Australia: Strengthening Rural Communities Small & Vital Program (up to $10,000)

Deadline: 27-Mar-25

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 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).

Objectives

• Projects funded must align with one or more of the following charitable outcomes:
  • Bringing people and community organisations together to foster stronger, more resilient communities;
  • Fostering and celebrating a sense of identity, diversity and cultural connection within the community;
  • Supporting diverse groups within remote, rural and regional communities including, but not limited to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse, those living with disability, and LGBTQIA+;
  • Improving community health and social wellbeing;
  • Enabling people to develop skills, knowledge and confidence to lead and contribute to the prosperity and renewal of their community;
  • Building a sustainable volunteer base and/or supporting the wellbeing of volunteers;
  • Celebrating and resourcing volunteer-led efforts;
  • Increasing access and inclusion for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including remote communities;
  • Enhancing places where communities gather;
  • Promoting connection to place and enabling initiatives that champion a community’s social, cultural or economic aspirations;
  • Reducing the divide on access to digital technology and connectivity for remote, rural and regional communities;
  • Enabling locally-led responses within rural, regional and remote communities endeavouring to reduce the impacts of the changing climate within their community.

Funding Information

• Grants up to $10,000 are available.

Funding Priorities

• Priorities for funding are outlined below:
  • Projects that support communities in remote, rural or regional Australia with fewer than 15,000 people;
  • Projects initiated and delivered by local community groups and not-for profits;
  • Organisations that do not have DGR status.

Eligible Projects

• FRRR’s Small & Vital program supports thriving, resilient, and sustainable remote, rural and regional communities across Australia. In particular, priority will be given to projects that:
  • Support communities to implement generational transition;
  • Invest in outback, remote, and less resourced communities;
  • Build capacity and resourcing for a just and equitable energy transition;
  • Support First Nations-led initiatives that strengthen culture, country, economic participation, and reconciliation.

Eligibility Criteria

• To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
  • Applicant organisations must be a not-for-profit organisation with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN. If you are unsure if your organisation is a registered not-for-profit (e.g., if you are a Co-operative, Other Unincorporated Entity, Public Company or Trust), please contact FRRR;
  • There are two streams of funding available within the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Program: Small and Vital and Prepare and Recover. Organisations may submit their application in one of these streams per SRC grant round, and any other applications in this round will be considered ineligible;
  • Project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
  • Not-for profit organisations with or without DGR endorsement are eligible;
  • Organisations can submit one application per grant round; and
  • Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural or regional Australia.

Ineligibility Criteria

• you will be considered ineligible if:
  • Application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN);
  • Application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity (i.e. a registered not-for-profit), without the written consent of the governing / partnering body who holds the ABN / Incorporation Certificate;
  • Application is submitted without required financial information

For more information, visit FRRR.