Council and other external bodies provide a variety of grant and funding opportunities throughout the year to support community achievement in a number of social, sporting, cultural and environmental initiatives.
The diversity in grant and funding opportunities ensures there is something for everyone who has an idea or program that strengthens our community and our environment.
Donations are made at the discretion of Council and are subject to available funding. Eligibility does not guarantee receiving a donation.
The Community Grants and Donations Summary(PDF, 943KB) gives an overview of our grants and funding program.
How to Apply
Fairfield City Council offers a number of funds to individuals, community groups and not-for-profit organisations throughout the year to support community achievement in a number of social, sporting, cultural and environmental initiatives.
Donations are made at the discretion of Council and are subject to available funding. Eligibility does not guarantee receiving a donation.
Further information is available from Governance and Legal Division on 9725 0222.
Applications in writing should be addressed to:
Governance and Legal Division
Fairfield City Council
PO Box 21
Fairfield NSW 1860
Email: governance@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
The following details must be included:
- Name of person or organisation
- Contact details including physical and postal address, phone numbers and email address
- Purpose of the donation
- Amount
- An indication of the total expenses/budget for the project and, if necessary, documentary evidence to support the purpose of the donation, e.g. in the case where a purchase of equipment is sought, the inclusion of two written quotes for the desired equipment
- Payment details
- Two references supporting the requesting person/organisation, as well as the need/justification for the donation
If successful in receiving the grant, applicants must provide a receipt of funds received. Applicants must acknowledge Council's contribution at any event or in written documentation associated with it. At the end of the activity, applicants must write to Council with a report on the activity or event (including a photograph if available).
The Community Volunteer Fund provides financial support of up to $1,000 to support existing or new community programs by volunteers and community groups within Fairfield City.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA(PDF, 199KB)
The Councillors' Donations Fund provides financial support of between $200 and $2,000 to community groups and not-for-profit organisations based in Fairfield City to support public purpose activities such as charities, economic development or help build communities.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA(PDF, 140KB)
The Language and Cultural Awareness Fund provides financial support of up to $1,000 for programs, activities or events within Fairfield City that help residents improve or practice their English language skills and/or develops cultural awareness programs.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA(PDF, 149KB)
The Mayoral Community Benefit Fund provides financial support to individuals and community groups for deserving or worthy causes that support the Fairfield community. This fund covers areas where other donation schemes or grants are not suitable or available.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA(PDF, 159KB)
The Mayoral Donations Fund provides small one-off donations of up to $500 to individuals and groups within Fairfield City who build communities and help individuals achieve their full potential.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA(PDF, 162KB)
The Mayoral Scholarship Fund provides financial support of up to $2000 for academic, artistic, sporting or special needs to achieve their ambitions in order to realise a demonstrable commitment to the local community.
Provides financial support to persons in need for the purpose of furthering their education or gaining skills to become successful and to make a difference in the community.
Applications open August every year.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA(PDF, 180KB)
MAYORAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM
There are two rounds (March and September) each year.
The Community Development Grants Program provides funding to not-for-profit community organisations that are based and/or operating within the Fairfield Local Government Area and/or principally serving Fairfield residents. There are two rounds (March and September) each year.
Applications for Fairfield City Council’s Community Development Grants Program will open on Monday 3 March 2025! This round includes:
- Aged and Disability
- Community Capacity Building
- Domestic and Family Violence
Apply for Community Development Grant
Funding applications of up to $4,000 (excluding GST) can be made by not for profit community-based organisations to deliver programs in the Fairfield LGA. Preference will be given to organisations based and operating in the Fairfield Local Government Area. While priority for this grant program is given to organisations with revenue under $500,000, larger organisations can still apply.
THRIVE small group community grants
Applications are open year round
THRIVE small group grants aims to provide local unincorporated groups in the Fairfield Local Government Area with an opportunity to apply for up to $3,000.
The small group grants project aims to provide groups that are often not eligible to apply for mainstream grants with a small grant of up to $3,000 to assist in the delivery of an activity, event, performance, equipment purchases or an upgrade to their meeting place.
The THRIVE small group grants aims to give access to:
- Small groups that are not incorporated but come together because they have a common goal or interest
- Groups that conduct activities that benefit a broader part of the community
- Empower small groups to realise their events, activities etc
How to apply
An online form has been created through Fairfield City Council’s online forms process please apply here to fill in the form, you can also call 02 9725 0222 to request a printed copy of the application, please ask for the Grants team.
Apply for Thrive Grant
Not for profit community organisations who are based within the Fairfield LGA and/or principally service Fairfield residents are encouraged to apply.
Download the Community Grants Program and Creative Communities Guidelines(PDF, 3MB)
For more information about each grant and examples of past funded projects download the presentation from the Community Development Grants Program information session 2024.(PDF, 4MB)
For more information contact The Grants Team on 9725 0222 or email grants@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au.
Keep up to date with Fairfield City Councils Community Development Grants and Grant Workshops:
Subscribe to Grants Information
This grant aims to build the capacity of older people aged 65 years and over, or 50 years and over for Aboriginal people and people with disability and their carers through the delivery and implementation of community development programs.
Open: 3 March 2025
Close: 4 April 2025, 1:00PM
Open: 1 September 2025
Close: 1 October 2025, 1:00PM
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $4,000.
The grants are open to all art forms, including film, visual art, music, literature, dance, theatre, digital media, augmented reality, virtual reality, and multi-disciplinary arts with a focus on assisting emerging and professional artists and art organisations in the development and production of work relevant to Fairfield.
Open: 1 September 2025
Close: 1 October 2025, 1:00PM
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $4,000.
Community Capacity Building grants support emerging needs within our community and projects that facilitate and build community connections and capacity. It’s a good source of funding to try a pilot or develop an innovative solution.
Open: 3 March 2025
Close: 4 April 2025, 1:00PM
Open: 1 September 2025
Close: 1 October 2025, 1:00PM
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $4,000.
From 3 March 2025, not-for-profit groups and organisations will be able to apply for a one-off Creative Communities Grant (formerly Social Change through Creativity Grant) of up to $6,000 to support creative projects that empower communities to voice important issues, while further developing cultural knowledge and artistic skills.
Opens: 3 March 2025
Closes: 4 April 2025, 1:00PM
Download the 2023-2033-FCC-Culture-and-Creativity-Plan.pdf(PDF, 10MB)
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $6,000.
For projects and activities raising awareness on issues concerning domestic and family violence prevention throughout the year. This grant also supports activities between 25 November and 10 December, supporting International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women campaign and 16 Days of Activism.
Open: 3 March 2025
Close: 4 April 2025, 1:00PM
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $4,000.
Held in March, Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity and address racial discrimination.
Open: 1 September 2025
Close: 1 October 2025, 1:00PM
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $4,000
Held in June, Refugee Week raises awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrates their positive contributions to Australian society.
Open: 1 September 2025
Close: 1 October 2025, 1:00PM
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $4,000
Held in April, Youth Week is an annual celebration of young people, organised by young people for young people. Youth Week activities aim to provide fun and free activities with young people at the centre, celebrate local youth culture and provide opportunities for active participation.
Open: 1 September 2025
Close: 1 October 2025, 1:00 PM
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $4,000.
Rapid Response grants are for emerging needs that require a quick response. It’s important to speak to Council’s Community Projects & Partnerships Officer – Community Safety and Impact at clubgrants@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au. A link to the funding application will then be provided.
Total amount of grant sought must not exceed $4,000.
Open: All year round
Who can apply, what is a group?
A group is - Two (2) or more people who meet regularly and run projects or activities that other people participate in. An example of a group could be the following:
- Cultural groups – a group celebrating their cultural traditions
- Volunteer group – a group of people volunteering for an organisation
- Arts based group
- Performance based group
- Seniors group
- Youth group
What can you use the money for?
Examples of what you can use the money for are:
- Hiring of transport for group outings
- Purchase of materials for example craft making
- Translation of material or use of interpreters
- Creation of an event or activity for your group
- Celebration of a cultural event or performances
- Support for volunteers delivering services to the community such as food and transport
- Fund equipment that enhances and improves access to the group and location of where they meet (such as paint, tools etc)
- Support of IT equipment for the delivery of education and/or service provision
Who we won’t fund
- Incorporated non-government organisations
- For profit businesses
- Government organisations
- Individuals not associated with a group (for example an activity for one person)
The 2025 round will open on 1 February 2025 and close on 31 May 2025.
To apply for category 1 visit ClubGRANTS.
For more information about the ClubGRANTS 2024 program and eligibility criteria(PDF, 456KB), download the presentation from the ClubGRANTS 2023 Information Session(PPTX, 3MB). Click here to find out about projects funded in 2023(PPTX, 838KB).
ClubGRANTS is a community grant program funded by local Clubs. It supports community organisations and groups proposing to carry out projects that provide support to people in the Fairfield Local Government Area (LGA).
ClubGRANTS’ category 1 is administered by Fairfield City Council. The scheme qualifies registered clubs with gaming machine profits over $1 million to apply for a tax rebate (of 1.85%). The tax rebate is used to provide grants to not-for-profit community organisations for community projects that will benefit the Fairfield LGA.
The Scheme is guided by the Gaming Machine Tax Act 2001 that outlines the legislative arrangements for the granting of a rebate of gaming machine tax levied on registered clubs.
Under the Act, a tax rebate is made available to registered clubs of up to 1.85% of a club’s gaming machine profits over $1 million during a “tax year” (as defined in section 3(1) of the Act) provided that the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (the Authority) constituted under the Gaming and Liquor Administration Act 2007 is satisfied that the required amount has been applied to expenditure on community development and support.
The 2025 Fairfield ClubGRANTS program will open on Saturday 1 February and close on Saturday 31 May 2025 at 5pm.
What can I apply for?
You can apply for projects that address issues in the areas of Community Welfare and Social Services, Community Development, Community Health Services and Employment Assistance Activities
Who can apply?
To be eligible to apply, you must be a not-for-profit organisation and provide the following project and/or services:
- community welfare or social services
- community health services
- employment assistance activities
Participating clubs in the Fairfield LGA
- Fairfield RSL Club
- Cabra-Vale Diggers Club
- Mounties
- Mekong Mounties Group
- Triglav Mounties Group
- St Johns Park Bowling Club
- Canley Heights RSL
- Club Marconi
- Cabramatta Rugby Leagues Club
- Smithfield RSL
- Cabramatta Bowling Club
- Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Saturday 31 May 2025. Applications submitted after this time and date will not be considered
- All mandatory supporting documents must be attached to the application
- If you have trouble attaching documents, please contact ClubASSIST on 1300 730 001
- The ClubGRANTS Local Committee will not consider further applications until they have received a final project report or progress report on previously funded projects
- Once you have lodged your completed 2024 online application, you will receive an acknowledgement email. If you do not receive this email, please contact ClubASSIST on 1300 730 001.
Resources to assist you in writing a grant application
Applicant Manuals
Training and other Resources
- (PDF, 305KB)Guidelines(PDF, 533KB)
- Standard Funding Report Form - Grants Up to & Including $7,500(PDF, 707KB)
- Standard Funding Report Form - Grants Over $7,500(PDF, 798KB)
- Funding Agreement(PDF, 215KB)
- Progress Report(PDF, 690KB)
- Statutory Declaration(PDF, 534KB)
- Category 1 Application Form(PDF, 151KB)
- Category 1 Project Examples(PDF, 102KB)
- Reporting Tips(PDF, 88KB)
- How to make your application stand out(PDF, 93KB)
- Tips for successful applicants(PDF, 101KB)
Previously funded projects
Technical Enquiries
For all technical enquiries relating to the ClubGRANTS online website (e.g. application submissions, technical/system issues), please contact ClubASSIST on 1300 730 001.
Project Enquiries
For any enquiries relating to your project (e.g. project ideas, eligibility criteria), please contact The Grants Team on 9725 0222 or clubgrants@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au.
Heritage Rate Grants provide funding of up to $5,000 for owners of heritage items for minor building alterations.
Applications are open each year from June to August.
Council will financially assist owners of heritage properties listed within Council’s Local Environmental Plan for essential maintenance and repair for minor work between $1,000 and $5,000 per project, on a dollar-for-dollar basis for ’minor building alterations’.
Under special circumstances, where the integrity of a heritage item is under threat due to serious damage resulting from a lack of timely intervention, consideration will be given to a two-dollar-for-dollar arrangement, subject to availability of funds and identified need.
Heritage Rate Relief
The Heritage Rate Relief Program provides financial assistance to owners of heritage items as listed in Schedule 5 Environmental Heritage in Fairfield Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2013.
Rates relief is automatically granted to eligible properties at 50% of the general ordinary rate, with a maximum amount of $3,000 per assessment.
For further information email mail@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au or contact the Project Officer - Planning on 9725 0222.
The resources below have been developed by Western Sydney Community Forum as part of the Community Capacity Building program to assist you with writing a grant application.
Fairfield City Council will be delivering a series of grants workshops and information sessions in February 2024. The workshops will provide opportunities for not-for-profit organisations to develop knowledge and skills in grant writing and learn more about upcoming grants opportunities.
Register for upcoming workshops
Subscribe to Grants Information
Workshops available:
Workshop A Wednesday 26 February 9.30am to 11.30am
Workshop B Wednesday 26 February 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Register here: Grant Writing Workshop
Council will host free one-day workshops to assist not-for-profit community groups and organisations to submit a quality grant application. In this workshop participants will build skills and knowledge to develop and deliver successful community projects with a creative focus. Lunch provided
The same content is delivered in both workshops. Only one booking per person.
For further enquires contact the Social Planning and Community Development Division scd@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au or 9725 0222.
Access: If you require a language interpreter or have additional access needs contact scd@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au 10 days prior to the scheduled workshop. Venue is wheelchair accessible.
Creative Communities Grant – Opens 3 March and closes 4 April 2025
One-off grants of $6,000 are available to not-for-profit groups and organisations to support creative projects that empower communities to voice important issues, while further developing cultural knowledge and artistic skills.
Creative Communities Grant Workshop: gain skills to deliver a successful project
Council will host free one-day workshops to assist not-for-profit community groups and organisations to submit a quality grant application. In this workshop participants will build skills and knowledge to develop and deliver successful community projects with a creative focus. Lunch provided
Places Limited. Bookings essential via Eventbrite
Workshop Option: Wednesday 12 February 2025 10am-4pm
Workshop Option: Saturday 15 February 2025 10am-4pm
Venue: Western Sydney University Fairfield Connect 54 Smart Street, Fairfield
The same content is delivered in both workshops. Only one booking per person.
For further enquires contact the Social Planning and Community Development Division scd@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au or 9725 0222
Access: If you require a language interpreter or have additional access needs contact scd@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au 10 days prior to the scheduled workshop. Venue is wheelchair accessible with accessible toilet
This training will cover the following:
- Principles of community-led arts programs?
- Pitching and presenting a compelling case for your project
- Transforming an idea into a proposal
- Using evidence and data to support your project idea
- Developing project timelines and budgets
- Auspicing for creatives and unincorporated organisations
- Fostering partnerships
- Budgeting principles
Here are examples of previously funded programs:
Seed of Hope Creative Communities Case Study
Handle with Care Creative Communities Case Study
Bonnyrigg Town Centre is a unique place of cultural unity and diversity; it is the embodiment of a modern multicultural community. It is a place that is waiting to be discovered by locals and visitors alike. Its community provides an experience where people are engaged and empowered, who share their knowledge freely and are supportive in building a culture of understanding that extends far beyond the Town Centre of Bonnyrigg.
The Bonnyrigg Town Centre Activation Program provides financial assistance to not-for-profit organisations that support the unique diversity of Bonnyrigg. The grant program provides opportunities for activities and events to be held, that are open to all to attend and that support the vision of Bonnyrigg with its rich culture and community spirit.
One-off grants of up to $3,500 (excluding GST) are available to assist in delivering activities and events within the Bonnyrigg Town Centre. Each year, Council receives more applications than it can fund, therefore this is a competitive grants program.
The Bonnyrigg Town Centre Activation Program Overview 2025-2026(PDF, 2MB) will provide you with more information of the program overview and how to apply.
To be eligible, the applicant and event must meet the following criteria:
Applicant:
- Is a not-for-profit organisation.
- Is incorporated or is auspiced by an incorporated organisation for the purposes of the application.
- Is located in the Fairfield City Local Government Area (LGA) or will provide services to residents within Fairfield LGA.
- Does not owe any reports or money to Fairfield City Council as a result of previous funding or grants; and
- Has the appropriate type and level of insurance for the events that are the subject of this grant.
Event:
- Must be held between 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.
- Must be held in a public place in the Bonnyrigg Town Centre Area.
- Be open to the general public (not restricted to a specific section of the public).
- Be actively advertised to the general public; and
- Funds are to be used as a contribution to event costs and are not to be used for consultancy fees or administrative charges.
A maximum of two grants for the Bonnyrigg Town Centre Activation Program can be applied for per financial year.
- One-off funding of up to $3,500 (excluding GST) will be available to assist your organisation and partners deliver your proposed event.
- Applications for funding will open 9am on Monday 17 March and will close on Tuesday 15 April 2025 at 11pm.
- Incomplete applications and/or applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Applications must meet the above eligibility criteria.
- Events delivered in partnership with other organisations are encouraged.
- One organisation must take the lead and auspice the event/activity, enter into a Memorandum of Understanding Agreement with Fairfield City Council and report on the outcomes of the event: and
- Applications will be assessed by a panel of independent professionals and once a decision has been made, successful organisations will be advised via email.
- If you are successful, your organisation will enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement with Fairfield City Council that will define the role/s and responsibilities of both parties.
- Your application serves as the basis for the development of the MOU which will be written by Fairfield City Council and signed off by the successful organisation.
- If you are successful, your organisation will need to submit a Tax Invoice for the agreed amount plus GST.; and
- In consideration of the minimal amount of funds available, if you are successful, your organisation agrees not to charge an Administration fee for the delivery of the event.
Activations and events must be held in a public place in the Bonnyrigg Town Centre Area. Please see below map.
Apply for grant