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Community Grants

There are many different kinds of grants available across Australia from government, individuals and commercial organisations. Some grants are available for individuals, others are designed for community groups or non-profit organisations. Grants can be used to fund things like renting meeting venues, extending existing community services, buying computing equipment to support the community group, and setting up special projects.

Financial assistance for community grants is available from several sources but there is serious competition for this sort of funding. Most grants require the preparation of an application or submission and accountability for the use of the funding is also a requirement. Detailed financial records must be maintained for all grants. Applicants should seek further clarification from each funding provider as there can be variation about the terms used.

GrantsLINK has information on grants and funding programs offered by Australian, state and local governments. More than 250 grants are linked by GrantsLINK, categorised by topic and subject for easy browsing. The website is regularly updated.

The City of Casey has a grant writing page, covering tips and resources to get the grant you want. The site deals with grant jargon, and also has lists of grant writing nouns, adjectives and verbs. It is a great place to get started on your grant application.

The Parliamentary library has a Guide to Community Grants. This includes links to government resources, as well as links to non-government organisations which may provide community grants and commercial services providing grant information on subscription.

Community.gov.au has a database of available community grants and information on how to apply. These include government and non-government resources.

Australia’s Open Garden Scheme Community Grants program provides a total of $55,000 across Australia for garden-related community projects. Criteria and application details are available on their site when each year’s round of grants is announced.

The National Water Commission offers grants to help communities save, recycle or improve their local water resources. If you are interested in seeking a grant for activities involving water – saving/efficiency, recycling or treatment – you can also contact them on 1800 780 730.