Grants and Opportunities
RDA Northern Rivers seeks to support the Northern Rivers business community by featuring available grants and opportunities for the benefit of our local economy and community. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of the grants that are available, instead, it is a list of featured grants, primarily for organisations.
There are many more grants available and we have provided some useful links below to help you find them. RDA Northern Rivers can support your application through access to regional data, application assistance and support letters. Needs some guidance to help write your application? RDA Northern Rivers Successful Grant Writing Toolkit provides a step by step guide to help you write winning grants.
What’s on this page?
Featured Grants
Grants closing April 2021
Grants closing May 2021
More grant opportunities
Awards, Scholarships and more
Where to find grants
Featured Grants and Opportunities
Modern Manufacturing Initiative – Recycling and Clean Energy Priority
The Modern Manufacturing Initiative aims to stimulate business investment in the manufacturing sector by addressing barriers to scale and competitiveness for Australian manufacturers. It aims to build manufacturing capabilities and networks, lift productivity, create jobs, build global competitiveness and boost the export potential of Australian manufacturers. The government has designed the initiative to unlock private sector investment through three streams, Manufacturing Integration Stream, Manufacturing Translation Stream and Manufacturing Collaboration Stream. Two of these streams are currently open.
- The Manufacturing Integration Stream will support projects that integrate Australian businesses into domestic and international value chains, propelling their goods and services into new markets and foster Australia’s reputation as a modern manufacturing leader.It will encourage and facilitate linkages between local businesses and domestic and international firms, increasing scale, supply capacity, and the ability to innovate. It will also facilitate the adoption of product standards and greater sharing and transfer of knowledge.
- The Manufacturing Translation Stream will support projects that aid the translation of high-quality research and ideas into commercial outcomes and support businesses to scale up and become more competitive and resilient. It will support businesses to adopt new technologies and improve their manufacturing processes to boost productivity and competitiveness.
Both Streams close 5 May 2021
Flood Disaster Recovery Grants for small business and primary producers
Small businesses and non-profit organisations directly impacted by the NSW storms and floods from 10 March 2021 onwards may be eligible for up to $50,000 flood disaster recovery grant. Up to $75,000 is available to eligible primary producers in local government areas affected by the NSW storms and floods that occurred from 10 March 2021. Small businesses and primary producers must be in a defined disaster area.
Dine & Discover NSW
Dine & Discover NSW is a new scheme to help NSW recover – by encouraging the community to get out and about and start spending at dining, arts and tourism businesses. From March, NSW residents aged 18 and over will be eligible for 4 x $25 vouchers, worth $100 in total. Vouchers can be used at participating NSW businesses that are registered as COVID Safe. For businesses who want to register to receive vouchers you can register here
2020 Resilience Fund – Adapt
Adapt grants are available to individuals, groups and organisations to adapt their practice and explore new ways of working. This could include skills and career development, business development, developing artistic practice, exploring new ways of connecting and collaborating inclusively, and increasing your digital capability – Ongoing
Grants closing in April 2021
Regional Arts Touring Fund
Artists and presenting organisations can apply for tours of all artforms, including performing arts, music, visual arts, literature, history, museums & multi-arts – Closes 19 April 2021
Black Rainbow Futures Fund
Funding to invest in Indigenous LGBTIQ+ individuals who are excelling in their field and require some additional support – Closes 21 April 2021
Covid-19 Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Infrastructure Grant Program – Tranche 3
The $8 million COVID-19 Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Infrastructure Grant Program aims to support sexual, domestic and family violence services, including organisations working with perpetrators to respond to the challenges posed by COVID-19 – Closes 23 April 2021
Sponsorship Grants for Student Science Engagement and International Competitions 2021
Provides organisations, such as schools and community groups, funds to help young Australians to take part in STEM activities and events – Closes 29 April 2021
Volunteer Grants
The Australian Government is inviting organisations via a restricted non-competitive process to apply for a Volunteer Grant under the Families and Communities Program – Volunteer Grants Activity in 2021 – Closes 29 April 2021
Clarence Valley Council Community Initiatives Program
The Clarence Valley Council’s Community Initiatives Program supports not for profit organisations to produce new or continuing projects – Closes 30 April 2021
Regional Business Event Development Fund
The NSW Regional Business Event Development Fund is designed to help stakeholders create, attract and support exciting business events for regional NSW and to support new business event initiatives aimed at enriching the events with opportunities offered by iconic towns and regions while helping secure successful conferences and events for their future – Closes 30 April 2021
Grants closing in May 2021
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 – Closes 3 May 2021
Community Heritage Grants 2021
The Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program provides grants of up to $15,000 (GST inclusive) to community organisations such as museums, galleries, libraries, archives, genealogical and historical societies, multicultural and Indigenous groups – Closes 10 May 2021
Regional Job Creation Fund
The A$100 million Regional Job Creation Fund supports existing businesses in regional NSW to grow and encourages interstate or overseas businesses to invest in regional NSW – Closes 14 May 2021 or when program funding has been fully allocated
Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme
The Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme offers funding to regional museums and organisations to help preserve or display objects of national and historical maritime significance – Closes 15 May 2021
Feed Appeal – Rural Grassroots and Rural Major Projects
Rural Grassroots supports minor infrastructure, quality kitchen equipment, capacity building training and access to food staples that will help organisations meet the demand efficiently and effectively. Rural Major Projects Supports charities with a major infrastructure, capital investment, transportation and/or logistics project to directly impact and improve your food relief program and help build the organisations capacity – Closes 22 May 2021
Strengthening Rural Communities – Small & Vital
Provides small rural, regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds that can benefit and help secure their future prosperity – Closes: 25 May 2021
More grant opportunities
Made available under the Regional Arts Fund allocation for NSW, Quick Response Grants are intended to assist regional artists, arts organisations and communities to take up professional or skills development or small project opportunities – Closes 30 June 2021
Damien Greer Lawyers Community Grant
The Damien Greer Lawyers Community Grant program recognises and celebrates organisations that strive to make a positive impact within their local community. There are two grants of $2500 available in round one for 2021 – Closes 30 June 2021
Audience Development Fund
The Audience Development Fund offers public galleries in NSW assistance in targeting and developing new audiences. It encourages galleries to create innovative public programs that engage artists and the community – Closes 2 August 2021
Dobell Exhibition Grant
The Dobell Exhibition Grant, supported by the Sir William Dobell Art Foundation, offers $40,000 in funding to one regional NSW gallery per annum – Closes 1 September 2021
Skills Development Grants
Skills Development Grants provide funding to volunteer museums and museum networks for regional or state-focused skill development training and networking events – Closes 24 October or when funds are exhausted
Bushfire Legal Aid Scheme
Funding to support legal assistance for small business and primary producers affected by the 2019/2020 bushfires – Closes Ongoing
Strategic Opportunities Program
The Strategic Opportunities Program supports individual initiatives and events that demonstrate long-term benefits to the NSW screen industry – Ongoing
Australian Government’s Youth Job PaTH
Trial and hire a young person and get help with wage and training costs – Ongoing
Performers Trust Foundation
The PPCA Performers’ Trust Foundation provides grants to promote and encourage music and the music-related performing arts – Ongoing
Indigenous Travel Grants
The Travel Grants program is designed to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander filmmakers in travelling to key international and Australian events. Professional development is a key objective – Applications can generally be made at any time at least five weeks before the event
NSW Emergency Drought Relief Package 2019-20
On 11 June 2019 the NSW Government announced additional drought assistance measures for farmers including a $350 million increase in the Farm Innovation Fund and $70 million to continue rebates on the Drought Transport Subsidy – Ongoing or until funds exhausted
Employer Incentives for Apprentices
The Australian Government offers a range of incentives to employers who hire apprentices, ranging from additional support for identified skill shortages, adult Australian apprentices, Australian apprentices with a disability and wage subsidies – Ongoing
Regional Filming Fund
The Regional Filming Fund offsets costs associated with shooting in regional areas of NSW. Regional NSW is defined as all areas in NSW outside the Sydney Metro area (excluding the ACT) – Ongoing with applications being accepted up to 4 weeks prior to the start of filming in regional NSW
Support for Startups
An initiative under the NSW Government’s Jobs for NSW program to provides capital funding through investment to support growing businesses – Ongoing
NSW Trade Missions & Exhibitions
Provides export ready NSW companies with industry exhibitions, specialist advice and networking opportunities to help them succeed in the export market – Ongoing
Export Capability Building Program NSW
Provides NSW businesses exporting or looking to export with access to workshops to improve their export readiness – Ongoing
Early Development NSW
Provides key creatives for NSW based screen projects with funding of up to $50,000 to support screen content in the early stage of development with pre-draft and early draft costs – Ongoing
Advanced Development NSW
Provides NSW-based key creatives with funding of up to $50,000 to support screen content in an advanced stage of development including feature films, documentaries, adult and children?s TV drama – Ongoing
Awards and scholarships
NSW Premier’s History Awards
Held annually, the NSW Premier’s Histroy Awards assist in establishing values and standards in historical research and publication and encourage everyone to appreciate and learn from the work of our historians – Closes 12 April 2021
NFP Tech Awards
The Australian Not-For-Proit Technology Awards recognize the best in technology innovation and excellence in the not-for-profit sector – Closes 18 April 2021
The Australian Business Awards
Recognises organisations that demonstrate the core values of business innovation, employee engagement, customer satisfaction, experience management, business sustainability, product and technology innovation – Closes 29 April 2021
Australian Museum Eureka Prizes
Rewards excellence in the fields of research & innovation, leadership, science engagement and school science – Closes 28 May 2021
Resilient Australia Awards
Celebrates and promotes initiatives that build whole of community resilience to disasters and emergencies as well as images capturing resilience in action – Closes 3 June 2021
Where To Find Grants
Government Grants
Australian Government
Grants & Programs is the assistance portal on the Australian Government’s business.gov.au site. The search feature provides access to over 600 grants that support business, local government and community. It includes incentives for research and development, support for small businesses, tax and duty concessions, and assistance for industries in transition.
GrantConnect provides centralised publication of forecast and current Australian Government grants and opportunities and grants awarded
Community Grants Hub is the Australian Government’s site for community-related grants. This can include grants for health, agriculture and landcare. Other sources of Australian Government grants
Indigenous Advancement Strategy Department of Social Services Department of Environment and Energy Australia Council for the Arts Screen Australia Community Grants Hub
NSW Government
The NSW Small Business Grant supports small business to hire new employees and expand their business.
Community Builders NSW is a program which provides funding for a range of services to strengthen communities and build their capacity and is provided by NSW Family and Community Services.
Other sources of NSW Government grants
Multicultural NSW
Screen NSW
Create NSW
Arts NSW
Smarty Grants
Museums & Galleries NSW
Infrastructure Grants
Northern Rivers Regional Councils
Funding for a range of community projects is available through Northern Rivers local councils. Information about community funding programs can be found on council websites.
Ballina Shire Council
Byron Shire Council
Clarence Valley Council
Lismore City Council
Richmond Valley Council
Tweed Shire Council
Kyogle Council
Other Grant Opportunities
Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Australian Communities Foundation
Club Grants
Northern Rivers Community Foundation
Community Broadcasting Foundation
Business Australia – Guide to NSW Small Business Grants
