CURRENT 2024 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
*dates listed are the closing dates for applications
⭐ indicates recently added or updated
ONGOING - ‘Lights On, Doors Open’ – Stipend Program Supporting Volunteer-led Museums in NSW
The ‘Lights On, Doors Open’ stipend program has been established to relieve the pressures faced by volunteer-led museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces in NSW.
Various short-term, operational projects, such as (but not limited to) the following areas:
Bills for amenities
Small maintenance jobs
IT support
Small marketing projects
Fees for service
For more information head to the Museums & Galleries of NSW website.
Funding will be allocated based on the order of eligible applications received until funds are exhausted.
April:
30th April - In a Good Place (IAGP)
Supporting mental health in rural communities
The In a Good Place program gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of community-driven projects, services, activities or initiatives, which clearly and directly focus on strengthening mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable community members who are at risk of, or are experiencing, mental health issues.
The program aims to support a range of approaches that are preventative or responsive in nature, reduce social isolation by increasing social participation and connectedness, and reduce stigma surrounding mental health by encouraging open discussion and supporting self-help-seeking.
There are now two streams within the program:
➡️ Community wellbeing for projects focussing on mental health and wellbeing within remote, rural and regional communities;
➡️ Farmers and farming communities for project specifically supporting mental health and wellbeing of farmers and the communities they live in.
Expressions of Interest are due by 30 April with full applications submitted by invitation by 15 May.
Funding will be awarded by mid August 2024.
MAY:
9 May - Community Heritage Grants - 2024 Round
The Community Heritage Grants (CHG) program supports community organisations to look after Australian cultural heritage collections. Since 1994, this program has provided more than $8.9 million dollars in funding to over 1,650 projects across Australia.
The annual round offers cash grants of up to $20,000. The first two stages support organisations to work with heritage practitioners to:
Explain the meaning and value of their collections (a significance assessment)
Outline the condition of their collections and create a plan to manage it (a preservation needs assessment)
In the third and final stage, organisations can apply for funding to:
Undertake conservation and collection management activities as recommended in the preservation needs assessment
Funding is also available for:
Collection management training projects
Further details about eligible projects are available in the CHG Guideline(PDF, 479kb).
⭐ 10 May - Qantas Regional Grants
The Qantas Regional Grants program is back, offering $2 million in support to Australian-based communities and projects that are looking to benefit our country's regional areas.
The Qantas Regional Grants judging panel will determine the successful applicants each year. The panel will examine all eligible entries and select applicants that they determine best meet all the criteria below.
The extent to which the applicant directly services a regional community need and demonstrates a measurable socioeconomic impact.
The extent to which the applicant can maximise local community benefits in regional Australia with the Qantas Regional Grants Program funding.
The extent to which the project or activity will celebrate and highlight the work of the applicant and help boost the profile and strength of the applicant for the future.
The ability of the applicant to demonstrate innovation in their project strategy, goals and mission, and how these align to improving their service offering and increasing regional impact.
14 May - International Rights Fund For Literature
This program supports literary agents, rights managers and publishers to attend international markets such as book fairs to sell rights in Australian works of creative writing. This includes fiction, poetry, writing for children and young people, graphic novels, and narrative non-fiction (defined as autobiography, biography, essays, histories, literary criticism, or analytical prose). Contributions of $5,000 per successful applicant are available.
Closes Tuesday 14 May 2024 at 3pm AEST, for travel after 1 July 2024.
20 May 2024 - Small Projects Grants (Quick Response) - Individuals and Groups 2023/24
Small Project Grants (Quick Response) supports professional development opportunities for NSW-based professional artists, groups and arts and cultural workers (including museum workers) that are time sensitive and respond to short notice invitations with career-building significance.
Objectives are to:
Invest in NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers) to participate in outstanding and relevant time-sensitive professional development opportunities
Increase the capacity of NSW-based artists and arts/cultural workers in becoming arts and cultural leaders
Enable artists, groups, and arts/cultural workers (including museum workers) to participate in outstanding and relevant time-sensitive opportunities
Contribute to the creation, development and/or presentation of new work related to career development.
JUNE:
4 June - Playing Australia Project Investment
Supporting performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia. Playing Australia Project Investment supports performing arts tours to reach regional and remote communities across Australia. The program supports net touring costs and other designated costs associated with tours. There is no limit on the amount that can be requested.
⭐ 5 June - 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.
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).
30 June - Screen NSW Festival Travel
The Festival Travel Funding Program supports travel costs for projects by NSW Key Creatives for significant international festivals outside Australia. It is open to any project within the range of activities that Screen NSW supports, which include animation, documentary, features, shorts, television, children’s television and interactive.
Funding amount: Up to $6,000
Application close (for 23/24 Financial Year): 30 June 2024
30 June - Screen NSW Market Travel
The Market Travel Funding Program supports NSW screen practitioners with travel related to markets, industry trade missions and financing projects.
Funding amount: Up to $6,000
Application close (for 23/24 Financial Year): 30 June 2024
30 June - Screen NSW - 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.
Applications open: 31 October 2023
30 June - Aboriginal Languages Trust Small Grants Program
The Aboriginal Languages Trust Small Grants Program provides open and non-competitive grants between $1,000 to $15,000 to support Critical Language activities by NSW Aboriginal not for profit Community organisations, groups, and Aboriginal sole traders.
The total amount of funding allocated to this program in 2023-2024 is $100,000.
This grant will close on the 30th of June 2024 or when the total allocation of funding is exhausted.
For more information see the Aboriginal Languages Trust Small Grants Program 2023-24 Guidelines and FAQs.
Applications can be submitted online through SmartyGrants while funds are available.
JULY:
25 July - Community War Memorials Fund
The purpose of the Community War Memorials Fund (CWMF) is to help conserve, repair and protect war memorials across NSW to support community commemoration, by funding projects that follow best practice conservation principles and processes. The CWMF is targeted at organisations who are responsible for the management of war memorials in NSW
SEPTEMBER:
3 September - Arts Projects for Individuals and Groups
Up to $50,000 for a range of activities and projects, both national and international, across all art forms. 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.
3 September - Arts Projects for Organisations
Up to $100,000 for a single project, a suite of projects, or an annual program of activity, across all art forms. This program funds a range of activities that deliver benefits to the arts sector and wider public, including national and international audiences and communities. Organisations that undertake arts programs, projects, or that provide services to artists, are welcome to apply. Organisations can propose a single project, a suite of projects or an annual program of activity. Grants are available from $20,000 to $100,000. Supported activities must last no longer than two years from the proposed start date.
OCTOBER:
27 October 2024 (or until funds are exhausted) - Museums & Galleries of NSW Skills Development Grants
Skills Development Grants provide funding to volunteer museums, museum networks, and Aboriginal cultural spaces for regional or state focused skill development training and networking events involving more than one organisation.
TO APPLY: Please contact the Museum Coordinator.
ONGOING GRANT FUNDING
Regional Event Fund: Event Development Stream
This grant supports the strategic growth of proven events that demonstrate a clear rationale for the continued development of its tourism potential. The Event Development stream supports events that have previously received the maximum funding permitted through the Flagship Event stream and can present a strategy for future growth that includes the continued development of its tourism potential to drive overnight visitation to the event.
Grant amount: Up to $50,000
Regional Arts Australia - Regional Arts Fund Grants - OPENING SOON!
Quick Response Grants are open in all states and territories. To apply, contact your relevant Regional Program Administrator. Check out our website for past Regional Arts Fund projects.
There are two streams of the Regional Arts Fund that are open for applications, Project Grants and Quick Response Grants. There is one national set of Guidelines, produced by the Australian Government, that outline the eligibility criteria, assessment criteria and how to apply.
QUICK RESPONSE GRANTS are delivered each year from February to November, and are batched for assessment at the end of each month. Projects must commence between 2 and 12 weeks from the closing date of the round you are applying in.
PROJECT GRANTS operate in rounds once or twice per year, depending on the applicant’s jurisdiction. Applicants can receive up to $30,000 and projects must fit within the timelines of the round. Please check the calendar below and contact your Regional Program Administrator for more information.
Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP) - Stream One: Precinct development and planning
The rPPP Precinct development and planning offers grants up to $5 million to develop a precinct idea through to investment-ready stage in partnership with local stakeholders to benefit regional communities.
Destination NSW - 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. Applications for the 2023/24 Regional Event Fund will open on Thursday, 2 March 2023 for events held between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024. Grants are available through the three streams listed on the website.
Major Projects Facilitation Agency (MPFA) - Major Project Status
Major Project Status enables strategically significant projects facing complex regulatory challenges to get extra support and coordinated approvals. Developers with projects over $50 million, facing complex regulatory approval challenges, and of strategic significance to Australia.
State Heritage Register Emergency Works Funding NSW - State Heritage Register Emergency Works Funding NSW
State Heritage Register Emergency Works Funding provides owners and managers of heritage items with funding to help protect and repair damage caused by unexpected events, including extreme storms or accidents.
First Nations Tourism Mentoring Program (FNTMP) - Free mentoring support for First Nations tourism businesses
This program provides free mentoring support to eligible First Nations tourism businesses.
Screen NSW - Regional Filming Fund
The Regional Filming Fund offsets costs associated with shooting in regional areas of NSW.
The objectives of the program are to:
Increase economic activity in regional NSW, by encouraging NSW screen productions to film outside of metropolitan areas
Enable regional NSW to benefit from the growth of film and television production in the State.
Funding amount: Up to $175,000
Applications open: 31 October 2023
Screen NSW - Location Scouts and Inbounds Program
The program offers long-form footloose productions scouting assistance for location surveys for eligible projects and may include covering some of the costs associated with location surveys including accommodation, domestic flights, vehicle hire and location manager services. Eligible projects are feature films, telemovies, mini-series, TV series or reality programs.
Funding amount: Up to $3,000
Applications: Open
Screen NSW - Made in NSW
Screen NSW’s Made in NSW Program is a five-year funding program to support the advancement of NSW as a production destination for feature films and major television drama programs.
Screen NSW - Digital Games Rebate
The NSW Government is offering a 10 percent rebate on eligible digital games.
Screen NSW - Development Program
Screen NSW Development funding supports writers and producers to develop fiction or unscripted (documentary) and online projects with distinctive ideas and ambitious stories.
Funding amount: Up to $50,000 depending on the project type and level of market interest
Applications open from Monday 30 October 2023
Screen NSW - Strategic Opportunities
The Strategic Opportunities Program supports initiatives and events that strengthen NSW’s screen industry. The Strategic Opportunities Program is a big-picture funding initiative administered by Screen NSW to strengthen the NSW screen industry. This ongoing program supports initiatives and events that demonstrate long-term benefits to the NSW screen industry. Projects and events with high artistic quality, particularly those involving people from underrepresented groups and priority areas, are highly valued in the competitive assessment process.
Funding amount: From $2,000
Applications: Open
Screen Australia – First Nations Program: Sector Development (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.
Screen Australia – First Nations Program: Documentary Production
This program seeks to support strong and distinctive documentary projects primarily to assist in the professional development of the key creative team.
Lights On, Doors Open’ – Stipend Program Supporting Volunteer-led Museums in NSW
The program has been established to relieve the pressures faced by volunteer-led museums and Aboriginal cultural spaces in NSW and aims to support eligible organisations, reduce the burden of constant fundraising, and allow them to focus on collections, maintenance, and best practices. Grants of $2,000 are available for eligible applicants. Up to 113 organisations will benefit from this initiative. Note: Funding will be allocated based on the order of eligible applications received until funds are exhausted.
Microsoft for Nonprofits
Provides grants and discounts across Microsoft cloud products.
Create NSW Quick Response Grants - Small Project Grants (Quick Response) for Individuals Small Project Grants (Quick Response) support the creation, development and presentation of new work and professional development opportunities for NSW-based professional artists, groups and arts and cultural workers (including museum workers). You can apply for funding from $500 up to $5000. Quick Response Grants are delivered each year from February to November. Please note: Your project must be urgent or time-sensitive. Your project must commence three weeks after the date you submit your application. You must complete your project within 3 months of receiving funding.
Performers’ Trust Foundation
Up to $3000 for individuals and $5000 for groups or organisations
Premier’s Discretionary Fund
Supports community-based projects which are identified by the Premier through ongoing community engagement. Please see funding provider’s website for the types of projects previously funded.
The National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council Tony Manicaros Grant
Funds innovative projects which utilise, extend or develop opportunities in ethnic community radio broadcasting. Up to $2,000 can be given to a project.
Innovate Grant
Provides grants to artists and photographers to act as sparks of financial support that ignite your creative development. Grant cycles are open 4 times a year (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter). Each quarterly cycle: Two (2) US$550.00 grants awarded and four (4) honorable mentions. All recipients will be featured and recognized on Innovate’s website.
These small and mighty bursts of financial support aim to help you:
– Develop New Ideas
– Experiment with New Forms
– Create New Work.
Institute of Community Directors Scholarships.
Offers part-scholarships to not-for-profit leaders to complete the acclaimed ICDA Diploma of Governance. The ICDA Diploma of Governance is the only Diploma-level course specifically designed for the not-for-profit sector.
William Fletcher Foundation William Fletcher Artist Grants
Provides grants for the development of talented Australian artists.
A range of support is available, including:
– Support grants for students
– Development grants for mid-career artists
– NIDA Student Grants
– Sydney Theatre Awards
– Julian Ashton Half-Scholarship
Creative Partnerships Australia Australian Cultural Fund
Helps raise funds for Australian artists, via a donation-based fundraising platform.
The Australian Cultural Fund is a fundraising platform for Australian artists. It is managed by Creative Partnerships Australia and was established by the Australian Government in 2003 to encourage donations to the arts. Through the ACF, artists upload their project, start their fundraising campaign and invite art lovers and supporters to donate.
Gandel Foundation Community Grants
Seeks to prioritise support for the most vulnerable and marginalised groups in our society, and aims to help build stronger, more resilient, more vibrant and more inclusive communities.
Community grants are allocated up to a maximum amount of $40,000. They are generally envisaged as one-off grants aimed at providing support for a defined program or part of a program.
Club Grants are now open right across the region.
Head to the Club Grants page and find out more.
EMERGENCY HERITAGE WORKS GRANTS
The Emergency works grants are open all year round to eligible applicants and subject to available funding. These grants support the protection or repairs to declared Aboriginal Places, items listed on the State Heritage Register, or items with a current interim heritage order that have been damaged by unexpected events (such as an extreme storm or accident) and where your insurance does not cover this cost.
Grant amount: Up to $10,000
Application opened: 1 July 2023
Application closes: 30 June 2025