Blog — The Grants Hub

Latest Australian Community Grants November 2025

Written by The Grants Hub | 31 Oct 2025

Community organisations across Australia play a vital role in creating thriving, connected, and resilient communities. Whether you're a small grassroots group, an established not-for-profit, or a sporting club looking to make a difference, finding the right funding can be the key to bringing your vision to life.

Below are some exciting grant opportunities specifically designed to support community initiatives across Australia. These represent just a small selection of the 1,600+ community grants currently available through The Grants Hub's
Grants Directory.

 

Current Grant Opportunities for Community Groups

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital

Provider: Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
Amount: Up to $50,000
Applications close: 4 December 2025 - Rolling applications accepted quarterly
Location: National (preference for communities under 15,000 people)

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.

Two funding tiers available:

  • Small grants up to $10,000: For grassroots, community-led initiatives (12-month projects)
  • Larger leverage grants up to $50,000: For digital skills, confidence and safety initiatives (18-month projects).

Priority areas:

  • Generational transition support
  • Outback, remote, and less resourced communities
  • Just and equitable energy transition
  • First Nations-led initiatives strengthening culture, country, and economic participation
  • Projects supporting disadvantaged women and children
  • Digital inclusion initiatives
  • Environmental sustainability.

What can be funded:

  • Activities, events, programs and services
  • Equipment and materials
  • Community infrastructure projects
  • Organisational capacity building
  • Community resource development.

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

 

Telstra's Connected Communities Grant Program

Provider: Telstra & FRRR
Amount: Up to $10,000
Applications close: 12 March 2026
Location: National (rural, regional and remote Australia)

Supports community-led efforts that embrace new technology and improve digital literacy or digital capability across remote, rural and regional Australia.

The program seeks to foster:
  • Liveable communities with digital capability
  • Sustainable communities that are diverse and inclusive
  • Resilient communities are prepared for disaster with ability to recover together.
Examples of fundable projects:
  • Taking meetings, documents and communication online
  • Digital training for members of all ages
  • Streamlining volunteer management through digital tools
  • Purchasing hardware and software with training
  • Cyber safety workshops for vulnerable cohorts
  • Emergency preparedness with digital equipment
  • E-waste recycling programs
  • Digital equity initiatives for students.
Priority given to:
  • Projects initiated by local community groups and not-for-profits
  • Organisations without DGR-1 status.

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

 

Growing Stronger Communities Grants

Provider: People First Bank Foundation
Amount: $20,000
Applications close: 14 November 2025
Location: National (specific footprint regions)

Supports high quality programs that create long-lasting positive impacts by reaching people in need in communities served by People First Bank, People's Choice and Heritage Bank.

Focus areas:

  • Supporting people experiencing domestic violence, child abuse, homelessness, and food insecurity
  • Supporting health care (physical and mental) services for vulnerable people and families
  • Supporting young people experiencing barriers to equitable education.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Non-profit with DGR status item 1
  • Funding for existing program/service (not new initiatives)
  • Evidence of program success and clear outcomes
  • Evidence of lived experience
  • Annual income under $10 million
  • Less than 70% income from government sources
  • Registered with ACNC for 2+ years.

Priority regions:

  • NSW: Tweed Heads, Western Sydney
  • NT: Greater Darwin
  • QLD: Brisbane, Darling Downs, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay Burnett
  • SA: Statewide
  • VIC: Ballarat, Greater Melbourne, Warrnambool

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

 

James N. Kirby Foundation - Small Grants

Provider: James N. Kirby Foundation
Amount: $3,000 - $15,000
Applications close: 28 February 2026
Location: NSW priority, some national programs considered

Supports organisations and programs whose work benefits health, education and technology, environment and social welfare, and the arts.

Key requirements:

  • Must have current Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) endorsement
  • Priority given to NSW organisations or national programs primarily benefiting NSW
  • Does not fund auspiced entities.
Application requirements:
  • Completed online application form
  • Covering letter on DGR letterhead
  • Project budget breakdown.
Note: The Foundation no longer accepts online applications for funding exceeding $15,000.

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

 

SilverChef Community Grants Program

Provider: SilverChef
Amount: $5,000 (75:25 mix of equipment and cash)
Applications close: Rolling quarterly (current round closes 30 June 2025)
Location: National

Provides grants to eligible community groups who use hospitality to support disadvantaged or under-served communities.

Eligible organisations:

  • Registered charities and not-for-profits
  • Social enterprises
  • Private entities with ABN where improving Indigenous lives accounts for 50%+ of time/resources.

Grant breakdown:

  • $3,750 equipment credit: For 'Certified Used' commercial kitchen equipment
  • $1,250 cash: For freight, installation, or other uses.

Funding rounds:

  • Four grants of $5,000 awarded each quarter
  • Unsuccessful applications automatically reconsidered in subsequent rounds.

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

 

Connellan Airways Trust General Grants

Provider: Connellan Airways Trust
Amount: Unspecified
Applications close: 15 November 2025
Location: National (Outback Australia focus)

Aims to improve social and economic outcomes for people living in Outback Australia.

Two categories:

  • Individual grants: For people living/working on stations or in small isolated towns
  • Organisational grants: For small-to-medium organisations supporting Outback communities.

Fundable activities:

  • Specific projects and travel costs
  • Education and skill building
  • Technology and communications
  • Community experiences
  • Innovation and passion projects.

Focus areas:

  • Advancement of education, health and wellbeing
  • Extension of skills and services in Outback Australia
  • Innovation projects directly impacting Outback communities
  • Financial assistance as required.

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

 

Grant Writing Tips for Success

1. Demonstrate Community Need and Impact

Clearly articulate the problem your project addresses and how it will benefit your community. Use local data and evidence to support your case, and show you understand the specific needs of your community.

2. Show Strong Community Engagement

Funders often want to see that your project has community support and involvement. Include letters of support whenever possible and evidence of consultation/community need.

3. Present a Realistic and Detailed Budget

Ensure your budget accurately reflects all project costs and clearly shows how grant funds will be used. Include any in-kind contributions or co-funding to demonstrate community investment. Make sure your income and expediture columns add up to the same amount! The grant goes into the project's 'income' line.

4. Highlight Partnerships and Collaboration

Many successful community grants demonstrate strong partnerships with other organisations. If you are collaborating with others and/or have their support, show how you're working collaboratively to maximise impact, avoid duplication, and share your point of difference.

5. Plan for Sustainability

This is the grip of many grant applicants, as financial sustainability is so hard to achive. But, in an ideal application you should outline how your project or initiative will continue beyond the grant period. Funders often want to see their investment will create lasting change in your community. That said, more funders are becoming aware of just how difficult financial sustainability is. Be open and transparent.

6. Target Rural and Regional Opportunities

Many community grants prioritise rural, regional and remote communities. If this describes your location, emphasise the unique challenges your community faces and the limited resources available. For example, your local swimming pool with children's acquatic lessons might be 50+ kilometres away.

Finding More Opportunities

Many grants welcome applications from diverse community organisations, even if not explicitly stated. Check each grant's applicant eligiblity requirements, and if your community group ticks all the boxes but isn't specifially listed, it's likely the funder is happy to receive an application from you. If you're not sure, get in touch with the funding provider to check before you start working on your grant application.

Our Grants Directory contains 1,600+ community grant opportunities currently open that could help fund your work across various sectors and focus areas.

When searching for grants, consider looking beyond general community funding to include:

  • Sector-specific grants (health, education, sport, arts, environment)
  • Digital inclusion and technology grants
  • Indigenous-led initiative funding
  • Volunteer support programs
  • Infrastructure and equipment grants
  • Capacity building opportunities
  • Regional development programs.

 

Ready to Get Started?

The Grants Hub's directory is updated daily with new grant opportunities. You can filter grants by location, sector, funding amount, and application deadlines to find the perfect match for your project. Set up a custom alert so that you never miss a grant opportunity again.

Whether you're building community infrastructure, delivering programs and services, supporting vulnerable people, or enhancing digital capability, there are funding options available to support your goals.