A small grants program for small rural Australian communities will offer grants to benefit people in rural and remote communities.

To be eligible, projects must be for a charitable purpose. As this a collaborative fund there are some funds which are restricted either to Deductible Gift Recipients (DGRs) or to within Victoria, though the greater portion of unrestricted funds are available for general charitable purposes. All applications for projects which are charitable will be received and considered. Organisations should also have an ABN.

Organisations demonstrating Community Partnerships will be preferred to multiple applications from one community

What will be funded?

Projects and activities that offer clear public benefit for communities living in small rural and remote locations in Australia, contributing to their development in social and community welfare, economic, environmental, health, education or cultural areas.

Current priorities:

• Community hardship in drought effected areas
• Retention of young people in Rural and Regional Australia.
• Resettlement of immigrants in rural Australia
• Community Infrastructure
• Rural communities of 10,000 or less
• Community partnerships

How much funding is available?
Total $300,000 in amounts up to $5,000 each grant

Applications close 30 September 2008