RESEARCH PAPER SERIES, 2015–16              UPDATED 15 JANUARY 2016

Community grants: a quick guide to key internet links

Matthew Thomas

Social Policy Section

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

•        Australian Government grants

•        State government grants – New South Wales

•        State government grants – Victoria

•        State government grants – Queensland

•        State government grants – Western Australia

•        State government grants – South Australia

•        State government grants – Tasmania

•        Territory government grants – Northern Territory

•        Territory government grants – Australian Capital Territory

•        Non-government grants

Australian Government grants

•        A guide to grants available from Commonwealth Government agencies, as well as state and territory governments, can be found through business.gov.au.

Through its grants and assistance page, business.gov.au provides direct links to grants and assistance by category. business.gov.au’s Grant Finder enables users to search for suitable and relevant grants for community projects from the many government grants that are available.

•        On the Department of Social Services (DSS) website there is a range of information related to DSS grants. This includes details of all funding currently open for application, funding rounds that are now closed and general information on grants.

•        The Australia Council's Arts Funding Guide provides an overview of funding programs and other forms of support for the arts in Australia.

State government grants - New South Wales

•        ArtsNSW offers grants to cultural and community groups involved in artistic activities.

•        communitybuilders.nsw has links to funding sources for community groups and projects from federal, state and local government as well as some philanthropic funds and companies.

•        The ClubGRANTS scheme is funded by gaming machine revenue from New South Wales (NSW) clubs. This website provides information on the scheme and guidelines for applications. Projects are supported and decided upon by local committees.

•        The Department of Education and Training's Community Grants Programs include funding for groups involved in promoting community languages, education, Aboriginal community projects and programs assisting disadvantaged youth and people with disabilities.

•        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 NSW Environmental Trust offers grants for projects which involve rehabilitating or regenerating the environment or promoting environmental education and sustainability.

•        Sport and recreation grants.

State government grants - Victoria

•        Grants Victoria lists a large number of Victorian government grants by area of interest. Grants are available for a wide range of groups and projects including volunteers, sporting groups, community infrastructure and multicultural events. The Grants Information Line (phone 1300 366 356) staffed by Information Victoria can provide general information about programs and funding.

•        Creative Victoria funding for individuals and arts organisations.

•        Local History Grants Program administered by the Public Record Office Victoria.

•        The Victorian Multicultural Commission provides community grants.

•        Grants, vouchers and assistance programs administered by Business Victoria.

State government grants - Queensland

•        Queensland Government Grants contains links and details for a variety of state government grants.

•        The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation provides information and links to a number of community benefit programs which are funded by gaming revenue and which provide grants to local organisations.

•        Arts Queensland provides a list of funding opportunities for community groups and individuals engaged in artistic and cultural activities.

•        The Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing offers funding programs to sport and recreation organisations.

•        Tourism and Events Queensland provides a database of funding opportunities for organisations whose work involves attracting visitors to the state.

•        Queensland Community Foundation (QCF) is a public charitable trust set up to serve the state’s communities by providing a permanent funding source for charity.

•        The Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services provides funds for the purchase of essential equipment to enhance service delivery to Queenslanders.

•        Brisbane City Council community grants program

•        The Valuing Diversity Grants Program provides funding to both festivals and smaller projects which promote diversity and inclusiveness in the community.

State government grants - Western Australia

•        The Grants Directory lists grants and other assistance programs by category.

•        Western Australia’s government portal lists community grants and funding.

•        The Department of Culture and the Arts administers a number of grants programs for individuals and organisations.

•        Lotterywest distributes profits from lotteries to the community of Western Australia.

•        The Office of Multicultural Interests provides community grants for organisations and projects aimed at developing harmony between different groups.

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

State government grants - South Australia

•        Grants contains a range of databases with information about grants available through government and non-government organisations.

•        Community Benefit SA is one of the state’s main programs offering funding for projects assisting community service agencies.

•        Arts South Australia provides funding for community groups involved in artistic and cultural activities.

•        The Office for Recreation and Sport SA offers a range of sport related grants and scholarships for individuals and organisations.

State government grants - Tasmania

•        The Tasmanian Community Fund makes both general grants to community organisations as well as for particular initiatives which improve the well-being or assist in the social, environmental and economic development of a particular community.

•        The Department of State Growth provides loans and grants to businesses and individuals to support professional and sector development.

•        A percentage of gaming profits in Tasmania is paid into the Community Support Levy (CSL) through which grants are made to assist organisations registered as charities and for the benefit of sporting organisations.

•        Arts Tasmania funding and investment programs provide financial assistance for projects or programs of activities that enhance the arts sector in Tasmania.

•        Tasmania’s Department of Premier and Cabinet administers a range of grant programs that support community development.

•        business.tas.gov.au provides links to a range of grants, funding and assistance, including interest free loans for social enterprises active in the Hobart community.

Territory government grants - Northern Territory

•        NT Government Grants and Funding contains links and details for a variety of government grants.

•        The Community Benefit Fund provides small grants as part of its Community Development Grants project aimed at assisting community groups.

•        The Department of Sport and Recreation offers grants for organisations and local councils to develop services and programs within the community.

•        The Department of the Chief Minister’s Office of Multicultural Affairs provides a number of grants to community groups involved in projects aimed at fostering harmony and diversity as well as running the Multicultural Community Facilities Grant Program.

•        The Northern Territory Arts Grants Program provides funding for a range of different purposes, including community-based arts activities.

•        The Northern Territory Office of Youth Affairs manages a number of youth grants programs, including the Youth Engagement Grants Program.

•        Alice Springs Town Council community grants are offered for both community organisations and specific initiatives.

Territory government grants - Australian Capital Territory

•        ACT Government Grants lists a wide range of grant programs under two streams: Health and Community Wellbeing Grants and City and Territory Services Grants.

•        The Health and Community Wellbeing Grants support, among other things, health promotion, adult and community education, community infrastructure, people with disability, the community participation of older people and cultural diversity, social harmony and inclusion.

•        The City and Territory Services Grants support a range of arts, environmental, heritage, sports and recreation activities.

Non-government Grants

•        The ANZ Staff Foundation offers grants to support projects run by charitable organisations for the benefit of local communities.

•        APEC offers funding for projects that create tangible benefits for people living in the Asia-Pacific region.

•        Aurizon offers grants to community groups that provide support in the areas of health and wellbeing, community safety and environment and education.

•        The Charities Aid Foundation allows charitable organisations to be placed on a registry to be matched with corporate donors and sponsors.

•        The Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund aims specifically to assist community groups with projects that improve the health and well-being of children and young people nationally.

•        The Community Enterprise Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Group.

•        The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) aims to take a leadership role in assisting regional, rural and remote communities to respond to social, cultural and economic change. The FRRR administers a number of funding programs and grants.

•        The Ian Potter Foundation makes grants nationally to support charitable organisations working to benefit the community across a wide range of sectors and endeavours.

•        The Good Universities Guide Scholarship Search is a scholarships database for Australian students wishing to study at home or abroad, and for international students wishing to study in Australia.

•        Landcare Australia offers grants through a number of programs.

•        The Macquarie Group Foundation supports groups and activities in Australia and overseas.

•        The Mercy Foundation provides support for organisations involved in reducing inequality and poverty in Australia.

•        The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund provide grants in four key areas, the arts, education, poverty and disadvantage and sustainability and the environment.

•        National Australia Bank provides regular community grants to organisations nominated by employees.

•        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 NRMA Insurance Community Grants Program provides grants for crime prevention, road safety, emergency readiness and response and the environment.

•        The Optus Community Grants program provides grants to organisations to help reduce social isolation and to reconnect disengaged youth.

•        Perpetual philanthropic services assist individuals, families, organisations and non-profit groups.

•        The Peter Brock Foundation provides funding and support for community groups and organisations with a focus on welfare services, social issues and community programs.

•        The Reichstein Foundation funds projects aimed at assisting disadvantaged communities.

•        The Rockefeller Foundation supports work that expands opportunity and strengthens resilience to social, economic, health and environmental challenges.

•        The Telstra Foundation provides community development grants for projects particularly aimed at children and young people.

•        Wesfarmers makes contributions to community-benefiting activities through its corporate office and through subsidiary businesses. Applications for small donations, such as gift vouchers, should be made to individual business outlets.

•        Woolworths Limited provides support to local community organisations and charities.

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