Community Funding Opportunities and Award Programs Newsletter

Welcome to our Community Funding Opportunities and Awards Program Newsletter where you will find details of grant and funding programs that are available for the Northern Inland Region for community based projects and social enterprises.

Due to the number of grants that are available, we send two funding opportunities newsletters a month; one for Business and Infrastructure and another for Community Projects and Award Programs. These newsletters are a free service that we provide, and can you can add the Business and Infrastructure Grants newsletter to your subscriptions by filling your details into the subscription form in the footer of our website: www.rdani.org.au

We wish you all the best with the Funding Opportunities below and if you are looking for a grant between newsletters, have a look at the grants area of our website which is updated weekly: www.rdani.org.au/our-region/grants-and-funding-opportunities.php

If you need some facts and figures for your applications, a range of data for our region is also available on our website here: www.rdani.org.au/our-region/regional-data.php

Please note the below information is intended as a guide only. Closing dates and other details should be verified using the links provided as they are subject to change by the providers without notice.

Featured Grants

Heywire Youth Innovation Grants - 2023
Closes: 7th of June 2023
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal

FRRR and their donor partners collaborate with ABC Heywire to help communities take action on the ideas generated by young Australians who attend the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit.

You can apply for a grant to adopt, adapt or respond to a project idea to address one of the follwing issues in a way that works for young people in your community:

• Boredom Relief
• Easy Access
• Homefrown Hub
• Idea 4 Change
• Hear Our Voices
• We Are Not Alone

Community Child Care Fund - Establishing Child Care in Limited Supply Areas
Closes: 8th of June 2023
Value: Up to $900,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education

The Australian Government is inviting applications from Child Care Subsidy approved providers to set up new centre based day care and family day care services under this Grant Opportunity. 

The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:

• assist eligible providers to establish new early childhood services in disadvantaged regional and remote areas of Australia where there is an absence, or limited supply, of approved centre based day care (CBDC) or family day care (FDC) services (see Glossary)
• support new services to build capacity and operate sustainably under the ECEC system
• support new services to increase access to early childhood education and enable local workforce participation.

Community Choices Program - 2023
Opens: 31st of May 2023 - 9:00 am
Closes: 26th of June 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1,250 to $5,000
Run By: Essential Energy

Essential Energy’s Community Choices program provides an opportunity for customers to nominate and vote for community groups, community halls, not-for-profit and registered charities, in their network area, that could benefit from a funding boost. In 2023, funding has been increased to $250,000 with awards based on community votes. Funding will be shared across 20 zones.

Each zone will be eligible for $12,500 to be distributed to four recipients.

Deaf Children Australia - Youth Grants
Closes: 27th of June 2023
Value: Up to $2,500
Run By: Deaf Children Australia

Youth aged 12 to 23 years of age that are deaf or hard of hearing are encouraged to share their stories and dream big with grants to help reach their goal. Last year these grants helped people acheive a wide variety of goals covering sports, purchasing equipment, launching an online business, interstate travel and much more.

Projects can be based on:

• Personal development
• Deaf community and Culture
• Leadership Challenges
• Education
• Representing local, state or national teams
• Life Experience

Award Programs

ICM Agrifood Award for Excellence in Agrifood
Closes: 29th of May 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $5,000
Run By: Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)
Recognises  two early career scientists or technologists for their work in a field critical to continued improvement of the overall Australian food sector in the past five years.

Australian Training Awards - 2023
Closes: 31st of May 2023
Run By: Australian Government
National awards that showcase best practice in vocational education and training.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scientist Award - 2024
Closes: 1st of June 2023
Value: Up to $20,000
Run By: Australian Academy of Science
Recognises research in the physical and biological sciences by outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Resilient Australia Awards - 2023
Closes: 5th of June 2023
Run By: Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
Recognises a wide range of initiatives with past projects centred on risk assessment and mitigation, mental health and wellbeing, education, training and research, and community engagement, as well as response and recovery.

Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards - 2023
Closes: 27th of June 2023
Run By: Australian Institute of Criminology
Recognises programs that reduce crime and violence that may address specific groups such as rural and remote communities, women, children, youth, family, migrant, ethnic or Indigenous communities, or specific problems such as alcohol-related violence.

Community Achievement Awards
Opens: 14th of June 2023
Closes: 24th of August 2023
Run By: Awards Australia
Acknowledges the valuable contributions that individuals, communities and businesses make throughout regional and rural NSW & The ACT.

Closing in May

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment
Closes: 28th of May 2023
Value: $400 to $1,000 per adult or child
Run By: Australian Government
A one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by the floods in New South Wales.

Preventing Tech-based Abuse of Women Grants Program - Round 1
Closes: 29th of May 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: $80,000 to $500,000
Run By: eSafety Commissioner
Aims to improve the safety of Australian women and their children through the prevention of technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Transport Access Regional Partnerships (TARP) Grants
Closes: 30th of May 2023 or until expended
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Transport for NSW
Supports initiatives to improve services and outcomes for sections of the community that need improved transport.

Community Languages School Grants - Specific Project Grant
Closes: 31st of May 2023
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Provides funding to community language schools to help with professional development.

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital
Current Round Closes: 31st of May 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Provides small rural, regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds that can benefit and help secure their future prosperity.

Strengthening Rural Communities – Prepare & Recover
Closes: 31st of May 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $25,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Supports communities to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term.

Strengthening Rural Communities – Rebuilding Rural Communities - Small Grants
Current Round Closes: 31st of May 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Supports a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that assist communities to recover from and adapt to the impacts of the COVID pandemic.

Closing in June

AFL National Schools Grants Program
Next Round Closes: 2nd of June 2023
Value: Up to $500
Run By: AFL NSW / ACT
A range of supports for schools who wish to take part in AFL experiences.

Sporting Schools - 2023
Next Round Closes: 2nd of June 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1,000 to $3,600
Run By: Australian Sports Commission
Supports the delivery of sport-based programs for primary and year 7 and 8 students to build the confidence and capability to be active for life.

Playing Australia Project Investment
Closes: 6th of June 2023 - 3:00 pm
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Australia Council for the Arts
Supports performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia.

Heywire Youth Innovation Grants - 2023
Closes: 7th of June 2023
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Funding to help communities take action on the ideas generated by young Australians who attend the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit.

In a Good Place - 2023
Closes: 7th of June 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $20,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Supports community-driven projects, services, activities or initiatives, which clearly and directly focus on strengthening mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable community members.

Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program - 2023-24
Closes: 13th of June 2023 - 9:00 pm
Value: Up to $150,000
Run By: Department of Veterans Affairs
Supports projects that commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Gallagher Landcare Electric Fencing Grants
Closes: 15th of June 2023
Value: Up to $8,000
Run By: Landcare
 Support for conservation and biodiversity protection projects aligned with the priority areas of
conservation exclusion/inclusion fencing and riparian protection and farm dam restoration.

Pick Fresh Play Fresh Netball Grants - 2023
Closes: 18th of June 2023
Value: Up to $20,000
Run By: Woolworths
Supports grassroots netball clubs and associations with a Woolworths NetSetGO Centre.

Marking (First World War) Private Graves Grants Program
Closes: 20th of June 2023 - 9:00 pm
Value: Up to $450 per grave
Run By: Department of Veterans Affairs
Funding to contribute to the cost of establishing a grave marker on currently unmarked private graves of WW1 veterans.

Community Choices Program - 2023
Opens: 31st of May 2023 - 9:00 am
Closes: 26th of June 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: $1,250 to $5,000
Run By: Essential Energy
Allows customers to nominate and vote for community groups, community halls, not-for-profit and registered charities, in the network area, that could benefit from a funding boost.

National Carers Week Grants - 2023
Closes: 26th of June 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $300
Run By: Carers Australia NSW
Funding to celebrate and recognise the contribution of family and friend carers in their local communities by holding local events and activities.

Deaf Children Australia - Youth Grants
Closes: 27th of June 2023
Value: Up to $2,500
Run By: Deaf Children Australia
Grants to help youth aged 12 to 23 years of age that are deaf or hard of hearing to help reach their goal.

Back to School Vouchers
Closes: 30th of June 2023
Value: Up to $150
Run By: Service
3 Vouchers per child in a NSW primary or secondary school to pay for school supplies.

Creative Kids Voucher - 2023
Closes: 31st of December 2023
Value: Up to $100
Run By: Service NSW
Voucher to help children in primary and secondary school participate in creative and cultural activities.

Mental Health Week Grants - 2023
Closes: 30th of June 2023
Value: $5,000 to $10,000
Small grants to community groups and organisations to support Mental Health Month projects or events.

St George Foundation - Community Grants - 2023
Closes: 30th of June 2023
Value: Up to $50,000
Run By: St George Foundation
support grassroots projects run by Australian children's charities helping to create brighter futures for children and young people in need.  

Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program - Crisis Fund - 2022-23
Closes: 30th of June 2023
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Supports the maintenance and/or creation of preschool places where there is an immediate and/or urgent need for capital works.

Closing in July

Arts and Disability Initiative - 2022-24
Closes: 4th of July 2023 - 3:00 pm
Value: Up to $30,000
Run By: Australia Council for the Arts
Support for d/Deaf artists or arts workers, or artists or arts workers with disability, seeking to undertake a project or activity to advance their practice, skills or career.

Community War Memorials Fund 2023-24
Closes: 25th of July 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: NSW Department of Veterans Affairs
Fudning to help conserve, repair and protect war memorials across NSW.

Emerging Aviation Technology Partnerships (EATP) Program – Round Two
Closes: 27th of July 2023 - 11:30 pm
Value: Up to $2 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Encourages adoption of emerging aviation technologies (such as drones, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft and new aviation propulsion systems) to address community needs.

Sisters of Charity Foundation Community Grants Program
Runs: Twice a year
Next Round Opens: 8th of July 2023
Next Round Closes: 31st of July 2023
Value: Up to $15,000
Run By: Sisters of Charity Foundation
Supports organisations that use clever ways to fight poverty, loneliness, suffering and oppression, but struggle to find funding.

ARTC Sponsorships and Donations - 2023
Next Round Closes: 31st of July 2023
Value: $1,000 to $4,000
Run By: Australian Rail Track Corporation
Supports the communities that are home to Inland Rail to support short-term or one-off initiatives.

Closing Later

Growing Regions Program - Round 1
Opens: 5th of July 2023
Closes: 1st of August 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: $500,000 to $15 Million
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Funds community-focused infrastructure which revitalises regions and enhances amenity and liveability in regional areas.

The Harcourts Foundation
Current Round Closes: 3rd of August 2023
Value: Unspecified
Run By: The Harcourts Foundation
Provides grants to reputable community-based charitable organisations which need funding for projects and initiatives designed to benefit as many people as possible.

NAB Foundation Community Grants - 2023
Closes: 31st of August 2023
Value: Up to $10,000
Supports practical projects that build environmental resilience to natural disasters and climate change.

Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
Closes: 5th of September 2023 - 3:00 pm
Value: $10,000 to $50,000
Run By: Australia Council for the Arts
Supports a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public.

Volunteer Museum Grant Program - Project Development Grants - 2023
Opens: 16th of July 2023
Closes: 10th of September 2023
Value: $2,500 to $7,500
Run By: Museums and Galleries NSW
Supports community museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces to carry out strategic and innovative projects with mid to long term outcomes.

Volunteer Museum Grant Program - Small Grants - 2023
Current Round Closes: 10th of September 2023
Value: Up to $2,000
Run By: Museums and Galleries NSW
Helps meet the short-term, collection-based requirements of community museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces.

The Mazda Foundation
Current Round Closes: 30th of September 2023
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: Mazda Foundation
Projects by community based organisations to support children with physical and/or mental disabilities and elderly people suggering mental disabilities or their carers, particularly projects seeking to address social isolation experienced by such children and their carers.

Volunteer Museum Grant Program - Leg Up Grants - 2023
Closes: 29th of October 2023 or until expended
Value: Up to $500
Run By: Museums and Galleries NSW
Quick response skill development grants for workers in volunteer managed museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces.

Community Initiated Grants
Closes: 30th of October 2023 - 11:30 pm
Value: Unspecified
Run By: National Indigenous Australians Agency
Provides and avenue to present a proposal to the Agency where a need has been identified in the community and there are no other current funding avenues available.

Ninganah No More Aboriginal Languages Program
Closes: 1st of November 2023
Value: Up to $100,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Aims to increase the level of Aboriginal languages being taught in early childhood services across NSW.

Active Kids Vouchers - 2023
Closes: 31st of December 2023
Value: Up to $200
Run By: Service NSW
2 Vouchers to help children in primary or secondary school participate in physical activity.

Community Languages School Grants - Establishment Grant
Closes: 30th of April 2024
Value: Up to $2,500
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Supports the setting up language classes for the first time by providing funding for the the first year.

Community Languages School Grants - Per Capita Grant
Closes: 30th of April 2024
Value: Based on number of students
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Helps cover community language school operating costs such as teaching materials, staff wages and new equipment.

Ongoing

Australian Communities Foundation
Closes: Various dates
Value: Dependant on grant
Run By: Australian Communities Foundation
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.

CAGES Foundation Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: CAGES Foundation
Provides funding with the intention of empowering community and creating an environment where every child has the opportunity to reach their potential.

ClubGRANTS
Closes: Various
Value: Dependant on grant applied for
Run By: Club Grants
Clubs across NSW provide support to tens of thousands of local community organisations, sporting groups, and charities that make a difference in their local area.

Community Broadcasting Foundation - Quick Response Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: Community Broadcasting Foundation
These grants will help community broadcasters access funding for eligible projects when their regular grant rounds are closed.

Community Child Care Fund Special Circumstances Grant
Closes: Unspecified
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Australian Government Department of Education
Supports continuity of child care, in particular in disadvantaged or vulnerable communities, where service viability is affected by an unforeseen event or circumstance outside the control of the service.

Google Ad Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $10,000 per month
Run By: Google
Empowers nonprofit organisations, through $10,000 per month in in-kind AdWords™ advertising, to promote their missions and initiatives on Google search result pages.

IGA Community Chest
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: IGA
Every day across the country IGA Community Chest raises funds to support local communities, charities and other worthwhile causes. It could be in response to a major event like floods or bush fires or something as simple as new soccer balls for the local under 8’s.

Matana Foundation Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: No specified minimum or maximum, most grants are between $1,000 and $10,000
Run By: Matana Foundation
Focuses on improving the welfare and wellbeing of young people from severely disadvantaged or marginalised backgrounds, or whose concerns and issues are not readily funded from other sources.

National Cultural Heritage Account
Closes: Ongoing on a case-by-case basis
Value: Up to $500,000 is available each year
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Helps Australian public cultural organisations buy significant objects that they could not otherwise afford.

Quick Response Grants
Value: Up to $1,500
Run By: Regional Arts NSW
Offers funding for regional artists, arts organisations and communities to respond to unique arts opportunities that present themselves at very short notice.

State Heritage Emergency Works
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $1,000 to $10,000
Run By: Heritage NSW
Supports the protection or repairs to gazetted Aboriginal Places, items listed on the State Heritage Register, or items with a current Interim Heritage Order that have been damaged by unexpected events.

Small Environmental Grant Scheme
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Wettenhall Environment Trust
Providing support for people undertaking projects that will make a positive difference to the natural living environment, in land, sea or air, rural or urban.

Dollar for Dollar Native Fish Stocking Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $1,000 to $6,000
Run By: NSW Department of Primary Industries
Aims to enhance recreational freshwater fishing opportunities, to support local communities in the stocking high value native fish species, to assist in the development of regional aquaculture industries and to increase community and industry involvement in, and awareness of responsible stocking.

Judith Neilson Institute Grants for Journalism
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Judith Neilson Institute
Provides journalists and media organisations with the resources they need to produce quality journalism and helps them cover wide-ranging topics and under-reported issues and enable them to test approaches to reach new audiences.

Regional Event Fund - Event Development Stream
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $50,000
Run By: Destination NSW
Supports events that have previously received triennial funding through the Flagship Event stream to increase overnight visitation to the event.

Capacity Building for Native Title Corporations
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $750,000 on average
Run By: National Indigenous Australians Agency
Assists native title holding corporations to generate economic benefits through the effective and sustainable management of their land.

Coopers Foundation - General Giving
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $30,000
Run By: Coopers Foundation
Aims to improve and protect the quality of life of Australians by providing support to charitable organisations.

Return to Work Program - Phase 3
Closes: Ongoing until funding is exhausted
Value: Up to $5,000
Run By: Service NSW
Supports women who have been unemployed for one month or more and intend to return to work within 6 months.

Seniors Energy Rebate
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $200
Run By: Service NSW
A once-a-year payment for self-funded retirees to help cover the cost of their electricity.

Tertiary Access Payment
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $5,000
Run By: Services Australia
A one off payment to help eligible students with the cost of moving to study.

First Home Buyer Choice
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: NSW Government Department of Revenue
First home buyers may be able to choose to pay an annual property tax instead of transfer duty.

First Home Owner (New Homes) Grant
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Revenue
A one-off payment is available when you buy or build a new home as your first home.

Indigenous Apprenticeships Program
Closes: Ongoing
Run By: Services Australia
A pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to start their career in the Australian Public Service.

Start Strong Community Preschools - 2023
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Based on enrollments
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Funding to deliver affordable quality preschool education for 3 to 5 year old children enrolled in eligible community and mobile preschools