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.
Grants closing in December 2019
NSW Liquor & Gaming Infrastructure Grants
The NSW Government offers grants to communities across NSW to support the building, renovation and fit-out of infrastructure. Funding is available for arts and cultural infrastructure, sport and recreation infrastructure and projects that assist communities with essential infrastructure and disaster readiness – Closes 9 December 2019
Safer Communities Fund – Round 5 – Infrastructure
Safer Communities Fund – Round 5 – Infrastructure Grants 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 – Closes 10 December 2019
Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants
The Regional Agricultural Show Development Grants Program is designed to provide funding for the maintenance and upgrade of existing infrastructure and the building, purchasing and construction of new infrastructure related to the running of an agricultural show on regional showgrounds – Closes 13 December 2019
Future Makers
A capacity building and accelerator program for social start-ups that are using technology for good – Closes 13 December 2019
Mental Health Sports Fund
The Mental Health Sports Fund provides NSW based sporting bodies with funding for sport led mental health, social and emotional wellbeing initiatives in regional NSW – Closes 16 December 2019
Create NSW Fellowship Opportunities
Create NSW has fellowship opportunities available in December 2019 in the areas of music, theatre, dance and visual arts – Closing dates range from 16 to 19 December 2019
Building Better Regions Fund Infrastructure Stream
The Round 4 Infrastructure Projects Stream supports projects which involve the construction, upgrade or extension of infrastructure in drought-affected areas. Through these projects, it aims to provide both economic and social benefits – Closes 19 December 2020
Building Better Regions Fund Community Investments Stream
The Round 4 Community Investments Stream supports projects benefiting local communities in drought-affected areas. Through these projects, it aims to provide both economic and social benefits – Closes 19 December 2020
National Landcare Program: Smart Farms Small Grants
The purpose of Smart Farms Small Grants is to support land manager practice change that will deliver more sustainable, productive and profitable food, fibre and forestry business while protecting Australia’s biodiversity, protecting and improving the condition of natural resources, and assisting Australia to meet its international obligations – Closes 19 December 2019
Fixing Country Roads
Fixing Country Roads is a $543 million NSW Government program providing targeted infrastructure funding from Restart NSW for regional freight projects – Closes 31 December 2019
Local Sporting Champions
The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships – Closes 31 December 2019
Harcourts Foundation Grants
Funding for projects that provide support that helps, grows and enriches communities – Closes 31 December 2019
Cross Border Commissioners Infrastructure Grants
The requirements of some Government infrastructure programs can disadvantage certain communities or projects where isolation, low population density, community capacity and the leakage of benefit to the neighbouring state or territory can be a constraint to meeting the various assessment criteria, regardless of the high economic, social, environmental or cultural value of the project to those living and working in these communities. To address this issue, in 2018 the NSW Government developed the NSW Cross-Border Commissioner’s Infrastructure Fund (CBCIF) to provide access to funding for projects in border areas of NSW and adjoining states and territories which would otherwise be ineligible due to the leakage of benefit. For further information contact Kate Moodley in the Office of the NSW Cross-Border Commissioner at kate.moodley@dpc.nsw.gov.au – Closes 31 December 2019
Grants closing in January 2020
Aboriginal Languages Community Investment Grants
To support the Aboriginal Languages Trust to invest in local language revival efforts, Aboriginal Affairs NSW is investing in local Aboriginal community groups who have a community focus on delivering Aboriginal languages activities, building workforce capability and promoting the appreciation and use of Aboriginal Languages – Closes 31 January 2020
Community Grants – Climate Change Resilience
The Community Grants program has been established to support 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 – Closes 31 January 2020
Nancy Bird Walton Sponsorship for Female Adventurers
Australian Geographic has sponsorship available for female Australian adventurers, scientific and environmental research, and community projects – Closes 31 January 2020
Later and ongoing grants
- Career Development Grants for Individuals and Groups – If you are an individual artist, arts worker or group of artists, this grant can provide support to further develop your skills or improve your capacity to build an enduring career – Closes 4 February 2020 for projects starting after 1 May 2020
- Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups – The Arts Projects program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences – Closes: 4 February 2020 for projects starting after 1 May 2020
- Fellowships – The Australia Council offers one grant round each year for Fellowships – Closes 2 June 2020
- Arts Projects – Organisations – This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences. Only organisations are eligible to apply – Closes: 4 February 2020 for projects starting after 1 May 2020
Tackling Tough Times Together
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 – Round 16 closes 25 February 2020 (NOTE EOIs for the $150K tier must be received by 12 Dec 2019.)
Local Government Authorities (LGA) Arts & Cultural Programs Multi-Year funding
Local Government Authority Arts & Cultural Programs funding supports Local Government to deliver activities over a period of up to three years – Closes 5 March 2020
Emergency Water Infrastructure Grants
Eligible Primary Producers can claim a rebate of 25% of the cost of purchase, delivery and if applicable, the labour cost to engage a person to install water infrastructure for animal welfare needs – Closes 30th of June 2021 or when the $12 Million funding allocation is exhausted
Small Project Grants (Quick Response)
Small Project Grants support the creation, development and presentation of new work and professional development or promotion for NSW-based professional artists and arts and cultural workers – Closes 30 June 2020
Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Scheme
Promoting diversity, innovation and service responsiveness in the NSW workforce, the Elsa Dixon Aboriginal Employment Grant subsidises the salary, development and support costs of Aboriginal employees in public service agencies and local government authorities – Closes 31 July 2020
Australian Government’s Youth Job PaTH
Trial and hire a young person and get help with wage and training costs – Ongoing
Strategic Opportunities Program
The Strategic Opportunities Program supports individual initiatives and events that demonstrate long-term benefits to the NSW screen industry – Ongoing
Performers Trust Foundation
the PPCA Performers’ Trust Foundation provides grants to promote and encourage music and the music-related performing arts – Ongoing
Indigenous Documentary Development
This program seeks to provide practitioners with the opportunity to create appropriate written and/or visual materials to ensure that projects are as strong as possible when competing for production finance – 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
Museums & GalleriesNSW Leg Up Grants
Matched funding of $50 – $500 for volunteers to attend or host development activities in NSW. The grants can cover the cost of attending a workshop, conference or course, bringing a presenter to your museum or the travel costs of a group of volunteers visiting another museum – Applications accepted until funding expended
Regional Investment Attraction Fund
A range of funding and opportunities are available under the NSW Government’s Regional Investment Attraction Fund, including financial incentives, relocation assistance for workers and special activation precincts – Ongoing
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
Inspiring Australia – Science Engagement Programme
Inspiring Australia seeks to engage the wider community with science, raise awareness of the achievements of our best scientists and build skill and capability in STEM in Australian schools and community – Closes when available funding for 18-19 is exhausted
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
Supply Chain Facilitation
Supply Chain Facilitation offers eligible businesses practical ways to connect with and supply new and existing markets, and project opportunities – Ongoing
Go NSW Equity Fund
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
Building Partnerships NSW
Provides NSW technology startups with up to 35% of approved project costs to a maximum of $100,000 to create marketing opportunities for an enabling technology which addresses a compelling industry need or market gap – 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
Government Grants
Australian Government
Grants & Assistance 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
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