Priority Funding Needs
Your support puts communities in control
Our programs are designed to provide support for what each community tells us they need. After all, these community groups are on the ground, and they are best-placed to know what will really make a difference.
They deserve better support and have a huge range of projects that need funding. Sometimes it can be very basic things like a split system air conditioner for the public hall, so community activities like play groups or training can continue on even the hottest or coldest days. Other times, it can be to assist communities recovering from natural disasters, such as purchasing new equipment to support volunteer emergency responders or supporting children and families impacted by bushfires to process complex emotions resulting from trauma.
The sections below outline the areas of greatest need right now, including supporting community recovery from the recent Tropical Cyclone Alfred Severe Weather Events.
Get in touch with FRRR’s Partnerships team to discuss how you can make a meaningful difference to remote, rural and regional communities, or click on the headings below to explore our priority funding needs.
Strengthening Rural Communities
FRRR’s Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital grants program gives thousands of small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia access to funding for a broad range of community needs.
Grants are available for grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Many of the small community organisations that apply find it difficult to secure grants for their projects or, in fact, are ineligible for some types of funding, so the Small & Vital grants stream plays an important role in sustaining and revitalising communities.
SRC grants can be used to support a range of community-led initiatives such as:
In essence, SRC grants allow communities to apply for funding for whatever they need – as long as it is has a broad charitable community benefit.
Importantly, the SRC grants program provides much more than funding. The knowledge, reach and flexibility of FRRR’s SRC team means we understand the unique needs of rural and remote communities. We support communities’ volunteer capacity and seek to assist them to attract additional funding. SRC grants provide a mechanism for future vibrancy and vitality. Significant donations to SRC can be tracked, with outcomes and impact reported back to donors.
Help communities prepare for, and recover from, disasters
In recent years, Australia has witnessed a high number of diverse and overlaid disasters and climate impacts that have adversely affected remote, rural and regional communities. Most recently this has included Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which caused significant damage across northern NSW and south eastern QLD.
FRRR recognises that small and remote areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change and disasters, and experience capacity challenges in responding to and preparing for disasters where often, existing disadvantage is exacerbated. That is why our programs focus on building resilience and strengthening communities, and actively seek to support a more prepared and climate resilient remote, rural and regional Australia through investment in social & built capital and environmental health.
FRRR Prepare & Recover grants are designed to support communities in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia to implement initiatives that prevent and prepare for future climate-related impacts, or recover from existing disasters in the medium to long-term timeframe, generally one to ten years after a disaster.
Donations can be made to this stream at any time.
Heywire Youth Innovation Grants
The FRRR ABC Heywire Youth Innovation Grants play a vital role in bringing the voice and ideas of young people to life. In collaboration with the ABC, FRRR provides grants to enable communities to take action on the ideas generated by young Australians who attend the annual Heywire Regional Youth Summit.
Through FRRR’s grants, our mentoring, experience and networks, these projects can make a huge difference in the lives of young people in remote, rural and regional Australia. FRRR ensures the voice and lived-experience of young people is present across the grantmaking process, involving Heywire alumni in the assessment of grant applications and proviing an internship experience with FRRR.
Takeover Youth Catalyst Grants (place-based youth program)
Takeover is a place-based storytelling and capacity building program – a partnership between ABC and FRRR – that empowers young people to share their voices and supports them to play an active role in shaping their community’s future. Young people come together in their local community and through a series of facilitated workshops, are connected with local not-for-profit groups, to bring their ideas for change to life.
In a Good Place (mental health)
In a Good Place is a national grants program that provides support for community-driven initiatives that reduce social isolation, and increase social participation. Local community groups design and undertake initiatives that focus on strengthening mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable community members who are at risk of, or are experiencing, mental health issues.
There are now two streams within the program:
Fundraising Accounts for Not-for-Profits and Community Foundations
Locals are the best people to make the important decisions about what is needed in their community.
FRRR is inspired and driven to support the needs and aspirations of remote, rural and regional communities.
Fundraising Accounts are one of the ways we can provide support to not-for-profit organisations and Community Foundations by offering them a fundraising mechanism to help them fund their projects and initiatives. A donation to FRRR can provide DGR-1 tax deductible receipts for donors who wish to support these organisations.
Tailored Grants offer flexibility outside of FRRR’s granting programs. They’re one-off grants made in partnership with donors who wish to target specific activities, causes or locations outside FRRR’s regular programs or grant rounds.
Click through the options below to learn more or contact Jeanice Henderson on j.henderson@frrr.org.au.
Thank you for supporting our project with your generous grant. There is no organisation like FRRR that exists specifically to support rural and remote projects. We are so grateful for the important and unique work of FRRR. We would not have been able to have such a successful year without your contribution. We are excited to keep growing and reaching our goals, and maintain a lasting reciprocal partnership with FRRR that goes beyond just a grant cycle.
Vanessa and the Team – Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (The Pertame School): “Ngketya Nwernaka Ilkerta Mparetyeka” Making Our Language Strong, Pertame Master-Apprentice Project
