Community Financial Assistance Grants

Community groups play a vital role in strengthening our local communities. Whether it’s by bringing people together, improving local facilities, providing training and skill development, or encouraging community engagement and participation.

Narrabri Shire Council’s Community Financial Assistance Grant supports the delivery of projects and activities that pursue our values of a connected, unique, and culturally rich community.  The Community Financial Assistance Grant aims to support and empower local clubs and not-for-profit community organisations to deliver activities, programs, and events that contribute to the economic, infrastructure, social connections, and vibrancy of Narrabri Shire.

The Community Financial Assistance Grant provides the basis for Council to allocate funds under Section 356 of the Local Government Act, 1993 (NSW) in an equitable manner, based on the individual merits of requests for Council financial assistance, donations, in-kind support and/or sponsorships.

The Community Financial Assistance Grant is designed to assist our community’s development, provide funding for capacity-building events, projects, programs, and activities that benefit the people and the Shire.

The financial support offered through Council’s Community Financial Assistance Grant seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• Increase the range of, and access to, recreational, social, cultural, and environmental activities, programs, and services to the people of Narrabri Shire.
• Encourage a sense of community pride that allow communities to promote their towns and villages through promotional activities.
• Reflect the community’s priorities and vision
• Provide for the inclusion and participation of all members of the community that enable vulnerable individuals and groups to participate in local activities and opportunities.
• Foster community partnerships and encourage cooperation between community groups, organisations, and Council to ensure that residents and organisations benefit from common resources.
• Promote Narrabri Shire as a vibrant, diverse place to live and visit.

The Community Financial Assistant grant program funding bucket is capped at $27,000 for Round 1, 2025/2026

Grant proposals cannot proceed until Funding Deeds are signed by Council and the entity.

Council would like the funding bucket distributed to as many Narrabri LGA-based organisations as possible, as such funding for the Community Financial Assistance grant program is limited to:

3.7 Limitations 

i. A school P&C/P&F Committee, preschools, education facilities or Registered Training Organisations are limited to $500 per annum and restricted to activities that provide direct educational outcomes, skills or career development for the student body; and 

ii. Eligible entities are limited to $3,000 per application (per financial year) with pro-rata support based on participation. 

• Read the Policy Guidelines
• Book into the online webinar and application tutorial
• Prepare a project budget
• Know the timelines of the project
• Include the following supporting documentation
  - Quotes
  - Proof of Organisation or Entity structure;
  - A valid and current Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance with a minimum coverage of $20,000,000;At least one letter of support from a stakeholder;
  - Copy of a bank statement for the entity’s bank account that they will nominate for the funds to be paid into;
  - A profit and loss, income statement, financial report, or bank statement showing current balance and transaction listings for up to six months;
  - Evidence of authority from relevant landowners, if the applicant does not own the land upon which the Eligible Activity is to take place;
  - Evidence of contributions, both financial and in-kind, from other entities 

Clause 3.4 Ineligible Applicants

a. The following are ineligible to receive a Community Financial Assistance Grant:

i. Individuals, teams or representatives;

ii. Unincorporated or unaffiliated individuals and groups;

iii. Groups without formal governance structures;

iv. Entities that seek to make profit or operate for private gain;

v. Government departments, agencies, bodies, or entities;

vi. Political parties or entities closely associated with political parties;

vii. Entities that have received a Community Grant, Community Sponsorship, or Community Financial Assistance Grant for two consecutive years, in the preceding three years regardless of their proposal’s merit;

viii. Entities that have received a Community Grant, Community Sponsorship, or Community Financial Assistance Grant in an earlier round in the financial year for a similar proposed activity;

ix. Entities that have received a Community Grant, Community Sponsorship, or Community Financial Assistance Grant in the previous financial year for a similar proposed activity.

x. Entities that do not produce a current certificate of currency for the requisite amount set out in this policy; and/or

xi. Entities that have previously failed to comply with Council's funding deeds for Community Grants, Community Sponsorships, or Community Assistance Grants. 

Clause 3.6 Ineligible Activities

a. The following activities or proposals for activities are ineligible for the award of a Community Financial Assistance Grant:

i. Donation of Council rates;

ii. Venue hire of The Crossing Theatre (including catering and associated expenses); 

iii. Uniforms, accommodation, or travel costs associated with regional or state representation;

iv. Proposals that have not considered accessibility, diversity, inclusion or do not have regard for current Narrabri Shire’s Community Strategic Plan;

v. Proposals that otherwise do not address or meet all of the activity requirements outlined above;

vi. Proposals for general running costs;

vii. Activities that have already commenced or been completed;

viii. Purchase and/or supply alcohol;

ix. Infrastructure or improvements to Council-owned or Crown-owned facilities;

x. Major capital expenditure like lighting, air conditioners, paths, kitchens, bubblers and fountains, seating etc - unless it forms an integral part of a sustainability project, improves access or provides broader participation for the community. 

xi. Sponsorship or donations. 

Clause 3.1 Entity Type

(a) To be eligible for the Community Financial Assistance Grant program, applicants must be:

i. A organisation registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 (NSW); 

ii. A not-for profit Incorporated Association, registered under the Associations Incorporations Act 2009 (NSW) ; 

iii. An unincorporated community group that meets the criteria at clause 3.1(b) 

iv. A community group that is affiliated that meets the criteria at clause 3.1(b); 

v. A registered sporting club that has a management committee and meets the criteria at 3.1(b); 

vi. A school Parents & Citizens Committee (P&C) / Parents & Friends Committee (P&F), preschools, education facilities or Registered Training Organisations (note limitations clause 3.7 

vii. An arrangement between an eligible entity and a non-eligible entity where there is a written instrument which outlines the roles and responsibilities for each; or 

viii. A not-for-profit Childcare Facility. 

(b) Un-incorporated groups, sporting clubs, or affiliated groups must meet all the below criteria to be eligible: 

i. A formal documented structure that establishes a management committee and governs the way which the organisation operates; 

ii. A management committee; and 

iii. A bank account in the name of the group that requires at least two signatories to authorise transactions.  

3.5 Activity Requirements

a. In addition to the above, the proposed activity for which the grant is sought must: 

i. Occur within the Narrabri Shire Local Government Area; 

ii. Align with at least one of the strategic objectives outlined in the current Narrabri Shire Community Strategic Plan; 

iii. Provide a recreational, social, cultural, economic, or environmental benefit for people in the Narrabri Shire Local Government Area; 

iv. Demonstrate accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the planning and delivery of the proposed activity; 

v. Be completed within 12 months of the grant being awarded; and 

vi. Benefit a significant number of Narrabri Shire residents or benefit a township or locality in the Narrabri Shire Local Government Area.  

b. Proposals must include measurable outcomes. 

c. An eligible entity may be awarded a Community Financial Assistance Grant to attend an event outside of the Narrabri Shire Local Government Area for the purpose of representing the Narrabri Shire (including representation of individual townships, localities, or groups therewithin) is exempt from clause 3.5(a)(i). 

Clause 3.6 (b) Applications must be for tangible items such as advertising, and donation of Council services to assist with fundraising. 

If you need assistance after reading the Community Assistance Policy and reviewing the application, please contact the Narrabri Shire Council’s grants team at (02) 6799 6866 or grantsofficer@narrabri.nsw.gov.au

Submissions for this program will be received through online application ONLY. 

To review the questions ahead of applying, please use our printable reference guide below - Council will not accept physical forms as an application. 

Application Form Guide(PDF, 110KB)

Form Checklist(DOCX, 396KB)

Click here to view form.