Future Drought Fund’s Communities Program
On 28 May 2025, the Honourable Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, announced the extension of the Future Drought Fund’s Communities Program for another three years, with $36 million in support from the Government.
This funding will help enable people in agriculture-dependent communities to build and maintain their social resilience to drought.
From late 2025 to late 2028, FRRR will deliver activities that fall within the Future Drought Fund’s Partnering for Local Solutions priority funding area, through the Future Drought Fund’s Communities Program.
Since 2020, FRRR has partnered with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF) to identify and act on drought preparedness priorities at a grassroots level. Both organisations will continue to do this by delivering a tailored package of support that invests in projects that seek to strengthen social and community resilience to drought and other climate impacts by supporting networks, leadership, engagement and wellbeing in agriculture-dependent communities.
Announcements
Program Elements
Community Impact Program Grants and Leadership Activities
(FRRR + ARLF) The Community Impact Program offers an integrated package of support in 12 regions to strengthen the social capital, wellbeing, and connectedness of communities to prepare for and build social resilience to drought. It includes Community Impact Grants from FRRR and Community Impact Leadership Activities to be delivered in region by ARLF.
Regional Drought Resilience Plan Social Outcomes Grants
(FRRR) This new stream of support will offer resourcing to organisations outside of the Community Impact Program regions, to help bring to life the social resilience activities and projects already outlined in their region’s Regional Drought Resilience Plan.
Small Network Grants
(FRRR) Not-for-profit organisations outside of the Community Impact Program regions will be able to apply for funding over multiple rounds to develop and deliver local events or inititiatives to strengthen the social capital, wellbeing, and connectedness of communities to prepare for and build social resilience to drought.
Mentoring (ARLF)
Virtual 12-month mentoring program bringing together mentees from agriculture-dependent communities, who want to contribute to their community’s drought resilience, with experienced mentors.
Capacity Building Initiative
(FRRR) This initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of regional community based not-for-profit organisations that are essential to building social resilience in rural and regional Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
General
This section contains FAQs relating to the entire Future Drought Fund’s (FDF) Communities Program. More detailed FAQs for each program element can be found on the respective pages.
1. Can the FDF’s Communities Program grants be used for supporting projects that provide in-drought support?
Applicants will need to specify how a proposal supports drought preparedness and/or resilience in response to the approved guidelines. Grant funds cannot be used for projects that support personal hardship or duplicate any other available government funding.
2. What is the timeframe of the Program and elements?
- CIP discussions have begun with community activity in regions starting February 2026. Leadership development will be designed based on community needs and more information can be found on the ARLF website.
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SNG and RDRP SOG are now open for applications. Projects need to be completed within 18 months of being awarded, with all activity concluded by November 2028.
- Mentoring: Expressions of Interest for Cohort 1 opened 1 October – 12 November 2025 to commence February 2026. At least one additional round will be available. More information will be available when details are confirmed. More information can be found on the ARLF Website.
- FRRR is determining the approach for the Capacity Building Initiative and will advise further information when available.
3. Can I change my project if something happens and I can't deliver what I had originally planned?
FRRR appreciates that things often change in community, but before you make any changes, reach out to the team and discuss what is happening, and how you are looking to address it. While we are open to variations where needed, it is important that FRRR is aware of what you are doing, to ensure alignment to program objectives and Australian Charity Laws.
4. What happens if we have a change of staff in our organisation?
FRRR Program Elements: Email [email protected], phone 1800 170 020 or reach out to your Community Engagement Coordinator directly. It is important to let FRRR know if you have a change in staff leading your project, particularly your CEO / President, or Project Officer.
ARLF Program Elements: Please advise Gemma Rostron, Community Engagement Lead at ARLF of changes within your organisation – [email protected] or 02 6281 0680.
5. What reporting will be required?
FRRR will use a combination of informal and formal reporting requirements. FRRR will monitor projects during their delivery with key points of contact being at the 6 and 12 month marks. This could be in the format of an emailed form, a phone call or a site visit. A Project Report will be available in your Blackbaud Grantmaking account to complete when the project is finished. FRRR will seek information on Changes, Activities, Outcomes and Learnings related to your project.
A Financial Acquittal form will need to be completed to detail how the grant funding is spent. Any additional information to supplement the report, such as photographs, videos, surveys or links to webpages are highly encouraged.
For more information on reporting to FRRR, please visit our website.
6. Will there be an evaluation?
Yes, the FDF’s Communities Program and its individual elements will be evaluated, but in a simplified way compared to the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative.
7. Can we see the final evaluation report from the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative (the predecessor to this program)?
Yes. The Final Evaluation Report will be publicly available via the FRRR website HRCPDI page, once approved by DAFF. You can also attend a public webinar to hear about the Evaluation Insights on 4 December 2025, 1pm AEDT.
Please email us at [email protected] if you wish to receive a copy of all Final Evaluation and Impact Documentation, including the:
- Insights and Impact Report
- Summary Evaluation Report
- Full Evaluation Report
- Videos, and
- Podcasts.
8. How do I find out more about the program?
FRRR and ARLF will host a series of information sessions and Grantseeker Workshops to share key information and timelines. If you wish to receive regular updates on the program, please email us at [email protected], and we can add you to the FDFCP mailing list with your permission.
Mentoring
This section contains information and FAQs relating to the Mentoring element of the Future Drought Fund’s (FDF) Communities Program. More detailed FAQs for other program elements can be found on the respective pages.
The National Mentoring Initiative is a 12-month virtual program designed to build leadership through connection and learning. Here’s what to expect:
- 12 mentoring sessions: connect regularly with a matched mentor or mentee to support each other’s personal and professional goals
- Practical learning: join online sessions that build your leadership, communication and resilience skills
- Tailored growth: explore your focus areas and gain fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
- Real world impact: building the confidence to prepare for, adapt to and support your community and others across rural, regional and remote Australia in times of change.
The Initiative is open to individuals over the age of 18 who are connected to rural, regional or remote Australia. The Initiative will run in 2026 and 2027. Applications for the 2026 cohort close soon, to find out more visit National Mentoring Initiative – Australian Rural Leadership Foundation
1. Who is eligible for mentoring?
Anyone over the age of 18 who either lives, works or is connected to remote, rural or regional Australia can apply to be a mentor or a mentee.
Capacity Building Initiative (CBI)
This section contains FAQs relating to the Capacity Building Initiative (CBI) element of the Future Drought Fund’s (FDF) Communities Program. More detailed FAQs for other program elements can be found on the respective pages.
1. Who is eligible for the CBI?
Locally based not-for-profit organisations in agriculture-dependent communities (non-metropolitan) are eligible to participate.
2. What is involved in the CBI?
Extending from the existing Expertise Pool, the CBI aims to strengthen the capacity of regional community based not-for-profit organisations that are essential to building social resilience in rural and regional Australia. Areas of capacity building could include governance, marketing, technology and many other topics. Opportunities to upskill and access specialised support could be available via workshops, webinars, templates and resources, skills audits or mentoring. In December 2025, FRRR will be conducting a national survey to ascertain what type of support community organisations are most interested in. Based on that information, a suite of opportunities will become available from early 2026.
More detailed FAQs for each program element can be found on the respective pages.
Inspiration - Past Projects
