Community Funding Opportunities and Award Programs - September 2023

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

Festivals Australia - Round 17
Closes: 4th of October 2023 - 11:30 pm
Value: No maximum, however average of $40,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Festivals Australia seeks to celebrate the intrinsic capacity of the arts to engage, inspire and make
meaning for all Australians, while supporting the celebration of place and promoting a sense of
community identity.

The Festivals Australia objectives are to:

• provide access to a diverse range of engaging, innovative arts projects that grow audiences at festivals across regional and remote Australia;
• support partnerships and collaboration across the arts sector; and
• encourage community participation in arts projects at regional and remote festivals.

To achieve these objectives, Festivals Australia offers funding to support individual art projects that allow community members living in regional or remote Australia to participate in or appreciate an arts-driven experience at a:

• festival – which is defined by Festivals Australia as a regularly presented program of events (for example annually or biennially) that is open to the public and provides an opportunity to gather and celebrate
• significant one-off community celebration – which is defined by Festivals Australia as a schedule of events that is open to the public and is focused on an anniversary or launch of great significance to the community. For example, a special celebration of the town or the area’s culture and history, a significant anniversary of a major local event, or the opening of a major new community resource could be the basis for an eligible significant one-off community celebration

 

Cultural Grants Program - 2023-24
Closes: 9th of October 2023 - 11:00 am
Value: $500 to $20,000
Run By: Aboriginal Affairs NSW

The Aboriginal Affairs NSW Cultural Grants Program supports Aboriginal community organisations across NSW to celebrate Aboriginal culture and hold key cultural events and activities. 

Funding can be used for projects that meet the objectives of the Cultural Grants Program. The following are examples of the types of activities that may be funded, where they are aligned with the program objectives:

• women’s or men’s gathering on Country
• delivery of a culture and wellbeing camp for Aboriginal youth
• creation of a digital installation showing Aboriginal history of the local community
• statewide music or cultural festival 
• a series of online and/or face-to-face workshops

 

Habitat Action Grants - 2023
Closes: 29th of September 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $40,000
Run By: NSW Department of Primary Industries

The Habitat Action Grants are funded from the Recreational Fishing Trusts which direct revenue generated by the NSW Recreational Fishing Fee towards on-ground actions to improve fish habitat and recreational fishing in NSW.

Angling clubs, individuals, community groups, local councils and organisations interested in rehabilitating fish habitats in freshwater and saltwater areas throughout NSW can apply.

Habitat rehabilitation projects which may be funded include:

• removal or modification of barriers to fish passage
• rehabilitation of riparian lands (river banks, wetlands, mangrove forests, saltmarsh)
• re-snagging waterways with timber structure
• removal of exotic vegetation from waterways and replace with native species
• bank stabilisation works.

Award Programs

Innovate with NBN - 2023
Closes: 29th of September 2023
Value: $15,000 to $35,000
Run By: nbn and Regional Australia Institute
Recognises and showcases regional and remote businesses that demonstrate innovation and creativity.

NSW Women of the Year Awards - 2024
Closes: 8th of October 2023
Run By: Women NSW
Recognises women and girls who are ground-breaking thinkers, pillars of the community and unsung heroes who inspire our communities.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Awards
Opens: 30th of October 2023
Closes: 11th of February 2024
Run By: Hesta
Recognise nurses, midwives, nurse educators and researchers as well as personal care workers who made a real difference to the lives of patients or to the quality of a service.

Closing in September

Sapphire Wind Farm Community Fund
Closes: 22nd of September 2023 - 4:00 pm
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: Sapphire Wind Farm
Funding for projects in the Inverell Shire to enhance and enrich community initiatives throughout the local community.

Inverell Local Heritage Fund
Closes: 22nd of September 2023
Value: Up to $56,000 total pool
Funding assistance for maintenance and repair work to private owners of heritage items and buildings in identified conservation areas.

Mary Mackillop Community Grants - 2024
Closes: 22nd of September 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Mary Mackillop Today
Supports small but life-changing initiatives that provide opportunities for life-long learning in Australian communities.

Habitat Action Grants - 2023
Closes: 29th of September 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $40,000
Run By: NSW Department of Primary Industries
Funding for on-ground actions to improve fish habitat and recreational fishing in NSW.

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.

Steve Waugh Foundation - Children and Young Adults with a Rare Disease
Current Round Closes: 30th of September 2023
Run By: Steve Waugh Foundation
Supports children and young adults aged 0-25 years who have a rare disease.

Closing in October

auDA Foundation Grants
Closes: 2nd of October 2023
Value: Up to $40,000
Run By: auDA
Supports community projects, education and research activities that will enhance the utility of the internet.

Festivals Australia - Round 17
Closes: 4th of October 2023 - 11:30 pm
Value: No maximum, however average of $40,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
Supports individual art projects at festivals or significant one-off community events, such as a town celebration or opening of a new community resource.

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) Program - New and Expanding IPAs
Closes: 6th of October 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $374,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Funding to will establish new Indigenous Protected Areas and provide opportunities to expand the size of existing IPAs.

Information, Linkages and Capacity Building – Social and Community Participation - 2023-24
Closes: 6th of October 2023 - 9:00 pm
Run By: Australian Government Department of Social Services
Support programs for people with disability, their families and carers to participate, contribute and benefit from mainstream community activities including arts, culture, sport and recreation.

Cultural Grants Program - 2023-24
Closes: 9th of October 2023 - 11:00 am
Value: $500 to $20,000
Run By: Aboriginal Affairs NSW
Supports Aboriginal community organisations across NSW to celebrate Aboriginal culture and hold key cultural events and activities.  

NSW Women’s Week 2024 Grants - Teir 1
Closes: 9th of October 2023 - 4:00 pm
Value: $5,000 to $10,000
Run By: Women NSW
Funding for organisations to deliver an event or activity that supports the objectives of NSW Women’s Week, and the NSW Women’s Strategy.

Community Language Schools Grants Program
Closes: 9th of October 2023 - 9:00 pm
Value: Up to $30,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Home Affairs
Funding for Community Language Schools to strengthen the social inclusion and prosperity of our multicultural society by supporting more young Australians to acquire a second language.

Playing Australia Project Investment
Closes: 10th of October 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.

Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program - 2023-24
Closes: 10th of October 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.

Australian Heritage Grants - 2023-24
Closes: 12th of October 2023
Value: $25,000 to $400,000
Run By: Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Ongoing support to protect and promote National Heritage-listed places.

National Justice Reinvestment Program - Round 1
Current Batch Closes: 12th of October 2023
Value: Up to $65.5 Million over three years
Run By: Attorney-General's Department
Supports the development and delivery of community and First Nations-led justice reinvestment initiatives

Community Futures Grant - 2024
Closes: 29th of October 2023
Value: Up to $25,000
Run By: Royal Agricultural Society Foundation
Supports ideas that deliver strong community benefits and result in enhanced economic and social outcomes for communities.

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.

Volunteer Museum Grant Program - Skills Development Grants - 2023
Closes: 29th of October 2023 or until expended
Value: Up to $4,000
Run By: Museums and Galleries NSW
Provides funding to volunteer museums and museum networks for regional or state focused skill development training and networking events.

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.

Local Sporting Champions
Current Round Closes: 31st of October 2023
Value: $500 to $750
Run By: Sport Australia
Provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships.

ARTC Sponsorships and Donations - 2023
Next Round Closes: 31st of October 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.

Local Para Champions
Current Round Closes: 31st of October 2023
Value: $750 to $1,100
Run By: Sport Australia
Assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international championships for athletes with a disability.

Real School Grants Program - 2023
Closes: 31st of October 2023
Value: Up to $5,000
Run By: Real Insurance
Funding to improve the quality of school resources and communities.

Ski for Life
Next Round Closes: 31st of October 2023
Value: Undisclosed
Run By: Ski for Life
Support projects for rural and remote communities that would benefit from awareness, promotion of mental health, wellbeing, and suicide prevention.

Closing in December

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital
Current Round Closes: 4th of December 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
Current Round Closes: 4th of December 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 Regional Communities - Large Grants
Next Round Closes: 4th of December 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: $10,000 to $50,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Supports community-led initiatives that enhance the process of recovery of remote, rural and regional communities from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strengthening Rural Communities – Rebuilding Regional Communities - Small Grants
Closes: 4th of December 2023 - 5:00 pm
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Supports community-led initiatives that enhance the process of recovery of remote, rural and regional communities from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants - Arts and Culture - 2023
Opens: 27th of November 2023
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $200,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support arts and culture infrastructure such as museums, art galleries or cultural centres.

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants - Community Infrastructure - 2023
Opens: 27th of November 2023
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $250,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support community infrastructure such as a multipurpose community hub or a service for an eligible community group.

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants - Disaster Readiness- 2023
Opens: 27th of November 2023
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $200,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support disaster readiness infrastructure such as evacuation centres, capital equipment or a multipurpose community facility.

Clubgrants Infrastructure Grants - Sport and Recreation - 2023
Opens: 27th of November 2023
Closes: 18th of December 2023
Value: $50,000 to $300,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support sport and recreation infrastructure such as sports centres, playgrounds and swimming pools.

Active Kids Vouchers - 2023
Closes: 31st of December 2023
Value: $50
Run By: Service NSW
Vouchers to help children in primary or secondary school participate in physical activity.

Closing Later

Sisters of Charity Foundation Community Grants Program
Runs: Twice a year
Next Round Opens: 1st of December 2023
Next Round Closes: 5th of February 2024
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.

Community War Memorials Fund 2023-24
Opens: 11th of November 2023
Closes: 11th of February 2024 - 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.

Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
Current Round Closes: 5th of March 2024 - 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.

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.

Community Languages School Grants - Specific Project Grant
Closes: 31st of May 2024
Value: Up to $10,000
Run By: NSW Government Department of Education
Provides funding to community language schools to help with professional development.

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 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

Arts and Cultural Funding Program - Small Project Grants for Individuals and Groups - 2023-24
Closes: Ongoing
Value: $500 to $5,000
Run By: Create NSW
Supports professional development opportunities for professional artists, groups and arts and cultural workers that are time sensitive and respond to short notice invitations with career-building significance.

Responsible Grambling Fund - Prevention, Innovation and Technology Grants - 2023
Closes: Ongoing
Value: Up to $200,000
Run By: NSW Office of Responsible Gambling
Funding to support innovative projects that prevent and reduce gambling harm in communities across NSW.