Are you fire-affected? FRRR will be running a special stream of SRC, starting from September 2020. If you need assistance sooner, please email us.
Proudly supported by:
Previous funding rounds: SRC Round 3 (S&V and LL) SRC Round 2 (S&V) SRC Round 1 (S&V) SGRC Round 34 projects SGRC Round 33 projects

Strengthening Rural Communities

The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) program aims to give the thousands of small rural, regional and remote communities across Australia an opportunity to apply for funding that can support broad community needs. This program is an evolution of the long-running Small Grants for Rural Communities (SGRC) program that FRRR ran for 34 rounds over a 16-year period. 

The program criteria are deliberately flexible, and with applications being accepted all year round, communities have increased access to funds that can be used where and when a community knows it’s needed.

The Strengthening Rural Communities program has two funding tiers:

1. Small & Vital grants (S&V)

Small & Vital grants are all about meeting an immediate small scale need within a community, or for giving a boost to a larger initiative.

• The Small & Vital grants provide funds of up to $10,000.
• Applications are accepted year round via our online application system and awarded quarterly.

2. Larger Leverage grants (LL)

Through the Larger Leverage grants, small rural, regional and remote communities now have an opportunity to access funding to support more aspirational objectives, think bigger and leverage the ideas, creativity and resources of communities for bigger impacts and stronger, more connected communities.

The Larger Leverage tier is focussed on supporting two types of projects:

a) Projects delivered in remote or very remote communities;
b) Projects that require more financial support in order to enhance the community or organisational capacity and accelerate the outcomes to be achieved.

Expressions of interest (EOI) are required to apply for this tier, deadlines for which are listed below.

• The larger leverage grants provide funds between $10,001 to $25,000.
• Community groups can apply for the larger leverage grants twice a year - see the funding rounds table below.

"FRRR was my first introduction to the grant process, and it was a highlight to receive funding.
The standard required by FRRR helped me set the tone for other funding applications, and made the ongoing process of grant-writing easier."

Tracie Walsh, Trail Coordinator - Capel Makers' Trail

Projects in both tiers must clearly demonstrate a focus on one activity from the following seven activity areas. Click on the activity to reveal examples of what could be funded.

Priority and Eligibility

Applications from not-for-profit organisations in communities of fewer than 15,000 people are prioritised, particularly communities whose size, remoteness and relative access to services, funding, and resources present particular ongoing challenges.

Please read the Guidelines and supporting documents before applying.

If your community is in a drought-affected region, please review the Tackling Tough Times Together program
to see if your project fits within those guidelines.

Funding Rounds

The Strengthening Rural Communities program normally accepts applications year round. However, as the program has been operating for 12 months, FRRR is taking the opportunity to review the program to ensure our processes are appropriately meeting the needs of the many community groups that apply under this program. This review will also allow us to effectively update the SRC program guidelines to incorporate the additional bushfire grants stream, which has been made possible with the generous support of our donor partners.

This means FRRR will close the program for applications from 25 March and reopen mid-July.

If you need more immediate support within that period please get in touch with us with us to explore whether there are other ways we may be able to help. Learn more about the review.

Please see the table below for the submission cut-off dates that best suit your project requirements.

Applying

Applications can be made by not-for-profit community organisations in rural, regional and remote Australia that have an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status is not required for this grant program.

If you are unsure if your project is eligible, please contact us on 1800 170 020 during office hours to discuss your project idea. 

FRRR uses an online grants administration system called Grants Gateway. All applications for the Strengthening Rural Communities program will be submitted via FRRR's Grants Gateway online portal.

Before applying, please read the Guidelines and supporting information carefully.

Please download and save the Grants Gateway How-To Guide and the Grants Gateway FAQs to your desktop, and read through them thoroughly to help get you started. You may need to refer to them during the application process. We also encourage you to watch this introductory clip about the Activity Tree, which you'll need to understand to apply.

PLEASE NOTE: Ensure there are only numbers in your budget, or the auto-calculate function won't work - i.e. do not include commas, full stops or dollar signs - only numbers.

We want to make sure that applying to our programs is as easy as possible. Let us know if you have any problems by calling 1800 170 020, or emailing info@frrr.org.au.

To begin your application for the Small & Vital tier, click on the Apply Now button below.

For more information on this process, please read the following documents:

• Strengthening Rural Communities Program Guidelines - Round 5
• Sample Application Form (Printable)
• Grants Gateway How-To Guide
• Grants Gateway FAQs
• FRRR's Activity Tree
• Introduction to using the Activity Tree

Before applying, please read the Guidelines and supporting information carefully.

If you have any queries or wish to discuss your project, please contact FRRR on 1800 170 020 or email.

Case studies

• No more copper pot for Coulta's Memorial Hall!
• Barista Training for Youth and Disabled Peoples in Pemberton
• Looking forward, looking back: QRRRWN's history project
• National Remote Indigenous Media Festival gets mobile
• Creative Harvest reaps rewards

Related links

• Frequently asked questions and Community Group Resources