Top Australian Grants from October 2025

October 2025 saw high engagement with grant opportunities across Australia, with thousands of organisations searching for funding.

Using analytics from our Grants Directory, we've identified the grants that captured the most attention from Australian not-for-profits, businesses, education organisations and community groups.

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 October.

The Top 3 Most Sought-After Grants in October

1. IMPACT Philanthropy Program - Perpetual

Not surprisingly taking the top spot this month, Perpetual's IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program continues to be the most popular grant at this time of year for Australian not-for-profits. The IMPACT program offers grants of up to $120,000, and promotes a flexible approach to funding.

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

What makes IPAP popular:

• Grant amounts typically range from $10,000 to $100,000 (average grant: $80,000)
• Supports projects at various developmental stages including pilots, existing projects, and capacity building
• Open to a wide range of organisations including charities, educational institutions and health organisations
• Assessment based on four key criteria: Strategy, Outcomes, Capability, and Leadership

Current round: Applications close 5 December 2025

Eligibility: Organisations must be registered with the ACNC and/or have DGR1 endorsement. Note that universities, hospitals, and medical research institutions are limited to three applications.

The program's popularity stems from Perpetual's reputation for distributing approximately $120 million annually from charitable trusts and endowments, making them one of Australia's most significant philanthropic funders.

2. Grants to End Homelessness - Mercy Foundation

Securing second place this month, Grants to End Homelessness' focused mission and substantial funding once again attracted significant attention from organisations working to address homelessness.

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

Grant details:

• Funding: $5,000 to $60,000
• Focus: Housing first and permanent supportive housing solutions for women experiencing homelessness
• Priority: Projects addressing chronic homelessness (6+ months or multiple episodes)
• Current round closes 17 November 2025

The Mercy Foundation specifically supports initiatives that provide lasting solutions rather than crisis responses, funding projects that demonstrate measurable outcomes in ending or preventing homelessness.

Key eligibility requirements:

• Must be a legal entity (incorporated association or company)
• Not-for-profit status required
• Focus on women's homelessness, particularly chronic homelessness
• Must provide measurable outcomes
• Cannot support food programs or short-term crisis responses

3. Women Leaders in Sport - Individual Grants (Australian Sports Commission)

Rounding out the top three, this program supporting women advancing in sports leadership roles continues to draw strong interest from women working across all levels of Australian sport. Women in sport is a trending grant topic in 2025.

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

Grant details:

• Funding: Up to $10,000 across three tiers
• Current round closes 14 November 2025
• Total funding available in 2026: $200,000

Three funding tiers:

• Tier 1: Advanced professional development courses ($8,000-$10,000)
• Tier 2: Intermediate professional development courses ($4,000-$7,999)
• Tier 3: Foundational professional development courses ($0-$3,999)

Eligibility:

• Identify as a woman
• Aged 18+ and Australian citizen or permanent resident
• Currently involved (paid or volunteer) with recognised sporting organisations, clubs, or media organisations covering sport

Development areas include: Leadership skills, sports administration, communications, coaching, officiating, equity and inclusion, finance, and STEMM fields.

Other Popular Grants Still Open

Always-Open Opportunities

Several grants that maintain year-round application processes also saw strong engagement in October:

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program is an ongoing opportunity for educational organisations and community groups to access professional development, resources, and support for delivering food education to children. The program is accessible to schools and early childhood services nationwide, including remote, regional, urban, linguistically diverse, Aboriginal-led, and small schools.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Learn more via Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

What's offered:

• Professional development (in-person and online)
• Educational resources for sustainable kitchen garden programs
• Access to The Shared Table online community
• Ongoing email and phone support

Eligible organisations: Education providers (primary, early childhood, secondary), government and non-government schools, community groups, and local government bodies.

Petstock Foundation Grant Program

Supporting organisations that align with animal welfare and community wellbeing, the Petstock Foundation focuses on grassroots organisations that create long-term change for pets and families.

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

Focus areas:

• Assisting abused, abandoned, and neglected pets through rescue and rehabilitation
• Supporting companion animal projects and disaster assistance
• Raising awareness about rescue pets and animal health

tekFoundation Support

Connecting Australian charities with tech professionals for volunteer projects, this program offers free technical volunteer recruitment services to ACNC-registered charities.

View full grant details on The Grants Hub | Learn more via tekFoundation

Project types include:

• Web design and development
• SEO and Google Ads
• Marketing and data analytics
• Software consulting
• Security and IT support
• Video production

Grants with November Deadlines

BizGiver (BizCover)

Closes 13 November 2025

A $5,000 grant for small businesses to fund growth initiatives or operational improvements. Since 2014, BizCover has awarded nearly $100,000 supporting various business needs including SEO packages, advertising, hardware, and training.

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

Eligibility:

• Small business with valid ABN
• Fewer than 20 employees
• Annual turnover under $2 million
• Owner must be 18+

Bonus: Top three finalists (including winner) receive up to $250 off their next BizCover policy.

PRF Fellowship Program (Paul Ramsay Foundation)

Closes 19 November 2025

This prestigious fellowship offers up to $250,000 over 18 months for individuals with innovative ideas to address disadvantage in Australia.

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

Strategic focus areas:

• Places and communities leading their own futures
• Children and young people free from entrenched poverty and harm
• First Nations self-determination

What fellows receive:

• Up to $250,000 over 18 months
• Time and resources to explore transformative ideas
• Connection to a cohort of like-minded leaders
• Support from the Paul Ramsay Foundation team

Eligibility requirements:

• 18+ years old
• Entitled to work in Australia for the fellowship duration
• Hosted by a charity, not-for-profit, or university
• Established professional or experiential knowledge related to the proposed idea
• Commitment to the full 18-month fellowship term

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 October'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 final months of 2025, October's grant activity reveals several important trends shaping the funding landscape:

Philanthropic Programs Maintain Strong Appeal: Perpetual's IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program continues to lead engagement, confirming that organisations value established philanthropic programs with substantial funding pools, flexible application criteria, and proven track records.

Focus on Addressing Homelessness: The Mercy Foundation's Grants to End Homelessness program demonstrates ongoing demand for funding that tackles chronic social issues with long-term, sustainable solutions rather than crisis interventions. This grant is highly popular every year.

Gender Equity in Sports Remains a Priority: Strong interest in the Women Leaders in Sport program reflects growing recognition of the need to support women's advancement in sports leadership roles, with development opportunities spanning from grassroots to elite levels.

Flexibility Valued by Applicants: Always-open grants like the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, Petstock Foundation, and tekFoundation continue to attract steady interest, allowing organisations to apply when they're genuinely ready rather than rushing to meet arbitrary deadlines.

Small Business Growth Investment: Programs like BizGiver demonstrate that small businesses are actively seeking modest funding amounts that can make meaningful differences in their operations, from technology upgrades to marketing initiatives.

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.

Why Join Over 3,000 Australian Organisations Using The Grants Hub

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Final Thoughts

October 2025's grant activity reveals a highly engaged community of Australian organisations seeking funding to drive positive change. From large philanthropic programs distributing millions annually, to focused initiatives addressing specific social challenges, the diversity of available funding reflects the wide range of important work happening across Australia.

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

The grants that proved most popular in October didn't just offer money - they offered pathways to sustainability, impact, and lasting change. As you consider your organisation's funding needs, look beyond grant amounts to consider alignment with your mission, the grant provider's values, and the long-term opportunities each funding relationship might create.

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.