Call for Applications: NAB Foundation Community Grants (Australia)

Deadline: 14-Sep-2026

The NAB Foundation Community Grants support Australian community-led projects that strengthen resilience, preparedness, recovery, and long-term capacity in communities affected by natural disasters. Eligible organisations can apply for up to $25,000 per project, with funding supporting disaster preparedness training, community recovery, environmental and wildlife restoration, equipment, and infrastructure. What Are the NAB Foundation Community Grants? The NAB Foundation Community Grants program provides funding for community-led initiatives that help Australian communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. The program recognises the growing impact of events such as: Bushfires Floods Cyclones Severe storms Other natural disasters Rather than focusing only on emergency response, the program supports projects that build long-term community resilience, improve preparedness, strengthen recovery, and help communities restore damaged environments and infrastructure. How Much Funding Is Available? Eligible projects can receive up to $25,000. The NAB Foundation distributes approximately $1.2 million annually across two Community Grants rounds. In addition, $200,000 is allocated to Impact Grants. Selected Community Grant recipients may receive an additional $25,000 Impact Grant to expand or maximise the impact of their work. What Does the Funding Support? The program supports projects across four major areas: Training and Planning Funding can support activities that help communities prepare for future disasters. Applicants should demonstrate a clear community benefit and show how their proposed project addresses disaster resilience, preparedness, recovery, environmental restoration, or related needs. Do Applicants Need to Be NAB Customers? No. An organisation does not need to be a customer of NAB to apply. The organisation also does not need to operate across Australia. Local organisations can apply for projects that address needs within their own communities. This makes the program particularly relevant to grassroots and community-led organisations with strong local knowledge. Can Previous Grant Recipients Apply Again? Yes, previous recipients may be eligible to apply again. However, previous recipients must generally wait one year, equivalent to two grant rounds, before reapplying. Applicants should check the current round’s specific eligibility requirements before submitting a new application. What Makes a Strong Project? A competitive project should demonstrate a clear connection between the proposed activities and disaster resilience or recovery.

A strong proposal should explain:

What disaster-related challenge the community faces. Which people or communities are affected. Why the project is needed. What activities will be delivered. How the activities will strengthen resilience or recovery. What measurable outcomes are expected. How the project will benefit the wider community. Why NAB Foundation funding is important. How the project can create lasting benefits. Why Community-Led Disaster Resilience Matters Natural disasters can have long-term effects on communities, including damage to infrastructure, loss of livelihoods, environmental degradation, displacement, and reduced social wellbeing. Local organisations often understand these challenges better than external agencies because they work directly with affected communities. The NAB Foundation Community Grants program therefore places emphasis on community-led solutions. Funding can help local groups move from immediate disaster response toward longer-term preparedness, recovery, environmental restoration, and resilience building. How to Apply Applicants should develop their application around the specific disaster resilience or recovery problem they want to address.

Step 1: Identify the Community Challenge

Clearly describe the disaster-related issue.

For example:

Repeated flooding has damaged community infrastructure. If the project addresses more than one category, clearly explain how the activities are connected.

Step 4: Develop a Realistic Budget

The maximum Community Grant is $25,000.

The budget should clearly demonstrate:

What each grant dollar will fund. Why each expense is necessary. How the costs relate to project activities. Whether other funding or in-kind contributions are available.

Step 5: Demonstrate Community Impact

Describe the specific changes expected as a result of the project.

Potential indicators could include:

Number of residents trained. Number of preparedness workshops delivered. Number of households reached. Area of habitat restored. Number of wildlife cases supported. Number of community facilities improved. Improvements in community preparedness. Improvements in wellbeing or community connection.

Step 6: Show Long-Term Value

Explain what will remain after the grant ends. For example, a project may leave behind: Trained community volunteers. Disaster preparedness plans. Reusable equipment. Restored habitat. Stronger community networks. Improved local infrastructure. Ongoing partnerships. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid:

Describing a general community project without a clear disaster resilience connection. Failing to explain the local need. Providing vague or unmeasurable outcomes. Requesting funding without explaining individual costs. Focusing only on immediate relief when the project could demonstrate longer-term resilience. Failing to identify the community beneficiaries. Assuming applicants must be NAB customers. Submitting a project that does not align with the program’s eligible categories. Applying again too soon after receiving previous funding. Impact Grants In addition to the standard Community Grants, the NAB Foundation allocates $200,000 to Impact Grants. Selected recipients can receive an additional $25,000 to maximise the impact of their community initiative. This additional funding can provide an opportunity for successful organisat