The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), in partnership with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation (ARLF), invites applications for the Capacity Building Grants programme under the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund Communities Program.

The programme aims to strengthen not-for-profit organisations in agriculture-dependent communities across remote, rural and regional Australia. It provides funding to help organisations develop the skills, systems and specialist expertise needed to strengthen community connections, wellbeing and resilience to drought.

The grants support organisational capacity building rather than direct business development or commercial activities. Supported organisations can access training, workshops, webinars, mentoring, skills audits and specialist expertise to improve their ability to serve their communities.

Funding and Support

• Maximum grant: AUD 15,000 per project.
• Total funding pool: AUD 450,000 across multiple rounds.
• Minimum grant amount: No minimum specified.
• Funding source: Australian Government's Future Drought Fund Communities Program.
• Assessment: Applications are assessed on an ongoing basis.
• Funding availability: Applications remain open until the closing date or until the available funding pool has been fully allocated.

Funding can support specialist assistance and capacity-building activities that strengthen an organisation's people, internal systems, strategy, financial sustainability and effectiveness.

Purpose and Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Strengthen the organisational capacity of not-for-profit organisations serving agriculture-dependent communities.
• Improve skills, leadership, knowledge and access to specialist expertise.
• Strengthen community networks, communication, social connection and collaboration.
• Improve access to services, resources and facilities.
• Support community preparedness and social resilience to drought.
• Build organisational capability to deliver effective, locally led projects and initiatives.

Eligible Activities

Funding may support capacity-building activities such as:

People and Skills Development

• Training, workshops and webinars.
• Mentoring and specialist professional support.
• Skills audits and capability assessments.
• Facilitator and presenter fees, including related transport and accommodation.

Organisational Development

• Strategy development.
• Strengthening internal systems, structures and financial sustainability.
• Creating templates and tools to improve organisational effectiveness.
• Wages directly related to delivering the funded project.

Community Learning and Engagement

• Venue hire and reasonable catering for project-related activities.
• Workshop materials, promotion and marketing.
• Group travel expenses, such as bus hire.
• Activities that strengthen local networks, collaboration and drought preparedness.

Exclusions

The programme does not fund activities or costs that are unrelated to the delivery of the proposed capacity-building project. Exclusions include:

• Computers, general equipment, infrastructure purchases and capital works.
• Software, apps, subscriptions, webpages or app development.
• Individual participant travel and participant accommodation.
• Volunteer or participant time.
• General administrative overheads, rent and ongoing organisational expenses.
• Activities outside Australia or involving overseas travel.
• Re-granting funds to other organisations.
• For-profit activities or projects primarily providing private or commercial benefits.
• Activities already completed or commenced before the announcement of funding.
• Projects that duplicate existing community initiatives or fail to address social resilience, community wellbeing or drought preparedness.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be Australian not-for-profit organisations that serve remote, rural or regional agriculture-dependent communities.

Eligible organisations must:

• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Incorporation Certificate, or apply with the support of an eligible legal organisation that can formally auspice the project.
• Propose a project for a charitable purpose with clear public benefit.
• Demonstrate a direct benefit to an eligible agriculture-dependent community in Australia.
• Submit the required financial information and supporting documentation.
• Meet FRRR's due diligence requirements and have no outstanding final reports from previous relevant FRRR or Australian Government grants.

Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR-1) status is not required.

Geographic priority: Projects in agriculture-dependent communities outside the Future Drought Fund's Community Impact Program areas will be prioritised. Priority is also given to projects supporting remote and very remote communities, next-generation transitions, disaster resilience, climate solutions and First Nations self-determination.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit a clear project proposal explaining what will be delivered, where and when the project will take place, who will benefit, why the support is needed, how funding will be spent and how outcomes will be measured.

Applications must include:

• Organisational legal and registration information.
• Annual income, annual expenditure and current assets.
• An explanation of significant financial surpluses, deficits or older financial information where applicable.
• A balanced project budget showing all project income and expenditure.
• Supporting documentation demonstrating community need, partnerships and local support.
• A consultant's quotation and short biography, including relevant qualifications and experience, where specialist consultants will be engaged.

Where a delivery organisation does not itself hold an ABN or Incorporation Certificate, the supporting legal organisation must provide its legal and financial details and a letter confirming its willingness to fulfil the required responsibilities. Applicable constitutional documents must also be supplied where required.

Incomplete applications or applications missing required financial documentation may be deemed ineligible.

Important Dates

• Application opening date: 21 October 2026.
• Application closing date: 3 December 2026 at 17:00 Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).
• Funding announcements: Mid-March 2027.
• Project implementation period: April 2027 to December 2028.

Applications are assessed on an ongoing basis, and the funding pool may be exhausted before the closing date.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online through the Blackbaud Grants Portal. Applicants should read the programme guidelines, confirm their eligibility and prepare all required financial information, supporting documents and project-budget details before submitting.

Contact Information

Organisation: Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
Programme: Future Drought Fund Communities – Capacity Building Grants
Contact person: Brooke Williams
Email: futuredrought@frrr.org.au
Telephone: 1800 170 020

Industry / Sector

Agriculture, rural and regional community development, organisational capacity building, drought resilience and not-for-profit services.

Click HERE to visit the official website.