Council is always interested in hearing from local community groups and organisations who would like to partner with Council and discuss any ideas or visions they have for the region. Council may provide assistance with sourcing external grant funding including with assisting with your preparation of a grant application where applicable. We endeavour to provide community groups with advice on grant programs that meet their needs as they become available.
Grant Guru / Grant Funding Finder
Never miss a grant opportunity again by signing up with Grant Funding Finder!
Council has partnered with one of Australia’s most powerful grant search engines to bring to local businesses and organisations a FREE one stop search engine for business, event and community grants. Grant Funding Finder gives you access to one of Australia’s most comprehensive and up to date funding databases, making grants accessible and easy to find.
Grant Funding Finder features advanced filtering which allows you to narrow down your search by activity, industry, and current & future grants to suit your needs. The website also has other invaluable information and tips for making grant applications.
Community Grants Open:
Community Grants NAB Foundation
The NAB Foundation Community Grants program provides funding of up to $25,000 for local projects that help communities withstand and recover from natural disasters.
NAB Foundation Community Grants support community-led projects that relate to the following categories:
Training and planning: Educational workshops, practical and strategic planning that help communities prepare for a natural disaster.
Community Recovery: Programs to enhance community connection, resilience and wellbeing post natural disaster.
Environment and wildlife: Restoration of damaged vegetation and habitat, and rehabilitation of injured wildlife.
Equipment and Infrastructure: Tools, equipment and infrastructure improvements that help communities withstand natural disasters or recover in their aftermath.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply!
Telstra Connected Communities Grant
200,000 to 27 community groups across Australia as part of Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant.
Grants up to $10,000 available for not-for-profit community organisations that provide access to information, technology, education and facilities to help strengthen regional communities and build digital capability.
Telstra’s Connected Communities Grant aims to deliver $600,000 in support to regional communities over three years.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply!
Gunning Small Grants Program | Gunning Wind Farm | ACCIONA Energía Community
ACCIONA Energia invites applications from community groups and organisations who wish to contribute to the sustainable development of their communities to apply for grant funding, with individual grants of up to $10,000 available to support impactful local initiatives.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply!
Alinta Energy – Community Grants Program
Overview
This program aims to make a positive and lasting contribution across the community.
Grants of up to $20,000 are available.
A total funding pool of $500,000 is available per year from 2020-25, allocated as follows:
- Community partnerships: Up to $250,000 per annum to be provided to national organisations and is distributed via a restricted tender process.
- Grants and donations: Up to $250,000 per annum to be provided to grass roots organisations and is distributed via an open biannual community grant application process and via direct donations from the power stations.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply!
Cullerin Range Wind Farm Community Fund
Overview
Energy Developments Limited (EDL) is pleased to advise that the Cullerin Range Wind Farm Community Fund funding round is open for applications and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 9 May 2025.
Cullerin Range Wind Farm is owned and operated by EDL.
The Cullerin Range Wind Farm Community Fund aims to support initiatives that strengthen the local community through projects that contribute to neighbouring communities within 20kms of the wind farm.
The Guidelines and Application Form are available at the following links or on the Council website under Community/Grants:
- Cullerin Range Wind Farm Community Fund Guidelines
- Cullerin Range Wind Farm Community Fund Application Form
Applications may be submitted by post to PO Box 42, Gunning, NSW, 2581 or emailed to council@upperlachlan.nsw.gov.au.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Crookwell II Wind Farm Grants
Overview
Upper Lachlan Shire Council advises that the Crookwell II Wind Farm Community Fund funding round is open for applications and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 9 May 2025.
The Crookwell II Wind Farm Community Fund aims to support initiatives that strengthen the local community through projects that contribute to neighbouring communities within 20kms of the wind farm.
The Guidelines and Application Form are available at the following links or on the Council website under Community/Grants:
Crookwell II Wind Farm Community Fund Application Form
Crookwell II Wind Farm Community Fund Guidelines
Applications may be submitted by post to PO Box 42, Gunning, NSW, 2581 or emailed to council@upperlachlan.nsw.gov.au.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Gullen Range Wind Farm Grants
Overview
Upper Lachlan Shire Council advises that the Gullen Range Wind Farm Community Fund funding round is open for applications and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 9 May 2025.
The Gullen Range Wind Farm Community Fund aims to support initiatives that strengthen the local community through projects that contribute to neighbouring communities within 10kms of the wind farm.
The Guidelines and Application Form are available at the following links or on the Council website under Community/Grants:
- Gullen Range Wind Farm Community Fund Guidelines
- Gullen Range Wind Farm Community Fund Application Form
Applications may be submitted by post to PO Box 42, Gunning, NSW, 2581 or emailed to council@upperlachlan.nsw.gov.au.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Cultural Access – Priority Area Projects for Individuals and Organisations
Overview
In response to Creative Communities, the NSW arts, culture and creative industries policy, the purpose of this funding is to strengthen communities through equitable access to vibrant arts and cultural experiences.
This funding will:
- contribute to personal and community wellbeing and economic development.
- enable the creation and presentation of new work designed and led by priority and target creative practitioners, groups, businesses, and organisations in NSW.
- strengthen communities through equitable access to arts and cultural experiences.
- develop diverse cultural leadership within the arts and cultural ecosystem.
- enhance the visibility of new work by prioritised NSW artists and arts/cultural workers.
- strengthen the creative ecosystem through collaborations and partnerships.
- support access to resources and expertise for individual artists.
Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: From $10,000 to $100,000
- Application opened: 24 March 2025
- Application closes: 30 April 2025, 5:00 pm
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Regional Event Fund – Flagship Event stream
Overview
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.
This funding will:
- To be eligible to apply for the Regional Event Fund Flagship Event stream, applicants must:
- be the event owner (i.e. own the rights to the event and hold the relevant approvals for the event) at the time of application and contract
- be financially solvent or be financially viable and able to demonstrate that they are likely to remain so over the duration of the funding period
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be a sole trader, company, partnership, unincorporated and incorporated associations, or company trust entity
- have at least $20 million public liability insurance, or be able to secure before entering into a Funding Agreement
- be a legal entity and not a business name.
Key information
- Status: Open
- Grant amount: Up to $30,000
- Application opened: 10 March 2025
- Application closes: 6 April 2025, 11:59 pm
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Regional Event Fund – Incubator Event stream
Overview
To be eligible to apply for the Regional Event Fund Incubator Event stream, applicants must:
- be the event owner (i.e. own the rights to the event and hold the relevant approvals for the event) at the time of application and contract
- be financially solvent or be financially viable and able to demonstrate that they are likely to remain so over the duration of the funding period
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be a sole trader, company, partnership, unincorporated and incorporated associations, or company trust entity
- have at least $20 million public liability insurance, or be able to secure before entering into a Funding Agreement
- be a legal entity and not a business name.
To be eligible for the Incubator Event stream, your event must:
- take place between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026
- be held for the first or second year in the year of funding
- be held in one of the following seven Destination Network regions listed below:
- Destination Central West
- Destination Country & Outback NSW
- Destination North Coast including Lord Howe Island
- Destination Riverina Murray
- Destination Southern NSW
- Destination Sydney Surrounds North
- Destination Sydney Surrounds South.
Key information
- All applications for grants from the 2025/26 Incubator Event stream must be submitted through the Destination NSW on-line application platform.
- Applications sent via email, post or fax will not be accepted.
- Applicants must not provide false or misleading information.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
Overview
This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities.
Grants are available from $10,000 to $50,000. Supported activities must not last longer than two years from the proposed start date.
If you need advice about applying, contact an Artists Services Officer.
Example:
- professional skills development, including mentoring and residencies
- the creation of new work
- practice based research
- creative development
- experimentation
- collaborations and exchanges
- touring
- festivals
- productions
- exhibitions
- performances
- publishing
- recording
- promotion and marketing
- market development activity
- activities that creatively engage communities.
Key information
- Closing Date: 02 Sep 2025
- What’s changed: Ongoing grant – details changed
- Provider: Creative Australia
- Up to $50,000 for a range of activities and projects, both national and international, across all art forms.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Grants for rural and regional students
Overview
Your local Country Education Foundation (CEF) supports youth in your area through financial grants for education and employment expenses. Our grants contribute towards apprenticeships, traineeships, cadetships, diplomas, certificate level studies, university qualifications or employment.
A grant from the Country Education Foundation (CEF) will help you pay for educational purpose costs associated with any post-school educational and training expenses.
Generally, a local grant can be anywhere between $250-$5,000.
When to apply:
Grant applications are generally open during the second half of each calendar year, however each committee has different dates for consideration. You can check with your local foundation opening and closing dates here.
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview with their local committee.
- Grants will be allocated after interviews have been completed and you are accepted into your chosen course/apprenticeship/training.
Key information
CEF grants are based on financial need, not academic success. You will however, need to demonstrate commitment to achieving your goal. The four essential selection criteria are:
- You have a demonstrated financial need;
- You are aged 16-25 years;
- You have attended school in or currently live in the region covered by your local CEF (view full list HERE) and
- You are able to demonstrate commitment to achieving your goal.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
NSW Venue Upgrades Grants – Program 2
Grants are available for dedicated live music venues in New South Wales to support venue upgrades that enhance audience and visitor experience. Funding can support the purchase of equipment and a range of infrastructure development works.
Key Requirements
The program aims to support venue upgrades that enhance audience and visitor experience at live music venues in New South Wales.
This funding aims to:
- Build capability of dedicated live music venues to deliver world class audience and visitor experiences
- Increase the number of fit-for-purpose live music venues in NSW
- Increase sector knowledge and expertise in best practice sound management and sustainable live music programming
- Reduce sound impact on neighbours, leading to less complaints and increased business viability
- Increase diversity of live music offerings
Key information
- Grants up to $250,000 are available, with a minimum 30% co-contribution required.
- Co-contributions can be cash or in-kind contributions e.g. donated goods, services or volunteer work to support a project
- Applications are open until April 14th, 2025
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
NSW Venue Upgrades Grants – Program 2
Grants are available for dedicated live music venues in New South Wales to support venue upgrades that enhance audience and visitor experience. Funding can support the purchase of equipment and a range of infrastructure development works.
Key Requirements
The program aims to support venue upgrades that enhance audience and visitor experience at live music venues in New South Wales.
This funding aims to:
- Build capability of dedicated live music venues to deliver world class audience and visitor experiences
- Increase the number of fit-for-purpose live music venues in NSW
- Increase sector knowledge and expertise in best practice sound management and sustainable live music programming
- Reduce sound impact on neighbours, leading to less complaints and increased business viability
- Increase diversity of live music offerings
Key information
- Grants up to $250,000 are available, with a minimum 30% co-contribution required.
- Co-contributions can be cash or in-kind contributions e.g. donated goods, services or volunteer work to support a project
- Applications are open until April 14th, 2025
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
100 Women 2025 Grants Now Open
100 Women are passionate about our mission to advance the safety, health, education and economic opportunities of women and girls.
Grants of up to $50,000 to successful organisations. Each year the level of funding differs based on the number of memberships and donations in the grants pool.
Please make sure to review our guidelines and selection criteria for 2025 below.
Applications close 4pm WST on 30th April, 2025.
Key Requirements
The program aims to support venue upgrades that enhance audience and visitor experience at live music venues in New South Wales.
Organisations must be a fund, authority or institution:
- which is Charitable (or would be a charity within the meaning of the Australian Charities Act 2013
(Cth) if it were not a ‘government entity’, as defined in the Act) - has Item 1 Deductible Gift Recipient Status (DGR)
- has been operating for at least 36 months (evidenced by ABN Status and/or Australian Charities
and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Date Established); and - has a total annual revenue (as last reported to the ACNC) of $3 million or less.
Key information
- Applications will be considered for projects up to A$50,000 and for a maximum period of 24 months that:
- Improve economic outcomes for girls and women who are disadvantaged or face barriers; or
- Improve health outcomes for girls and women; or
- Improve educational outcomes for girls and women; or
How to apply
Click HERE to apply