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Community Funding Opportunities and Award Programs - November 2019

Welcome to our 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 on the left hand side 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

Building Better Regions Fund – Community Investments Stream – Round 4 – Drought Support
Closes: 19th of December 2019
Value: $5,000 to $1,000,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development

The Community Investments Stream will fund new or expanded local events, strategic regional plans, or leadership and capability strengthening activities that provide economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas.

Grants of between $5,000 and $1 million are available. However, given the nature of eligible projects we expect most grants will be under $100,000. For most projects grant funding will be up to either 50% or 75% of your eligible project costs. Your location will determine the percentage of grant funding you can receive. You may apply for a partial or full exemption to your cash contribution if you can demonstrate that you are experiencing exceptional circumstances. For small projects with a total grant amount of equal to or less than $20,000, grant funding will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs.

To be eligible your project must:

  • be aimed at new or expanded local events, strategic regional plans, or leadership and capability strengthening activities that provide economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas
  • comprise one of the following activities:
    • local events
    • strategic planning
    • regional leadership and capability
  • not have commenced.

Building Better Regions Fund – Infrastructure Projects Stream – Round 4 – Drought Support
Closes: 19th of December 2019
Value: $20,000 to $10,000,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development

The Infrastructure Projects Stream supports projects that provide economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas. The projects can be either construction of new infrastructure or the upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure. For Round 4 there is a total of $200 million available.

Your project must:

  • be taking place in a drought-affected location in Australia, as outlined under 2.1.2 of the grant opportunity guidelines
  • be seeking a grant of at least $20,000, and up to a maximum of $10 million
  • be aimed at the construction, upgrade or extension of infrastructure that provides economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas
  • comprise one of the following activities
    • the construction of new infrastructure
    • the upgrade to existing infrastructure
    • the extension of existing infrastructure
    • the replacement of infrastructure where there is a significant increase in benefit
  • be considered an investment ready project (refer to Section 2.1.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines)
  • not have started construction
  • be completed by 31 December 2022.

For most projects grant funding will be up to either 50% or 75% of your eligible project costs. Your location will determine the percentage of grant funding you can receive. You may apply for a partial or full exemption to your contribution requirement if you can demonstrate that you are experiencing exceptional circumstances.

Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program (Round 2)
Closes: 20th of January 2020
Value: $10,000 to $450,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Agriculture

The Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program (Round 2) grants are funded from 2019-20 to 2022-23. The second round of the program is open to 31 eligible communities, with $450,000 allocated per community. The objective of the program is to assist eligible communities to undertake economic development projects to respond to the impact of water recovery activities under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

In the Northern Inland the following communities are eligible:

  •     Moree
  •     Mungindi
  •     Wee waa

The intended outcomes of the program are to:

  • increase the capacity of eligible communities to diversify and strengthen local economies;
  • enhance the resilience of these communities to manage current and future economic challenges and changes; and
  • increase the opportunities for employment within these communities.

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

  • Indigenous Corporation
  • Local Government
  • Cooperative
  • Incorporated Association
  • Company

Applications from consortia are acceptable, as long as you have a lead applicant who is solely accountable to the Commonwealth for the delivery of grant activities and is an eligible entity as per the list above. Eligible organisations can form consortia with ineligible organisations.

Award Programs

Australasian Reporting Awards
Runs: Annually
2019 Awards Close: 6th of December 2019. Entries for reports for the Financial Year ending 31 December 2019 close on 31 January 2020
Value: Awards Program with advice
Run By: The Australasian Reporting Awards
The Australasian Reporting Awards provide all organisations that produce an annual report an opportunity to benchmark their annual reports against the ARA criteria which are based on world best practice.

Australian Small Business Champion Awards
Runs: Annually
2020 Entries Close: 3rd of February 2020
Run By: Precedent Productions
The Australian Small Business Champion Awards is a prestigious and comprehensive program that supports and recognises small businesses across Australia.

The Australian Business Awards
Runs: Annually
2020 Applicaitons Opened: November 2019
2020 Applications Close: 5th of March 2020
Run By: Awardbase
Recognises organisations that demonstrate the core values of business innovation, employee engagement, customer satisfaction, experience management, business sustainability, product and technology innovation via a set of comprehensive award categories.

Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
Runs: Annually
2020 Applications Open: 6th of February 2020
2020 Applications Close: 12 March 2020
Run By: Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
The prizes recognise the achievements and success of Australian scientists and innovators to both Australia and internationally, as well as the critical role science educators play in inspiring and encouraging students to take an interest in science and consider science as a career.

Australian Training Awards
Runs: Annually
2020 Applicaitons Open for Direct Entry: 1st of December 2019
2020 Applications Close for Direct Entry: Anticipated to be 31st of May 2020
Run By: Australian Government Departement of Education and Training
Commencing in 1994, the Australian Training Awards are the peak, national awards for the vocational education and training (VET) sector, recognising individuals, businesses and registered training organisations for their contribution to skilling Australia.

Closing in November

Be Connected - Activation Grants
Closes: End of November 2019
Value: $2,000
Run By: Good Things Foundation on behalf of the Australian Government
One-off grants awarded to new organisations joining the Be Connected Network. Funding can be spent on anything that will help you support older Australians to gain digital skills.

Veteran and Community Grants
Current Round Closes: 28 November 2019
Next Rounds Closes: 27 February 2020 11:00pm AEDT
Run By: Department of Vetrans Affairs
The objective of the program is to maintain and improve the independence and quality of life for members of the Australian veteran community by providing funding for projects that sustain or enhance health and wellbeing.

Closing in December

Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation
Closes: 18th of November 2019
Value: $5,000 To $100,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
The Environmental Restoration and Rehabilitation Programis a contestable grants program seeking to achieve long-term beneficial outcomes for the NSW environment.

Small Environmental Grant Scheme
Closes:  Once enough applications are received after 2nd of December 2019
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.

Infrastructure Grants
Next Round Closes: 9th of December 5pm
Future Round Opens: 16th of March 2020
Value: Up to $300,000 depending on project area
Run By: NSW Government Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding is available for arts and cultural infrastructure, sport and recreation infrastructure and projects that assist communities with essential infrastructure and disaster readiness.

Safer Communities Fund
Closes: 10th of December 2019
Value: $10,000 to $1,000,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs
Provides schools and pre-schools, places of religious worship, community organisations and local councils with grants of up to $1 million for crime prevention initiatives aimed at reducing crime, violence, anti-social behaviour and/or other security risks driven by racial and/or religious intolerance.

Driving Social Inclusion through Sport and Physical Activity
Closes: 12th of December 2019
Value: Unspecified - $9 Million total pool
Run By: Australian Government Department of Health
This grant opportunity will use sport and physical activity projects to address inclusion issues for vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and seeks to enhance wellbeing and instill a sense of community belonging.

Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program
Closes: 13th of December 2019
Value: Up to $500,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Agriculture
The Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program is designed to provide funding for the maintenance and upgrade of existing infrastructure and the building, purchasingand construction of new infrastructure related to the running of an agricultural show on regional showgrounds.

Future Makers
Closes: 13th of December 2019
Value: Mentoring
Run By: Optus
A capacity building and accelerator program that empowers social start-ups who leverage technology to address social challenges for disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

Mental Health Sports Fund
Closes: 16th of December 2019
Value: $10,000 to $100,000
Run By: NSW Ministry of Health and the NSW Office of Sport
Provides funding for sport led mental health, social and emotional wellbeing initiatives in regional NSW.

National Landcare Program: Smart Farms Small Grants
Closes: 19th of December 2019
Value: $5,000 to $50,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Agriculture
Supports projects to increase farming, forestry and fishing communities’ awareness, knowledge, skills and capacity to adopt best practice sustainable agriculture.

Building Better Regions Fund – Infrastructure Projects Stream
Closes: 19th of December 2019
Value: $20,000 to $10,000,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development
Supports projects that provide economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas, projects can be either construction of new infrastructure or the upgrade or extension of existing infrastructure.

Building Better Regions Fund – Community Investments Stream
Closes: 19th of December 2019
Value: $5,000 to $1,000,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development
Funding for new or expanded local events, strategic regional plans, or leadership and capability strengthening activities that provide economic and social benefits to regional and remote areas.

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital
Current Round Closes: 19th of December 2019 5pm
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Foundation for Rurual and Regional Renewal
The Strengthening Rural Communities program gives small rural, regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds that can benefit and help secure their future prosperity. Grants are available for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities.

NSW Cross-Border Commissioner’s Infrastructure Fund
Closes: Ongoing until 31st of December 2019
Value: Unspecified
Run By: Office of the NSW Cross-Border Commissioner
The fund is designed to fund regionally significant projects that deliver social, economic, environmental or cultural benefits to communities in border areas of NSW and neighbouring jurisdictions.

Active Kids Vourchers
Closes: December 2019
Value: $100 per child
Run By: NSW Government Office of Sport
Active Kids is a program to help NSW families meet the cost of getting their kids into sport and active fitness and recreation activities.

Creative Kids Vourchers
Closes: December 2019
Value: $100 per child
Run By: Service NSW
The Creative Kids Rebate can be put towards the cost of registration, participation or tuition fees for creative and cultural activities such as music lessons, language classes, coding and digital, visual and performing arts.

The Harcourts Foundation
Current Round Closes: 31st of December 2019
Value: Unspecified
Run By: The Harcourts Foundation
As the foundation's purpose is “To provide support that helps, grows, and enriches our communities”, they have a clear focus on providing grants to reputable community-based charitable organisations which need funding for projects and initiatives designed to benefit as many people as possible.

Be Connected - Building Digital Skills
Closes: Ongoing rounds throughout  2019
Value: $2,500 to $15,000 depending on number of people supported
Run By: Good Things Foundation on behalf of the Australian Government
Additional funding is available for Be Connected Network Partners who are supporting 24 or more older Australians to gain digital skills on the Be Connected Learning Portal (12 people if you’re in an outer regional, remote or very remote area) to continue delivering their Be Connected digital literacy programs.

Closing in January

Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program (Round 2)
Closes: 20th of January 2020
Value: $10,000 to $450,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Agriculture
Assists eligible communities to undertake economic development projects to respond to the impact of water recovery activities under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. In the Northern Inland, Moree, Mungindi and Wee Waa are eligible.

Increasing Resilience to Climate Change
Closes: 31st of January 2020
Value: $10,000 to $30,000
Run By: AdaptNSW
Supports projects that help communities to take action and manage climate change impacts by being able to better plan, prepare for, and respond to heatwaves, storms, floods, drought and bushfires, to increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Closing Later and Ongoing

Community Futures Grant
Closes: 2nd of February 2020
Value: $25,000
Run By: Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
The RASF invites ideas that deliver strong community benefits and result in enhanced economic and social outcomes for your community.

Community Kitchen
Closes: 2nd of February 2020
Value: Kitchen refurbishment
Run By: Royal Agricultural Society of NSW
Provides rural and regional NSW community organisations the chance to receive kitchen cabinetry and appliances.

James N Kirby Foundation Small Grants
Closes: 14th of Febrary 2020
Value: $3,000 to $15,000
Run By: James N Kirby Foundation
Provides grants that impact not only towards the future educational and technical development of young Australians, but also on the health and welfare of many Australians in need as well as The Arts and The Environment.

Innovation Program
Closes: 21st of February 2020
Value: Unspecified
Run By: NSW Department of Education
The program partners with schools to test innovative ideas and build the evidence base for what works for our students to improve the learning and wellbeing of students with disability.

Jetstar Flying Start Programme
Current Round Closes: 31st of March  2020
Value: $30,000 consisting of $15,000 cash grant and $15,000 of Jetstar flights
Run By: Jetstar
Jetstar's Flying Start Program invites community groups and organisations across Australia to apply for a grant to fund a project that will enrich the lives of people in their local community.

Tackling Tough Times Together
Current Round Closes: 25th of February 2020
Value: Up to $150,000 depending on the teir applied for
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
The Tackling Tough Times Together grant program helps communities access the resources they need to support one another through the ongoing effects of the drought.

Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program
Closes: 30th of March 2020
Value: Up to $150,000
Run By: Department of Vetrans Affairs
The program aims to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage and involve people around the nation in a wide range of projects and activities that highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

Sisters of Charity Community Grants Program
Next Round Opens: 1st of February 2020
Next Round Closes: 31st of March 2020
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Sisters of Charity Foundation
The Sisters of Charity Foundation provides charity grants of up to $10,000 to organisations that use clever ways to fight poverty, loneliness, suffering and oppression, but struggle to find funding.

The Mazda Foundation
Next Round Closes: 31st of March 2020
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..

Disaster Recovery Grants
Closes: 24th of May 2020
Value: $10,000 to $100,000
Run By: NSW Government Rural Assistance Authority
Available to eligible primary producers, small businesses, sporting clubs and not for profit organisations, following the declaration of a Natural Disaster.

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

The Honda Foundation
Closes: 7th of February 2020
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: The Honda Foundation
The Honda Foundation acts as a charitable trust, providing financial assistance to charities and organisations doing amazing work across a range of social and environmental issues.

Thriving People and Places
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $20,000 and over for NSW applicants
Run By: Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation
VFFF aspires to a stronger and brighter future for people and places experiencing disadvantage, enabling them to reach their educational, social and economic potential and build thriving communities by making grants to charities.

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.

Dreamstarter - Scholarships
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: ING
ING are looking to provide education scholarships for change makers working on an early-stage business that will create positive social impact through trade of a product or service.

Dreamstarter - Grants for Growth
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Unspecified
Run By: ING
Dreamstarter Grants for Growth provides ING Dreamstarter Alumni with access to funding to accelerate the growth of their businesses and increase their positive social impact.

Impact Investment Ready Growth Grant
Closes: Ongoing rounds through the year
Value: Up to $140,000
Run By: Impact Investing Australia
Provides impact businesses and mission-driven organisations with grants for business, financial, legal and other capacity building support from providers to secure investment.

Youth Employment Program
Closes: Unspecified
Value: Support
Run By: NSW Government Department of Industry
Young people can become work ready or kickstart a fulfilling career by connecting to training, mentoring, work experience placements, and other support to build their skills and experience.

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.

Matana Foundation Grants
Closes: Ongoing
Value: No specified minimum or maximum, most grants are between $1,000 and $10,000
Run By: Matana Foundation
Matana’s focus is 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.

English Family Foundation - Ingnitor Fund
Closes: Applications are ongoing
Value: Up to $100,000
Run By: Englisht Family Foundation
Under this grant program the foundation are seeking to support Australian social enterprise changemakers who are finding new and innovative solutions to tackle the most pressing issues within their local communities and who are now looking to build capacity to overcome the challenges of taking their concept to scale to be impact investment ready.

Small Grants for Rural Communities
Closes: Various
Value: Up to $5,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Available for projects and activities that offer clear public benefit for communities  in rural, regional or remote Australia. Priority is given to communities of 10,000 or fewer. Applicants must be not-for-profit community organisations with an ABN or incorporation certificate.

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.

Google Ad Grants
Closes: Applications are 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.

Quick Response Grants
Closing date: Applications are Ongoing
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.

National Cultural Heritage Account
Closes: Applications are ongoing on a case-by-case basis
Value: $500,000 is available each year
Run By: Australian Government Department of Communications and the Arts
Helps Australian public cultural organisations buy significant objects that they could not otherwise afford. Australian cultural institutions can apply for funding. This includes museums, art galleries, libraries, archives, historic buildings, national trusts and local history museums and galleries, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander keeping places for sacred/secret material.

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.

Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $4,000
Run By: Department of Vetrans Affairs
Designed to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage and to involve people throughout the nation in a wide range of projects and activities that highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia’s servicemen and women in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and promote appreciation and understanding of the role that those who served have played in shaping the nation.

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