External Grant Opportunities

The Regional Night-Time Economy Program is an integrated capacity-building and funding program. The purpose of the Program is to encourage local business collaboration and support the development of vibrant night-time economies in regional NSW.

The objectives of the Program are to:        

• increase capacity and confidence of regional business collectives to identify and leverage existing local economic and cultural opportunities   
• strengthen coordination between local businesses to deliver collective initiatives with a shared vision and strategy  
• increase the number of collective initiatives in regional NSW that promote and support more vibrant town centers and precincts. 

Please refer to the Program Guidelines for further information, including eligibility criteria, assessment criteria and application process.

This program is administered by Create NSW.

Applications close 20 November 2025

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Multicultural NSW invests in community events and activities that foster community harmony and celebrate cultural diversity as a precious part of our identity and way of life.

The Stronger Together Festival and Event Grants Program will support multicultural and multifaith community groups to produce Festivals and Events that celebrate and embrace our state’s vibrant cultural diversity.

Applications for Festivals and Events to be held between 1 April 2026 – 30 September 2026 are open.

Applications close 24 November 2025.

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The Touring and Travel Fund 2025/26 is a NSW Government program, administered by Sound NSW, that provides grants to NSW contemporary music artists and music industry professionals to cover travel and accommodation costs for domestic and international activity, including touring and professional development events.

The fund is open to artists, acts, and music industry professionals, as well as music businesses applying on behalf of an artist or act.

Applications close 28 November 2025.

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The Livestock Transport Industry Transition Program provides support for livestock transport businesses to transition to other transport-related activities.

The grant can be used for a range of planning, professional and technical advice, training and co-funded investment in asset modification and acquisition.

This program will provide support for livestock transport businesses, including those who have made investments in transportation of sheep and the delivery of essential export related goods such as feed, bedding, water systems, veterinary supplies and handling equipment specifically for the live sheep export by sea trade, to transition to other transport-related activities which may require further investment.

Grant funding of up to $40,000 per eligible applicant will be available to applicants to contribute to the future costs associated with the transition to other transport-related activities.

Applications close 1 December 2025

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The Farm Business Transition Program aims to increase the uptake of alternative farming systems and practices.

The grant can be used for a range of planning, professional and technical advice, application of research and development innovations and extension activities, and investment in on-farm infrastructure and improvements to increase the uptake of alternative farming systems and practices.

Grant funding of up to $75,000 per eligible applicant will be available to applicants to contribute to the future costs associated with the transition.

Applications close 1 December 2025.

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The second round of High Impact Partnership grants aim to build a cohort of leaders to spearhead change in the primary industries and land sector. Grantees will be organisations or land managers that are active in the sector, have a vision and commitment to act on climate change, and are willing to co-invest with the NSW Government to deliver on their commitments. 

The High Impact Partnership Round 2 grants focus on emissions reduction and increased sequestration in the primary industries and land sector, with an emphasis on immediate implementation. All funded projects will explore ways to deliver additional benefits alongside carbon abatement.  

This program is administered by The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Applications close 1 December 2025.

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FRRR is a not-for-profit organisation, connecting common purposes and funding from government, business and philanthropy with the genuine local needs of rural people and places.  There are several grant opportunities available.
 

Strengthening Rural Communities – Prepare & Recover

SRC Prepare & Recover helps rural communities across Australia prevent and prepare for future climate related impacts, or recover from existing disasters. Grants up to $25,000 are available for a broad range of initiatives to strengthen the capacity and capability of local people, organisations, networks, and systems that help communities to be informed, skilled, connected and resourced for the future.

Round 27 closes 4 December 2025
Funding announced mid March 2026

Strengthening Rural Communities — Small & Vital

The SRC Small and Vital program aims to give small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia an opportunity to access funding to support broad community needs. Grants up to $10,000 are available for initiatives that strengthen local people, places, and climate solutions with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000).

Round 27 closes 4 December 2025
Funding announced mid-March 2026

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The RAS Foundation Community Futures Grant offers funding to support vital projects that deliver strong community benefits in rural and regional NSW.

The Royal Agricultural Society Foundation (RASF) is offering opportunities for community-minded people to be awarded up to $25,000 in funding for community projects in their local area.

The RASF invites ideas that deliver strong community benefits and result in enhanced economic and social outcomes for your community. Projects that involve collaboration between people in your town and deliver sustained and broad community benefit will be highly regarded. Applicants will be passionate about rural and regional NSW, and have a good understanding of issues affecting their community.

Infrastructure for local showgrounds and show societies are eligible. The improvements must demonstrate that they go beyond benefiting just the local show society, but rather enabling broader use by other community groups to run on-going projects or programs.

Applications close 12 December 2025

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The Regional Event Fund identifies and supports events in regional NSW that have the potential to act as a ‘cornerstone’ or flagship tourism event for their area by attracting overnight visitation and delivering long term benefits to the region.

The Regional Event Fund comprises 3 individual funding streams providing a development pipeline for events from inception, through emergence, to their establishment as tourism events in Regional NSW.

This page provides information on the Event Development stream. Guidelines for the Incubator Event stream and the Flagship Event stream are available separately. 

The Event Development stream supports mature events that have previously received and completed Triennial funding through the Flagship Event stream and can present a comprehensive strategy for future growth, that includes the continued development of its tourism potential to drive overnight visitation to the event and surrounding region.

The Event Development stream will offer one-off grants of up to $50,000 (ex GST) to support key strategic growth initiatives that will have a direct impact on increasing overnight visitation to the event.

The prize includes:

• $150 Voucher
• 3 Rosella Caps
• 3 Rosella Aprons
• 12 Rosella tomato sauces 500g

The event must be held between the 18th of August and the 14th of December 2025. 

To enter click here

Your local Country Education Foundation (CEF) supports youth in your area through financial grants for education and employment expenses. Our grants contribute towards apprenticeships, traineeships, cadetships, diplomas, certificate level studies, university qualifications or employment.

Eligibility Criteria
- Demonstrated financial need
- Aged 16-25 years
- Attended school in or currently live in the region covered by your local CEF
- Commitment to achieving your goals

Key dates

Applications close: These rounds are ongoing however generally open in the second half of the year.

Click here for more information and to apply.

Provides support for a specific event, project, item, or initiative that helps, grows, and enriches our communities.

For more information go to Harcourts Foundation – To provide support that helps, grows and enriches our communities.