Grants & Funding

Links to funding opportunities for young people and people working with young people.

Grants and funding links

The Youth Off the Streets Scholarship Program targets young people aged between 14 and 21 years old, who are disadvantaged and/or may be disconnected from their families or communities and who are permanent residents of this country. The program celebrates the gifts and strengths of young people from the Australian community who exhibit extraordinary promise but who lack the personal support networks and resources that will allow them to fulfill that potential.
Redkite's Dare to Dream 2009 Scholarship Program provides the opportunity for young people aged 16 to 21 who have been diagnised with cancer at some time in their life to reach their full potential in areas such as academic study, dance, drama, design, music or sport. There are 31 scholarships to be won, with the national winner receiving $5,000. Visit the Redkite website for more information. Applications close 18 May 2009.

The Youth Participation Grants Program gives young people the power and resources to develop and implement community activities in their local area. If you are aged between 12 and 25 years, and living in NSW, you can apply for a youth participation grant. Visit the YAPA website for more information or to download an application form. The current round of grants closes on 24 April 2009.

The Future Leaders Awards recognise and reward young Australians who have shown strong leadership and potential. The Awards also aim to inspire others to engage in environmental and community issues and make a difference.

Write in Your Face is a funding program which supports emerging forms of writing practice by young writers, or organisations working with young writers. Proposals are invited from people who are using language in innovative ways. This may involve writing for zines, e-zines, comics, multimedia, multi-artforms or cross-media works, websites, live performances and spoken word.

The Annual Scholarship Program for australian School Students aims to recognise and reward achievement and dedication by teachers, support staff and school students. the program offers two scholarships, the Annual Professional Development Scholarship and the Annual Student Achievement Scholarship. Both are worth $2000 to be used towards education expenses. Application Packs and further details can be obtained by calling School Social Clubs on 1300 792 457.

Arrive alive grants of up to $10,000 are available each year to groups of young people aged 16 to 25 years in NSW to develop and implement road safety education activities in their local community. Groups need support from a local incorporated organisation (e.g. a local Council, youth centre, PCYC or Church group) to look after the finances and administration of the project.

The Australia Council is committed to supporting, encouraging and promoting creative practices, by, for and with young people, including funding.

The Foundation for Young Australians offers funding for a range of purposes, aimed at both individual young people and youth-focused non-profit organisations. Funding available for young people includes: challenge ya! youth project grants; the Fund for Individuals; the On Track Leadership Project for training and development; and the Robert Riley Scholarship Program for young Indigenous Australians. There is also an Opportunity Bank which looks at applications that do not fall within these opportunities.

Indent is a NSW youth entertainment network which funds people aged between 12 and 25 who want to create, develop or produce entertainment.

Nescafe Big Break awards which previously provided funding to talented young Australians and New Zealanders is currently being evaluated. Refer to that website if you would like to feedback ideas or suggestions.

The STA Travel Trust sees travel as a force for social change and provides assistance to those aged over 18 with big ideas who need to travel to make them happen.

YouthActionNet awards US$500 to youth leaders and their emerging projects that promote social change and connect youth with local communities. Applicants must be aged 18-29; individuals applying must have a leadership role in a youth-led initiative that works to create positive change in their community.

The Australia Council is committed to supporting, encouraging and promoting creative practices, by, for and with young people, including funding.

The Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies provides links to funding sources for research and work with young people.

The Foundation for Young Australians offers funding for a range of purposes, aimed at both individual young people and youth-focused non-profit organisations. Funding available for organisations includes: Partnership Grants, for the development of youth-led initiatives; Youth Led Futures grants for Indigenous organisations; Indigenous Small Grants and Youth for Youth Investments for initiative funding. There is also an Opportunity Bank which looks at applications that do not fall within these opportunities. For 2008 funding opportunities see the Foundation for Young Australians Website.

The St.George Foundation provides financial support to charitable organisations throughout Australia to help them assist children and young people up to 18 years of age with special needs. The Governors of the Foundation meet twice a year to consider applications for financial assistance from $2,500-$25,000. Applications for financial assistance for less than $2,500 are given discretionary consideration once a month.

The Telstra Foundation Community Development Fund supports charitable organisations that assist or support Australian children and young people (18 years and younger).

Australian Charities is a source of information on the Australian charitable sector and fundraising.

The Australian Taxation Office has published a guide for non-profit organisations about fundraising.

communitybuilders.nsw links to a range of government and non-government sources of funding for all kinds of purposes, as well as linking to other funding directories. The site also has a submission writing section.

The Sydney Community Foundation provides funding for projects that focus on young people at risk, young families and women experiencing disadvantage, and Indigenous and culturally diverse communities. The website has funding guidelines available.

The Mumbulla Foundation offers funding resources for the Bega Valley region and is also developing a comprehensive listing of funding opportunities.

Philanthropy Australia represents private, family and charitable trusts offering funding.
At Fundbase, the funding database, you can register to search for and receive information about funding from Government, philanthropic and private sources.