A small grants program for small rural Australian communities will offer about $850,000 a year in grants to benefit people in rural and remote communities.

Small, well targeted grants can be useful to small rural and remote communities and to make small grants more accessible to communities in rural Australia we have established this new and innovative funding program.

The program is generously supported by The RE Ross Trust, The Myer Foundation, The Pratt Foundation, The William Buckland Foundation, Perpetual Trustees, The Sylvia & Charles Viertel Foundation, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Local Government, The Ian Potter Foundation, The Yulgilbar Foundation, The Estate of the Late Edward Wilson Trust, The Thyne Reid Foundation, The Caledonia Foundation, The Reinventing the Bush Donation Account, The Grovesnor Foundation & FRRR.

This collaborative approach is designed to:

•  Make better, targeted use of funds improving access for rural & regional communities
• Provide a simpler application process
• Enhance efficiency and effectiveness for philanthropic trusts and foundations who wish to support small communities

Currently, applications that support the following areas of interest will be given preference:

• Community development involving Youth
• Resettlement of immigrants in rural Australia
• Community Infrastructure
• Community hardship in drought effected areas

There are two rounds of Small Grants per year. Closing dates are 31 March and 30 September 2009.

http://www.frrr.org.au/programsDetail.asp?ProgramID=4