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Grants & Funding
There are many grants and funding programs available to assist and support community and non-profit groups in all areas. Here are details of some of the grants and funding opportunities that are available.
The fund distributes one-off grants of up to $30,000 to Queensland-based, not-for-profit community groups in order to benefit Queensland communities. There are four funding 'rounds' each year, with closing dates of February 28, May 31, August 31 and November 30 respectively.
Community groups wishing to apply for a grant can access the funding application package, or gain further information, from the website at:
The Department of Education, Training and the Arts provides funding to elegible organisations and individuals for community employment and training programs. There are a wide range of funding opportunities available. For further information, see the website at:
Arts Queensland have a wide variety of grants available to individuals, communities and not-for-profit organisations working in any art form, for funding programs that support the arts, economic development and innovation.
Further information, grants guidelines and application forms are available on their website or contact:
Arts Queensland
Tollfree: 1800 175 531
Email: grants@arts.qld.gov.au
If your organisation is preparing a grant application and needs a bit of help with it, Ourcommunity.com has a list of people who might be able to assist you. They maintain a list of grant writers available to help community groups with grants and funding appiclications. To find out more, visit the website at:
The New Townsville City Council offers a wide range of cultural, sport/recreational and general grants designed to support projects that enhance the local community.
For further information regarding these grants, visit the website at:
Smart Supplies, a Queensland-based IT consumables retailer, has developed an online scheme that provides a fundraising opportunity for not-for-profit groups.
The Smart Supplies Community Rebate Scheme works liks this: Everyone who purchases products through the company's website can nominate to support one of the not-for-profit groups registered in the scheme. 2% of every purchase made by that supporter then goes to the nominated group. The community organisation gains much-needed funds, and the customers gain the satisfaction of knowing that they have contributed to a worthwhile organisation.
For more information or to register with the scheme, please visit the website at:
VaultOne is a financial services company that offers a free fundraising service for community groups.
The company has access to 80+ authorised agents and 30+ lenders, including the major banks, and offers financial planning, superannuation packages and general insurance. VaultOne donate part of their commission fees to not-for-profit organisations.
For more information or to register with the scheme, please visit the website at:
Donation Home Loans, a mortgage broker, donates a sizable proportion of their ongoing commissions to client-nominated charities, schools, non-profit organisations and clubs.
For more information, visit the website at:
The Queensland Government have launched a service designed to make accessing information on Queensland Government grants easier.
Through the Integrated Grants Information service, Queenslanders can access information on State Government funding and grants programs and find all of the grants they may be eligible to receive from all departments, through an online wizard.
To find grant opportunities, visit the website at:
There are currently a large number of donors willing to contribute to community organisations online. The Australian Giving Centre is a service that provides an opportunity for community organisations to receive donations through their websites.
Interested organisations are required to have a website. They can then sign up with the service to gain the facility for receiving online donations.
For more information, or to register with the service, visit the website at:
www.ourcommunity.com.au/giving
If you are not eligible for a grant to do something in your area, than you can sometimes remedy this by working with an organisation that is eligible. Some organisations provide an umbrella for groups that are not incorporated.
Auspice Agreements have to be designed with care, because there is a chain of responsibility to be organised. The funding body (let's call them A) is giving the money to the auspicing organisation (B), which is giving it to the group who has applied for the funding (C). The funding body (A) does not have a contract with (C), and has not got a comeback against (C) if things go wrong. The only remedy (A) has is to take up a grievance with the auspicing body (B). Therefore it is (B) that is taking the risk, if any, and needs to have insurance - provisions in the Agreement, that will enable it to intervene where necessary to keep things on track.
For further information on auspicing, Arts NSW - the NSW Department of the Arts, Sport and Recreation have some information about it in their document 'Guidelines for Auspicing Bodies'. This document is available as a pdf file download from their website or by calling Arts NSW on (02) 9228 5533 or 1800 358 594 (NSW).
Download 'Guidelines for Auspicing Bodies' (pdf file)
NRMA Insurance is providing grants of up to $5000 for projects that help make your community safer and more sustainable. Community groups can apply for grants in the areas of emergency services, crime and injury prevention and the environment.
For more information visit the website at:
The Writing Wizards have been providing professional writing services throughout Townsville and North Queensland since 2001. They assist companies, including community organisations, with the preparation of funding applications, grant writing and policy and procedure manuals.
For further information, please contact:
The Writing Wizards
Shop 5/57 Bowen Road, Rosslea, 4812
Ph: 07-4775 2114
Fax: 07-4775 2134
Email: info@writingwizards.com.au
The NQ Toyota Cowboys, supported by Coca-Cola, have a charitable trust program - The Cowboys Community Fund. The fund's main aim is to provide encouragement and financial assistance in improving the quality of life for young people in North Queensland. The trust raises funds through a variety of activities, which are then distributed to charitable community causes.
For more information, visit the website at:
The Volunteer Small Equipment Grants (VSEG) was designed to help Australia's volunteers support their vital work. This funding, provided by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, provides grants of up to $3,000 (GST inclusive) for community organisations to help them purchase portable and tangible items of small equipment that will make the work of their volunteers easier, safer and/or, more enjoyable.
In 2008, with the change of Government, it was renamed the Volunteer Grants Program and extended to include funding for community organisations to reimburse volunteers for their fuel costs.
For more information, visit the website at:
2009 is a special year. It's the 150th anniversary of Queensland's separation from New South Wales.
The official celebrations held throughout the year will be based on the idea 'Reflect on our past, imagine our future' and designed around four themes, 'History', 'People', 'Places' and 'Future'.
For community groups and organisations wanting to celebrate the event in their own way, there is a special funding opportunity available.
The Queensland Government has provided a total of $4 million to help communities celebrate Queensland's 150th birthday. The funding is to be allocated over three rounds. The first round saw funding of over $400,000 granted, while the remaining $3.5 million is due to be allocated over the remaining two rounds.
The grants range from $2,000 to $10,000 and are available to community groups, educational institutions, incorporated organisations and local councils within Queensland, for projects which will commemorate the historic occasion in a way that is meaningful for them.
Applications are now open for the second round of grants. Submissions close on April 13.
Successful applicants will be announced in June.
The third and final round will open in July, with submissions closing in September.
Granted is a not-for-profit organisation that provides advice to community sector organisations that are developing funding applications.
They provide free assistance to organisations that:
Natural Resource Management Australia are providing up to $25 million in 2008-2009 for the Caring for our Country grants, which are aimed at providing funding for projects that protect Australia's natural environment and create a sustainable future for our country. Grants will range between $80,000 to $400,000.
For more information and to apply, please visit the website at: