Top Australian Grants from March 2026

March 2026 saw strong engagement with grant opportunities across Australia, with thousands of organisations searching for funding.

Here are the grants that captured the most attention from Australian not-for-profits, businesses, education organisations and local government (taken directly from our Grants Directory analytics).

This analysis reveals not only which grants are available, but which grants Australian organisations are actively pursuing. You'll have insights into where the competition is strongest and which grant opportunities are generating the most interest.

Here are the grants that topped the charts in March.

The Top 3 Most Sought-After Grants in March

1. Major Funding Round - PMF Foundation

Taking the top spot this month, PMF Foundation's Major Funding Round drew significant attention from Australian not-for-profits seeking substantial, long-term funding. With grants ranging from $50,000 to $900,000, this program stands out for the scale of investment it offers and its focus on organisations driving systemic, lasting change.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via PMF Foundation

What makes the Major Funding Round popular:

• Grants typically range from $50,000 to $300,000 per year, with applications accepted for any amount up to $900,000
• Funding across three focus areas: Education, Environment, and First Nations
• Flexible structure — applications can cover dedicated projects, untied funding, operational costs, salaries, and capital expenditure
• Multi-year funding available for 1-, 2- or 3-year terms
• Supports new and existing programs, capacity building, and organisational activity

Current round: Round 1 opened 2 March 2026 and closes 31 March 2026.

Eligibility: DGR1 endorsement required (or a confirmed auspice arrangement with a DGR1 organisation). Must be registered with the ACNC with current reporting. Activities must be delivered within Australia and sit within the Education, Environment, or First Nations focus areas.

PMF Foundation has been operating since 2008 with a commitment to strategic, systemic solutions that address root causes rather than symptoms. Their emphasis on capacity building and self-reliance makes this program particularly attractive to organisations looking for more than a one-off project grant.

Note: This round is closing soon. Not-for-profit members of The Grants Hub were alerted when this grant opened — start your free trial to make sure you never miss the next round.

2. Danks Trust Annual Grant Round - Danks Trust

Securing second place this month, the Danks Trust Annual Grant Round attracted strong interest from organisations focused on education and poverty relief. Founded in 1928, the A.T. Danks Charitable Trust has a long history of supporting communities in need, distributing between $750,000 and $1 million in grants each year.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via Danks Trust

Grant details:

• Funding: $10,000 to $50,000 (single-year, one-off grants)
• Focus: Education of disadvantaged people/communities, or relief of poverty
• Total distributed annually: $750,000 to $1 million
• Current round closes 31 March 2026

The 2026 round prioritised initiatives that break cycles of disadvantage, are evidence-based and cost-effective, can generate leverage through volunteers and partnerships, and target long-term systemic change.

Key eligibility requirements:

• Not-for-profit charitable organisation with DGR and Income Tax Exemption (ITEC) status
• Must align with Education or Poverty service types as defined by the Trustees
• Must target at least one specified age group and cohort (e.g. children, families, those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or foster care)
• Organisations may only submit one application per round
• Organisations that have received Danks Trust funding may not re-apply within three years

Note: This round is closing soon. The Grants Hub members received early notification when applications opened — start your free trial to be ready for the 2027 round.

3. Foote Trust Donor Advised Grants - Greater Melbourne Foundation

Rounding out March's top three, the Foote Trust Donor Advised Grants program drew broad interest thanks to its unusually wide scope. Administered by Greater Melbourne Foundation on behalf of the Eldon and Anne Foote Trust, this grant covers nine distinct areas of interest and is open to a range of organisation types across Australia.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via Greater Melbourne Foundation

Grant details:

• Funding: Up to $50,000
• Focus areas: Arts, Athletics, Education, Environment, Health, Heritage, Medical Research, Recreation, and Social Causes
• Current round closes 13 April 2026
• Once-off, non-recurrent funding

The breadth of eligible focus areas is a key reason this grant consistently attracts attention. Small and medium charities that may not qualify for more narrowly defined programs often find a natural fit here.

Eligibility:

• Must be endorsed as a Tax Concession Charity (TCC) and up to date with ACNC reporting
• Must directly align to at least one area of interest
• Must be a small or medium charity as per ACNC size definitions
• Projects delivered in Melbourne or Australia-wide, including Norfolk Island

Other Popular Grants Still Open

Grants with April Deadlines

Several other grants from March's most-viewed list are still open and closing in April:

Community Customer Grants - Bank Australia

Closes 23 April 2026

Bank Australia's Community Customer Grants support organisations creating change in areas their customers care about — including climate action, housing affordability, First Nations recognition, family violence prevention, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, and disability inclusion. Notably, DGR status is not required, making this accessible to a wider range of community organisations.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via Bank Australia

Eligibility:

• Not-for-profits, schools, community groups, volunteer organisations, and social enterprises with an ABN
• DGR status not required
• Must be an existing Bank Australia or Qudos Bank customer who held a product before 30 June 2025

100 Women Grants - 100 Women

Closes 29 April 2026

The 100 Women collaborative giving circle funds organisations advancing the safety, health, education, and economic freedom of women and girls. Projects addressing multiple, interconnected needs are particularly encouraged.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via 100 Women

Grant details:

• Funding: $25,000 to $50,000
• Focus: Education & skills, economic empowerment, health & wellbeing, safety and resilience, and UN SDG #5 (gender equality)
• Co-contribution required: at least 25% of project costs in cash

Eligibility:

• DGR Item 1 status required
• Annual revenue of $5 million or less
• Must have been operating for at least 3 years
• Auspicing arrangements are not supported

The Impact Fund - Impact Advising

Closes 27 April 2026

A newer program generating growing interest, The Impact Fund provides three contributions of $10,000 each — a total of $30,000 — to nonprofit organisations making a genuine difference in their communities.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via Impact Advising

Eligibility:

• DGR1 status required
• Based in Australia
• One application per organisation
• Applications must outline impact and how funding will be used

Aurizon Community Giving Fund - Aurizon

Closes 24 April 2026

Aurizon's Community Giving Fund supports charities and community groups in regional and rural areas across Queensland, NSW, WA, SA, and the NT — specifically in communities where Aurizon operates.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via Aurizon

Grant details:

• Funding: $1,000 to $20,000
• Focus areas: Health & Wellbeing, Community Safety, Education, and Environment
• DGR Item 1 endorsement required
• Projects must benefit communities in Aurizon's operating regions

Grants Open Until May and Beyond

Community Giving Project - Elders

Closes 21 May 2026

Elders' Community Giving Project is specifically designed for not-for-profit organisations serving regional, rural, and remote communities across Australia. It offers 12 grants across six pillars, plus two People's Choice grants voted on by Elders employees.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via Elders

Grant details:

• Funding: $10,000 or $20,000 per grant (plus up to $10,000 for People's Choice grants)
• Six pillars: Regional skills & workforce development, Environmental awareness, Innovation, Healthy bodies and minds, Encouraging diversity, and Safety first
• No co-contribution required

Eligibility:

• Not-for-profit with an ABN, located in a regional, rural, or remote area where Elders operates
• Annual revenue below $1 million

Strengthening Rural Communities - Small & Vital (FRRR)

Round 4 closes 24 June 2026

FRRR's Strengthening Rural Communities Small & Vital program offers ongoing funding for grassroots initiatives in remote, rural, and regional Australia. A new round opened on 25 March 2026, making this a live opportunity right now.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Apply directly via FRRR

Two tiers of funding:

• Small grants up to $10,000 for grassroots, community-led initiatives (communities under 15,000 people preferred)
• Targeted leverage grants up to $50,000 for projects strengthening digital skills, connectivity, and online access for adults in regional communities

Eligibility:

• Not-for-profit with an Incorporation Certificate and/or ABN (DGR status not required)
• Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural, or regional Australia
• One application per grant round

Grants That Closed in March

Two other grants in March's top 10 also closed during the month. Our members knew about these opportunities well ahead of time — another reason it pays to have a grants directory working for you year-round.

• Australian Open Grant Round - Gandel Foundation (up to $50,000 for programs supporting young adults aged 16–24 experiencing disadvantage) — closed 20 March 2026
• Strengthening Rural Communities Round 3 - FRRR — closed 24 March 2026 (Round 4 is now open — see above)

If you missed either of these, The Grants Hub directory sends custom alerts so you're notified the moment a new round opens.

Need Help With Your Grant Application?

Applying for grants can be complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone. The Grants Hub offers comprehensive resources to help you craft compelling applications that stand out to funders.

Visit our Grant Resources section for:

• Tips for writing strong project descriptions
• Budgeting guidance for grant applications
• Strategies for demonstrating impact and outcomes
• Common mistakes to avoid
• How to align your project with funder priorities

Whether you're applying to one of March's most popular grants or exploring other funding opportunities, our resources are designed to increase your chances of success.

Key Trends

As we move into the second quarter of 2026, March's grant activity reveals several important trends shaping the funding landscape:

Large Philanthropic Funding Remains Highly Competitive: PMF Foundation's Major Funding Round attracted more attention than any other grant this month. Programs offering substantial, multi-year funding with flexibility on how it's used are rare — and organisations know it.

Legacy Trusts are Popular: The Danks Trust, operating since 1928, continues to draw consistent interest despite its narrow focus on education and poverty relief. Organisations working in these areas clearly value programs with a long track record and predictable annual funding cycles.

Breadth of Eligibility & Focus on Community Drives Engagement: The Foote Trust Donor Advised Grants and Bank Australia's Community Customer Grants both attracted strong engagement. This is consistent with what we've seen at The Grants Hub since we launched in 2013; grants with broad eligibility criteria, particularly focused on community, attract very strong interest.

Regional Australia are Hot Grant Seekers: March's data shows particular interest in programs targeting rural, regional, and remote communities - with both the Elders Community Giving Project and FRRR's Small & Vital program in the top 10. Organisations serving these communities have several active opportunities to pursue before mid-year.

Is Values-Aligned Corporate Giving Growing? Bank Australia's program and Aurizon's Community Giving Fund both reflect corporate funders tying grant programs to their customers' and employees' values. These programs are often more flexible in their funding, with shorter and easier application forms. We're fans of these programs at The Grants Hub.

How to Stay Updated

Tracking grants manually is time-consuming and risky. Deadlines change, new opportunities emerge, and searching across multiple government websites, foundation portals, and corporate giving pages can consume hours every week.

The Grants Hub's directory solves this problem by bringing all Australian grants into one searchable platform - updated daily by our dedicated research team.

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Summary

March 2026's grant activity reveals a highly engaged community of Australian organisations, seeking funding to drive positive change. From long-established trusts distributing close to a million dollars annually, to newer programs like The Impact Fund investing directly back into the sector, the diversity of available funding reflects the breadth of important work happening across Australia.

Whether you're a small rural community group looking for a few thousand dollars to run a local initiative, or a larger organisation pursuing six-figure funding for systemic change, understanding which grants are capturing attention can help inform your own funding strategy.

Ready to explore these opportunities? Visit The Grants Hub to access detailed information about these grants and hundreds of other funding opportunities available to Australian organisations.

Grant details are current as of publication but may change. Always verify current grant guidelines and deadlines directly with funding providers before applying.