Grant Opportunities

In support of the Mareeba Shire not-for-profit sector, Council monitors grant funding made available by other organisations.

The grant opportunities below provide key details about a selection of current and reoccurring grants with a community focus.

If you would like to be on the mailing list to receive Community Grant Alerts, please email info@msc.qld.gov.au or contact 1300 308 461.

ABC Future Fund Grants for Indigenous Organisations

Small Event / Activity Grant (up to $2,500), Larger Grant funding is also available

  • Eligibility: Open to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations where over 50% of the workforce ownership/management and over 50% of grant beneficiaries are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
  • Focus Areas: On-Country Education, On-Country Care, and On-Country Research & Development. These programs should align with the ABC Foundation’s strategic priorities and have a measurable, lasting impact on Indigenous communities.
  • Purpose: Provides one-off funding for small-scale community events or activities that bring people together and create positive local impact.
  • Application Timing: Available year-round with project funding depending on the availability of the Future Fund. The ABC management committee reviews applications 2-3 times per year.

More Information:  Please visit Future Fund | ABC Foundation Ltd.

Queensland Arts Project Fund

One-off grants to support Queensland-based new creative works.

Program Objectives

  • Support Queensland artists and organisations to create and share great work
  • Support the development of new work that reflects the state’s stories, people and places
  • Grow opportunities for deaf and disabled audiences, artists and companies to access and share new work

Who can apply?

  • Queensland based individuals, arts companies, groups and organisations.

 Key Dates

  • Round 3 Opening 3 August 2026,
  • Closing date: 14 September 2026
  • Round 2 recipients have been announced: For more details, click here.

Funding amount

  • Up to $70,000 (general stream) or $20,000 (individuals) for projects up to one year.
  • Additional funding of up to $10,000 is available to support costs associated with increasing access for artists and/or audiences with disability.

For more information please visit: Queensland Arts Project Fund | Arts Queensland | Queensland Government

CleanCO Community Futures Fund

Round 2 Opens Monday 3 August 2026

  • CleanCo’s Community Futures Fund supports not-for-profit organisations, community services, First Nations initiatives, educational institutions, environmental associations and individuals.
  • Applicants can request sponsorships of up to $5,000 per round.
  • Applicants should be located within one of the following local government areas: Cairns, Tablelands, Ipswich, Mareeba Shire, Cassowary Coast, Rockhampton and Somerset.
  • Applications close Monday, 7 September 2026

For more information, please visit: Community Futures Fund | CleanCo Queensland

Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) – 2026 Mental Health and Wellbeing (MHWB) Grants Program

Funding community-led initiatives to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, their families and carers in rural and remote Queensland communities.

The program comprises individual grants of up to $300,000 available for eligible projects to support initiatives which:

  • Improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes
  • Strengthen local capacity and partnerships
  • Generate evidence to inform future investment

Projects should align with one or more of the following priority areas: Connected communities, Sustainable systems, Youth leadership, Evidence and impact.

Successful projects will leverage existing community strengths, partnerships and local knowledge to deliver sustainable and measurable outcomes beyond the funding period.

Check out the previous successful applicants here: 2024-25 Grant recipients | Queensland Mental Health Commission

Key dates

  • Applications open: 29 July 2026
  • Applications close: 28 August 2026
  • Project completion date: 30 September 2028

For more information please see  2026 Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants webpage where you can view the eligibility criteria, application information, and the optional online briefing session.

Mareeba & Dimbulah Community Bank – Bendigo Bank Community Sponsorship Round

Got an idea that will make a difference? Apply today and help create lasting benefits for our community.

The community sponsorship program facilitates mutually beneficial partnerships with eligible organisations in our community.

For more information, please visithttps://Communitybankmareebadimbulah.smartygrants.com.au/2026grants

Applications close 30 September 2026.

Practice in Community – Cohort 2 Expression of Interest Applications

A new initiative designed and delivered by Regional Arts Australia, supported by Minderoo Foundation.

By investing in artists themselves – not just their outcomes – Practice in Community is grounded in the belief that artists are essential to social change and to the thriving of regional communities. It supports the deep, relational work that builds trust, belonging and long-term community impact.

This national program puts creativity at the heart of community life by investing in independent artists working in Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD). It gives regional artists the time, trust, and support to grow their practice, lead meaningful projects, build connections, share knowledge and strengthen a national network of artists driving social impact.

Applying for Practice in Community is a two-stage process, carefully designed to give artists the time and space to develop ideas in close partnership with their communities.

The first stage invites you to share your initial concept and vision, while the second stage provides the opportunity to refine your proposal with feedback, ensuring it truly reflects the needs, strengths, and aspirations of the community you want to work with.

Grant amount: $160,000 over two years
Who it’s for: Individual Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD) artists working in regional, rural or remote Australia
Number of artists supported: 11 (across two funding rounds), Cohort 1: 5 artists started in 2026 (Learn more about Cohort 1),  Cohort 2: 6 artists starting in 2027
Program focus: Community Arts and Cultural Development (CACD)
EOI Dates: Cohort 2: EOI’s open Monday, 6 July 2026, EOIs close: Friday 7 August, 2026 

For more information or to apply please visit: Regional Arts Australia | Practice In Community

EOI Applications Close: Friday, 7 August 2026

Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal

Strengthening Rural Communities

There are two streams of funding available within the Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Program: Small and Vital and Prepare and Recover.

FRRR’s Small & Vital program supports thriving, resilient, and sustainable remote, rural and regional communities across Australia. In particular, priority will be given to projects that:

  • Support communities to implement generational transition;
  • Invest in outback, remote, and less resourced communities;
  • Build capacity and resourcing for a just and equitable energy transition;
  • Support First Nations-led initiatives that strengthen culture, country, economic participation, and reconciliation.
  • More Information: Strengthening Rural Communities — Small & Vital | FRRR
  • Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and assessed quarterly.

RAF Quick Response Grants, Flying Arts Alliance

RAF Quick Response Grants aim to support arts or cultural projects and individual professional development activities that cannot be funded by other means because of their nature of timing.  Regional artists, arts organisations and communities can apply for funding up to $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 for organisations, for expenses such as artist fees, travel costs, materials, venue and equipment hire, insurance and administrative costs. Quick response grants are open ten times per year not including December or January. The next rounds are:

Mt Emerald Wind Farm – Community Enhancement Fund

Applications are accepted all year round and reviewed twice a year (post 31 January and 31 July) by a committee comprising local volunteers.

The fund is designed to share the financial benefits of the wind farm with not-for-profit groups, associations and clubs that make a positive difference to the local community.

Organisations with projects within a 50km radius of the Mt Emerald Wind Farm and 40km of the Windy Hill Wind Farm are eligible to apply for a grant from the fund.

The John Villiers Trust

The John Villiers Trust’s granting is aligned to the strategic goals of building partnerships and strategic relationships with communities.  Funding is available for charitable organisations with DGR status for projects that enhance the wellbeing and development of children and youth in rural Queensland and demonstrates potential outcomes across more than one area of social need e.g. health, social welfare, education, disability. Applications reviewed regularly, no closing dates.

More information: Home – The John Villiers Trust

Wettenhall Environment Trust, Small Environmental Grant Scheme

Grants support projects that enhance and maintain the vitality and diversity of the Australian natural living environment.

Grants between $2,000 and $15,000 are available through the Small Environmental Grant Scheme which supports flora and fauna conservation projects, including monitoring, community education, capacity building and research.

The next round is to be announced.

More information: Wettenhall Environment Trust

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