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:
Collector Wind Farm Community Fund
Upper Lachlan Shire Council advises that the Collector Wind Farm Community Fund is open for applications and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 30 May 2025.
The Collector Wind Farm Community Fund aims to support initiatives that strengthen the local community through projects 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:
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
Taralga Wind Farm Community Fund
Upper Lachlan Shire Council advises that the Taralga Wind Farm Community Fund funding round is open for applications and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 30 May 2025.
The Taralga Wind Farm Community Fund aims to support initiatives that strengthen the local community through projects that contribute to neighboring 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:
Applications may be submitted by post to: PO Box 42, Gunning, NSW, 2581 or emailed to council@upperlachlan.nsw.gov.au.
For further information please contact Upper Lachlan Shire Council via email council@upperlachlan.nsw.gov.au or phone 4830 1000.
Rye Park Wind Farm Grants
Upper Lachlan Shire Council advises that the Rye Park Wind Farm Community Fund funding round is open for applications and will close at 5.00pm on Friday 30 May 2025.
The Rye Park 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 and in the Upper Lachlan Shire Council local government area. At least 20% of the fund will be allocated towards educational needs.
The Guidelines and Application Form are available at the following links or on the Council website under Community/Grants:
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
Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities. The deadline for the application is the 2 September 2025.
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
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. Applications for the 2026 Grants open 1st July.
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
Wayahead Mental Health Grant
Aim is to make these grants as accessible as possible. We prioritise innovative ideas over perfect spelling or grammar. Applications for the 2025 Small Grant Program are open until June 6th.
We understand that not everyone has access to grant writers, and we strongly encourage small groups, communities, and organisations to apply. Please be assured that proficient English writing skills are not a prerequisite for a successful application.
The judging criteria includes, assessing innovation, outreach, feasibility, alignment with the Mental Health Month theme, and potential for collaboration.
Key information – Grant Categories
- General Grant – individuals, groups or organisations to propose projects or events that promote mental health awareness and dialogue.
- Youth Grant – invites young people, individuals, youth-focused groups or organisations to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness among peers during Mental Health Month.
- LGBTQIA+ Grant – individuals, groups or organisations focusing on LGBTQIA+ to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support within the community.
- CALD Grant – individuals, groups or organisations addressing CALD communities to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support.
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Grant – individuals, groups or organisations focusing on Indigenous communities to propose projects or events promoting mental health awareness and support.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Now Open
The STS Program aims is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel who served in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and their families.
The 2025-26 STS Program open for applications from 31 March 2025. You can register on GrantConnect
The intended outcome of the program is to provide funding for projects and activities that:
- promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service, and the role of service personnel
- preserve, or increase awareness, understanding or access to information about Australia’s wartime heritage.
- Projects and activities relating to all wars, conflicts, peacekeeping operations and National Service are eligible.
Community Grants – maximum grants of up to $10,000
Major Grants – between $10,001 and $150,000
The objective of the program is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel who served in wars, conflicts and peace operations, including Notional Services personnel, and their families.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Community War Memorials Fund
Applications for the 2025/26 Community War Memorials Fund open on 22 April and there are some exciting program changes.
There will now be one grant round per year with a total of $250,000 funding available, with the maximum individual grants amount increased to $15,000. Applications can also be submitted under a new category for works to war memorial precincts, as well as the existing categories for condition assessments and physical works.
These changes will allow for more funding to organisations and more significant works to war memorials across NSW. If you have any questions about these changes, please email VeteransGrants@veterans.nsw.gov.au.
More information about the 2025/26 round will be available on this website closer to the opening date.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Strengthening Rural Communities — Small & Vital
Small grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000). The timeframe to deliver these projects is up to 12 months.
Applications are now open until 24 June 2025 applications close.
FRRR’s Small & Vital program supports thriving, resilient, and sustainable remote, rural and regional communities across Australia. In particular, priority will be given to projects that:
- Support communities to implement generational transition
- Invest in outback, remote, and less resourced communities
- Build capacity and resourcing for a just and equitable energy transition
- Support First Nations-led initiatives that strengthen culture, country, economic participation, and reconciliation
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly.
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Strengthening Rural Communities – Prepare & Recover
The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Prepare & Recover program supports communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term timeframe, generally one to ten years after the disaster.
Grants up to $25,000 are available for a broad range of initiatives.
Applications are now open until 24 June 2025 applications close.
The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Prepare & Recover program supports communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term timeframe, generally one to ten years after the disaster.
Grants up to $25,000 are available for a broad range of initiatives. Priority will be given to projects that:
- Respond to a specific climate impact or event, either historic or likely to occur in the future;
- Focus on community-led resilience building in recovery or preparedness to strengthen the capacity and capability of local people and systems, especially to manage the impact of future disasters, through: inclusion; networks; communication; information sharing; self-organising systems; local decision making; or resourcing, tools and support.
- Are from local community groups and not-for-profits or organisations that do not have DGR status.
FRRR also wants to support projects that:
- Build capacity and resourcing for a just and equitable energy transition
- Invest in outback, remote and less-resourced communities where they may be more highly impacted by disasters
- Support First Nations-led initiatives that strengthen culture, Country, economic participation and reconciliation
- Support communities to implement generational transition
- Build capacity and resourcing for a just and equitable energy transition
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
Backroads · Arts on Tour
Backroads connects communities throughout regional and remote NSW to small-scale, high quality performing arts events. The initiative aims to extend and support the reach of professional productions to regional towns that do not have performing arts centres as well as support small hall activation and the work of independent producers and artists.
Applications OPEN Wed 23 July
Applications CLOSE Wed 17 September
Applicants from NSW can apply for one of three $7,000 grants to support a tour to 1-3 independent or community-run venues. The tour may include major performing arts centres but Backroads funds cannot go towards the delivery of those performances.
How to apply
Applications for Backroads 2025 open on Wednesday 23 July at 9am (AEST) and close on Wednesday 17 September at 5pm (AEST).
An application information session will be held via zoom on Wednesday 16 July at 3pm (AEST) – register here.
All applicants are required to contact Mark at Arts on Tour prior to submitting an application to discuss their project.
Strengthening Rural Communities — Small & Vital
The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. There are two tiers of Small & Vital funding available.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly.
Small grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000). The timeframe to deliver these projects is up to 12 months.
Targeted larger leverage grants up to $50,000 are available for projects that focus on strengthening the digital skills, confidence and safety of adults enabling them to get online, build social connections, and access services, information, education, and employment through training, as well as acquiring the digital and connectivity infrastructure where needed. The timeframe to deliver these projects is up to 18 months.
FRRR’s Small & Vital program supports thriving, resilient, and sustainable remote, rural and regional communities across Australia. In particular, priority will be given to projects that:
– Support communities to implement generational transition;
– Invest in outback, remote, and less resourced communities;
– Build capacity and resourcing for a just and equitable energy transition;
– Support First Nations-led initiatives that strengthen culture, country, economic participation, and reconciliation.
Round 25 is now open
Applications close 5pm VIC time (AEST) 24 June 2025
Funding announced by late August 2025
How to apply
Click HERE to apply
2025 Veolia Mulwaree Trust Donation Program – Round 2
Veolia Mulwaree Trust’s online application service, powered by SmartyGrants.
Submissions are now being accepted
Submissions close at midnight 11 June 2025
When the funding round opens you may begin anywhere in this application form. Please ensure you save as you go.
Click here to view the program guidelines. For queries about the guidelines, deadlines or questions in the form, please contact the Veolia Mulwaree Trust on (02) 48222786 Monday to Thursday 9am to 3.30pm or email vmt@veolia.com and quote your submission number.
If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
How to apply
Click HERE to apply