Community Grants: a quick guide

10 MAY 2023

PDF version [316KB]

Matthew Thomas
Social Policy Section

Nell Fraser
Research Coordination Unit

This quick guide provides links to select sources of financial assistance to community groups. It does not include links to scholarships, fellowships or research grants.

Depending on a community group’s activities, mission, and governance structure, they may be eligible for a range of grants across more general categories, such as infrastructure support, marketing, or employment subsidies. This quick guide does not cover all possible grants for which a community group may be eligible.

Different grants have different eligibility requirements. Often, groups need to be incorporated and be deductible gift recipients to apply for grants. Unincorporated community groups may explore auspicing arrangements in order to apply for funding.

Local governments commonly provide grants for community groups, often on a rolling basis. Community groups should consult the websites of their relevant local governments for these opportunities, which are not covered in this quick guide.

There is no definitive list of financial assistance available to community groups in Australia. The grants in this quick guide have been compiled through broad internet searching and will not comprehensively account for all granting opportunities.

Contents

Australia-wide grants

Government grants

GrantConnect is a guide to grants available from the Commonwealth Government. GrantConnect includes a list of all current grant opportunities open for application.
The Australian Government’s Business website has links to funding sources for community groups and projects from federal, state and local government, as well as some not-for-profit organisations, philanthropic funds and companies.
The Australia Council for the Arts offers a range of grants to individuals and cultural and community groups involved in artistic activities.
The National Library of Australia’s Community Heritage Grants offer grants to community organisations to care for Australian cultural heritage collections.
Festivals Australia funds arts experiences, festivals, and significant community celebrations in regional or remote Australia.

Non-government grants

The Albert & Barbara Tucker Foundation supports charitable organisations that make ‘a positive difference in the lives of humans, animals and the natural environment’.
The AMP Foundation Tomorrow Makers program funds ‘individuals and organisations with the drive and determination to create positive social change’.
Ansvar’s Community Education Program provides grants for charities that support disadvantaged youth.
The ANZ Community Foundation offers grants to support projects run by charitable organisations for the benefit of local communities.
Aurizon offers grants to community groups that provide support in the areas of health and wellbeing, community safety, environment and education.
Australia Pacific QBE Foundation local grants support community initiatives addressing climate resilience and inclusion.
Australia Post Community Grants provide funds for projects that seek to improve mental health and mental wellbeing in local communities.
The Bennelong Foundation provides grants to support programs in the areas of education, training and employment, community health, and cultural inclusion.
The BMD Community Assistance Program supports community groups across a range of activities in regions where BMD operates.
Budget Direct provides one-off cash donations for eligible community organisations.
The CommBank Staff Foundation aims specifically to assist community groups with youth programs focused on health, education and social inclusion.
The Community Enterprise Foundation provides a range of grants for charities and not-for-profits.
The Coopers Foundation provides grants for medical research and health care, youth education, aged care, and family and community support based on Christian values.
The Damien Greer Lawyers Community Grant program provides funding to community groups for a range of activities.
The Deafness Foundation Community Grants program supports projects that benefit people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The Ergon-Energex Community Fund provides funding for community groups, with a specific interest in activities that focus on energy efficiencies and responding to and preventing environmental disasters.
The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal provides a broad range of grant programs, each with the requirement ‘that funds be used for a charitable purpose that benefits the residents of Australia’s rural, regional or remote communities’.
Good2Give allows charitable organisations to be placed on a registry to be matched with corporate donors and sponsors.
Groundswell provides grants for organisations that create ‘the social, economic and political conditions to reduce emissions to levels that will avoid the worst impacts of climate change’.
The Hamer Sprout Fund supports organisations and individuals with initiatives focussing on the environment and sustainability.
The Heart Foundation Active Australia Innovation Grant program funds community-based projects that encourage physical activity.
The Heritage Bank Charitable Foundation provides grants to community groups, with a focus on vulnerable Australians.
The Honda Foundation provides monetary grants and loan cars to organisations working across a range of social and environmental issues.
The Ian Potter Foundation makes grants nationally ‘to support charitable organisations working to benefit the community across a wide range of sectors and endeavours’.
IGA Community Chest raises funds to support community organisations. Organisations can approach their local IGA to enquire about becoming a beneficiary.
Landcare Australia offers grants through a number of programs for ‘projects and programs that will improve environmental outcomes for the Landcare community’.
The Macquarie Group Foundation supports community groups and activities in Australia and overseas.
The Mary Jane Foundation provides grants for charities that work to ‘advance the health and wellbeing of Australian women and girls’.
The Mercy Foundation provides support for organisations involved in reducing inequality and poverty in Australia.
The National Australia Bank Foundation provides community grants to organisations for projects to withstand and recover from natural disasters.
The National Foundation for Australian Women runs a program through which other women’s groups can receive tax deductible donations and grants through their preferred donor fund.
The nib foundation provides funding for programs that support communities to ‘live healthier lives’.
The Optus Future Makers program provides grants to organisations to help develop technological applications aimed at supporting disadvantaged and vulnerable people.
Perpetual IMPACT Philanthropy distributes around $120 million annually to not-for-profits.
The Pride Foundation provides funding for activities that focus on the ‘good and betterment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex people and allied communities in Australia’.
Qantas Regional Grants provide funding to community organisations that ‘enhance the lives of people in regional communities’.
The Reichstein Foundation provides grants for projects aimed at advancing social justice and social change.
The Scanlon Foundation assists organisations that support migrants and social cohesion.
The Sidney Myer Fund & the Myer Foundation provide grants across a range of areas including the arts and humanities; mental health; poverty and disadvantage; and sustainability and the environment.
The SilverChef Community Grants Program provides funds to community groups ‘who use hospitality to support disadvantaged or under-served communities’.
The Sisters of Charity Foundation provides grants to community projects that ‘break down social isolation and alleviate the impact of poverty’.
The St. George Foundation provides grants to community groups focussed on children and education.
Transurban Community Grants support projects in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane that bring social and environmental benefits to communities.
Westfield Local Heroes recognises individuals ‘who make a positive impact to their local community or environment’ and are nominated by their community, by awarding grants to the organisation or group that they represent.

Australian Capital Territory grants

Government grants

ACT Government Grants contains links and information on a variety of territory government grants.

Non-government grants

Icon Water’s Community Support Program funds community groups that encourage community participation.

New South Wales grants

Government grants

The NSW Government’s Grants and funding website is a guide to grants available from the NSW Government, with a list of all current grant opportunities open for applications.
Create NSW Arts, Screen and Culture offers a range of grants to cultural and community groups involved in artistic activities.
The Department of Education and Training provides a range of grants to community groups involved in early childhood education.
The NSW Community Building Partnership program awards grants for community infrastructure projects.
The NSW Environmental Trust offers grants for projects that involve rehabilitating or regenerating the environment or promoting environmental education and sustainability.
The Multicultural NSW Grants Program provides funding for projects and activities that promote community engagement, build community harmony and social cohesion, and celebrate cultural diversity.
The Office of Sport provides sport and recreation grants to ‘nurture sporting talent, help build sports facilities and develop the industry as a whole’.

Non-government grants

The ClubGRANTS scheme is funded by gaming machine revenue from NSW clubs. The ClubGRANTS website provides information on the scheme and guidelines for applications.
The James N Kirby Foundation provides grants to charities with projects across 4 focus areas (education and technology; the environment; health; and social welfare and the arts), with priority given to organisations in NSW and projects that benefit NSW.
Regional Arts NSW administers the Regional Arts Fund on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. It offers a range of grants for community groups involved in arts and heritage projects.

Northern Territory grants

Government grants

NT.GOV.AU provides links and details on a ‘wide range of grants, scholarships and other forms of support for businesses, community organisations and individuals’.

Non-government grants

Healthy Living NT’s Community Grants Program supports ‘community-based projects or activities which build capacity and improve health outcomes for community members’.

Queensland grants

Government grants

The Queensland Government grants finder contains links and information on a variety of state government grants.
Arts Queensland provides a list of funding opportunities for community groups and individuals engaged in artistic and cultural activities.
The Celebrating Multicultural Queensland Grants Program provides funding to events and projects that promote cultural diversity and inclusiveness in the community.
The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation provides information and links to a number of community benefit programs that are funded by gaming revenue and provide grants to local organisations.
The Queensland Government Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport offers funding programs to sport and recreation organisations.
Tourism and Events Queensland event investment programs assist organisations whose work involves attracting visitors to the state.

Non-government grants

The Brisbane Broncos Charities Fund provides financial assistance ‘for the underprivileged and disadvantaged youth of Queensland’.
Flying Arts administers the Regional Arts Fund on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. It offers a range of grants for community groups involved in arts and heritage projects.
The Queensland Community Foundation is a public charitable trust set up to serve the state’s communities by providing a permanent funding source for charity.
The William Angliss Charitable Fund supports organisations in Victoria and Queensland across a range of areas.

South Australia grants

Government grants

GRANTassist provides a search function for funding programs across all state government departments, for community groups, clubs and individuals.
Arts South Australia provides funding for community groups involved in artistic and cultural activities.
The Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing offers a range of sport-related grants and scholarships for individuals and organisations.

Non-government grants

The SA Power Networks Community Grants program supports a range of community-based activities.

Tasmania grants

Government grants

Arts Tasmania funding and investment programs provide ‘grant programs for professional artists, arts businesses and arts organisations’.
Business Tasmania ‘provides a comprehensive list of funding opportunities available to businesses in Tasmania’.
A percentage of gaming profits in Tasmania is paid into the Community Support Levy through which grants are made to assist sport and recreation clubs and charitable organisations.
The Department of State Growth provides loans and grants to businesses and individuals to support professional and sector development.
The Department of Premier and Cabinet Tasmania administers a range of community, sports and recreation grant programs that support community development and engagement.

Non-government grants

The Tasmanian Community Fund makes general grants to community organisations and initiatives that improve the wellbeing, or assist in the social, environmental and economic development, of Tasmanian communities.

Victoria grants

Government grants

Grants Victoria lists Victorian Government grants. Grants are available for a wide range of groups and projects including volunteers, sporting groups, community infrastructure and multicultural events.
Business Victoria administers a range of grants, vouchers and assistance programs.
Creative Victoria lists funding opportunities for individuals and arts organisations.
The Local History Grants Program is administered by the Public Record Office Victoria and provides funding for ‘community activities that preserve, record and share the local, social and community history of Victoria’.
Multicultural Affairs ‘offer a range of grants to support Victoria's multicultural and multifaith communities’.

Non-government grants

The Besen Family Foundation provides funding to communities in Victoria in the areas of arts and culture, Jewish community, early childhood education and environment.
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust supports Victorian organisations across education, community, arts and culture, environment and health.
Regional Arts Victoria administers the Regional Arts Fund on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. It offers a range of grants for community groups involved in arts and heritage projects.
The William Angliss Charitable Fund supports organisations in Victoria and Queensland across a range of areas.

Western Australia grants

Government grants

The Government of Western Australia website contains links and information on a variety of state government grants.
The Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries administers a number of grants programs for individuals and organisations involved in arts and sports projects.
Lotterywest distributes profits from lotteries to community groups in Western Australia through various grants programs.
The Office of Multicultural Interests provides community grants to culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Western Australia.

Non-government grants

Propel Youth Arts WA provides arts grants for young people in Western Australia aged between 12 and 26 years.

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