who is the main driver of the project and is eligible to apply.

Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 is available through annual grant rounds to help eligible not-for-profit organisations support and increase participation in volunteering. 

Funding can be used to:  

• purchase communication and insurance items and/or services for all volunteers 
• purchase specified items and/or services for the main purpose of supporting volunteers under the age of 18 or adult volunteers supporting children 
• purchase specified items and/or services to support volunteer run activities for the main purpose of supporting children or parents/carers to support a child’s development. 

93.5% of Australian registered nonprofits say they need assistance with digital marketing strategies and more than 50% still cannot accept donations online. These numbers are highly alarming considering the rapid change in donor demographics, the phasing out of Cheques by 2030 and the use of cash declining by 50% from 2019 - 2022.

Considering these statistics, The Little Phil Foundation has decided to assist Australian charities with two types of grants to aid with the transition to digital giving and increase supporter engagement. 

Grant Option 1 - Digital Marketing and Fundraising Boost (Valued at up to $30,000)
For organisations who are wishing to invest in building their digital supporters and preparing their organisation for the future of digital fundraising.

Grant Option 2 - Digital Giving & Marketing DIY (Valued at up to $2,380)
For organisations who are looking to adopt digital tools and technology that will assist their team and volunteers with implementing digital fundraising and marketing initiatives.

The Hatch: Taronga Accelerator Program is designed to help ecopreneurs take their idea from vision to reality. If you are a not-for-profit, startup or social enterprise founder with a venture that will drive positive change for wildlife, biodiversity and the environment, then we are here to support you.

Hatch have an amazing network of mentors and experts who can help you bring your vision to life and reach your goals sooner. And at the end of the program one team will receive the $50,000 Hatch Grant!