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.

Featured Grants

Small Business Bushfire Recovery Grants
Recovery grants of up to $50,000 are available to eligible small businesses and non-profit organisations that have suffered direct damage to their premises or equipment from the bushfires and intend to re-establish in the community – Closing date not yet advised

Emergency bushfire support for primary producers
Up to $75,000 is available to farmers, fishers and foresters located in declared bushfire disaster areas. This is to cover costs for immediate and emergency needs not covered by existing insurance policies – Closing date not yet advised

Boosting Femal Founders
The Boosting Female Founders Initiative Round 1 provides female founders of startup businesses with funding to launch and scale their businesses into domestic and global markets. It will help female entrepreneurs overcome the disadvantages they face in getting access to finance and support, to grow their startups – Closes 14 April 2020

Regional Event Fund
The Regional Event Fund identifies and supports events in regional NSW that have the potential to act as a ‘cornerstone’ or flagship tourism event for their area by attracting overnight visitation and delivering long-term benefits to the region.

The new Micro Event Fund stream has been introduced this year to support community based events in bushfire and drought affected regions. The value is $10,000 for events with total budgets of $75,000 or less.

The Flagship Event Fund is also open, with a value of $20,000 – Both streams close 25 March 2020

Grants closing in March 2020

Celebrating Diversity Grants – Events
The Multicultural NSW Celebrating Diversity Grants Program invests in community projects, events and activities that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity as a precious part of our identity and way of life – Closes 13 March 2020

Cooperative Research Centres Projects Grants
Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants provide funding for short-term research collaborations. Find out how to apply for a CRC-P Grant to develop a new technology, product or service – Closes 19 March 2020

Festivals Australia
Festivals Australia supports community participation in, and access to, the arts and aims to support partnerships and collaboration across the sector – Closes 22 March 2020

Strengthening Rural Communities – Small & Vital
The Strengthening Rural Communities program gives small rural, regional and remote communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds that can benefit and help secure their future prosperity. Grants are available for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities – Closes 24 March  2020

Regional Event Fund
The Regional Event Fund identifies and supports events in regional NSW that have the potential to act as a ‘cornerstone’ or flagship tourism event for their area by attracting overnight visitation and delivering long-term benefits to the region – Closes 25 March 2020

M&G NSW Small Grants
Small Grants aim to meet the short-term, collection-based requirements of community museums. There are no set categories for funding, and applications for a broad range of projects will be considered – Closes 29 March 2020

2020 NAIDOC Local Grants
The 2020 NAIDOC Local Grants funding round aims to support activities being held during NAIDOC Week 2020 (5-12 July) that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, achievements and continuing contributions to our country and society – Closes 30 March 2020

Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program
The program aims to preserve Australia’s wartime heritage and involve people around the nation in a wide range of projects and activities that highlight the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations – Closes 31 March 2020

Sisters of Charity Community Grants Program
The Sisters of Charity Foundation provides charity grants of up to $10,000 to organisations that use clever ways to fight poverty, loneliness, suffering and oppression, but struggle to find funding – Closes 31 March 2020

Creativity Australia – One Voice Choir  
To celebrate its 10-year anniversary, Creativity Australia is offering grants of up to $10,000 to people or groups who are wanting to start their own With One Voice choir – Closes 31 March 2020

Jetstar Flying Start
Jetstar’s Flying Start Program invites community groups and organisations across Australia to apply for a grant to fund a project that will enrich the lives of people in their local community – Closes 31 March 2020

Grants closing in April 2020

RAHS Heritage Grants
The Small Grants Program for Local History and Archives is administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society on behalf of the NSW Government through the Heritage Council of NSW – Closes 1 April 2020

Volunteer Grants Activity – 2019-20 Volunteer Grants
The Volunteer Grants Activity is an element of the Families and Communities Program and aims to strengthen relationships, support families, improve well being of children and young people, reduce the cost of family breakdown and strengthen family and community functioning. – Closes 6 April 2020

Infrastructure Grants
Funding is available for arts and cultural infrastructure, sport and recreation infrastructure and projects that assist communities with essential infrastructure and disaster readiness – Closes 6 April 2020

Black Summer Innovation Program 
The Black Summer Innovation Program is a fund provided by FIAL designed to help small and medium businesses, who have been affected by events of national natural catastrophe or global diseases outbreaks (in 2019 or 2020) – Closes 9 April 2020

Stolen Generation Resource Kit for Teachers and Students
Grants of up to $500 that enable schools to bring truth telling about the impact of Stolen Generations history are now open – Closes 15 April 2020

Aboriginal Affairs NSW 2020 NAIDOC Grants
NAIDOC Grant funding is provided by Aboriginal Affairs NSW to support activities and events in NSW held during NAIDOC Week (5 to 12 July 2020) that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements and align with the national theme of NAIDOC Week in 2020 which is Always Was, Always Will Be – Closes 24 April 2020

Summerland Credit Union Community Grants

Summerland Credit Union’s Community Grants provides support to a wide range of organisations throughout the community, including charities, schools, sporting organisations, social clubs, and community events – Closes 30 April 2020

More grant opportunities

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 – Current round closes 28th of May 2020, EOI’s for $150K tier close 16 April 2020

Australia Council Fellowships
The Australia Council offers one grant round each year for Fellowships – Closes 2 June 2020

Special Disaster Grant – Bushfires
Up to $75,000 for primary producers and $50,000 for small business and non-profit organisation sis available the the NSW Special Disaster Grant – Closes 31 July 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

M&G NSW 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 25 October 2020 or when funds are exhausted

M&G NSW Leg Up Grants
Leg Up Grants are quick response skill development grants for workers in volunteer managed museums throughout NSW. These grants fund various skill development projects including hosting or attending workshops, conferences or seminars in NSW, in addition to networking activities – Closes 25 October 2020 or when funds are exhausted

Before and After School Care Equipment and Facilities Grant Program
The Equipment and Facilities Grant Program supports schools and services to fund equipment and facilities that enable new services to establish and existing services to expand – Closes 31 January 2021

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

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 & 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