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, 2MB) 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 Manager Governance and Legal on 9725 0222.
Applications in writing should be addressed to:
Manager Governance & Legal
Fairfield City Council
PO Box 21
Fairfield NSW 1860
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).
Community Volunteer Fund
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, 160KB)
Councillors' Donations Fund
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, 149KB)
Cultural Event Sponsorship Fund
The Cultural Event Sponsorship Fund provides financial support of up to $2,500 to enable community groups to seek financial assistance towards inclusive cultural events that demonstrate social and economic benefits to Fairfield City.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA(PDF, 48KB)
Language and Cultural Awareness Fund
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, 241KB)
Mayoral Community Benefit Fund
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, 137KB)
Mayoral Donations Fund
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, 149KB)
Mayoral Scholarship Fund
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, 123KB)
MAYORAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORM(PDF, 28KB)
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.
Apply on Smarty Grants for the Community Development Grants program below.
Apply today
Download the Community Grants Program Guidelines(PDF, 3MB).
For more information contact Council's Customer Service team on 9725 0222 or email grants@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au.
Community Capacity Building
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.
Opens: 1 March
Closes: 31 March
Opens: 1 September
Closes: 13 October
Disability
People living with disability can be supported in several ways.
Opens: 1 March
Closes: 31 March
Opens: 1 September
Closes: 13 October
Domestic and Family Violence Prevention
For projects and activities raising awareness on issues concerning domestic and family violence prevention. For activities between 25 November and 10 December, supporting International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women campaign and 16 Days of Activism.
Opens: 1 March
Closes: 31 March
Refugee Week
Held in June, Refugee Week raises awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrates their positive contributions to Australian society.
Opens: 1 March
Closes: 31 March
Social Change Through Creativity Grants
Social Change through Creativity Grant Program encourages and supports creative-based projects that include and address issues of importance in the community.
One-off grants of up to $5,000 are available to not-for-profit groups or organisations.
Download the Application Form.
Download the Cultural Plan 2011-2016(PDF, 604KB)
Opens: 1 March
Closes: 31 March
Arts and Culture
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.
Opens: 1 September
Closes: 13 October
Harmony Week
Held in March, Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity and address racial discrimination.
Opens: 1 September
Closes: 13 October
Youth Week
Held in April, Youth Week is a national celebration of young people, organised by young people for young people. Youth Week activities aim to provide fun and free activities for young people, and opportunities for young people to be involved in the planning of the event.
Opens: 1 September
Closes: 13 October
Rapid Response
Community Capacity and Youth Rapid Response grants are for emerging needs that require a quick response. It’s important to speak to a relevant Council officer. A link to the funding application will then be provided.
The 2021 Fairfield ClubGRANTS program closed on Wednesday 14 April 2021. Applications are under review.
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.
Round Opening
The 2021 Fairfield ClubGRANTS program will close Wednesday 14 April 2021.
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 Bowling Club
- Cabramatta Rugby Leagues Club
Application Requirements
- Applications must be submitted by 4pm on the Wednesday 14 April 2021. 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 ClubsNSW Member Enquiries Centre (MEC) 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 2021 online application, you will receive an acknowledgement email. If you do not receive this email, please contact ClubsNSW MEC on 1300 730 001.
Applicant Manuals, Training and other Resources
Applicant Manuals
Training and other Resources
- Guidelines(PDF, 305KB)
- 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
Resources to assist you in writing a grant application
Contact Us
Technical Enquiries
For all technical enquiries relating to the ClubGRANTS online website (e.g. application submissions, technical/system issues), please contact ClubsNSW MEC 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.
Download the Heritage Rate Grants Policy(PDF, 260KB)
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.
Download the Rates Relief Program Policy(PDF, 260KB)
In partnership with Fairfield City Council, Western Sydney Community Forum will be delivering a series of workshops building capacity on putting together and carrying out a grant from start to evaluations. The workshops will provide opportunities for not-for-profit organisations to develop knowledge and skills in grant writing, project development and community development.
All workshops will be held online.
Workshops available:
Grant Writing Workshop
The first two sessions will cover the basics of putting together your grant application. Whether you have applied before or new to grants, join us to equip yourself with some tools to assist in putting in more successful applications.
Dates:
- Wednesday 14 July | 9.30am – 1pm (Online option only)
- Wednesday 21 July | 5pm – 8.30pm
Venue: This workshop will be held online.
Register here
Community Capacity Building Workshop
This workshop will cover core capacity building concepts, providing guidance on how to plan your projects, consult with your community and identify needs that need to be addressed.
Date: Wednesday 28 July | 9.30am – 1pm
Venue: This workshop will be held online.
Register here
Measuring Social Impact Workshop
This workshop will equip you with the skills and knowledge to assist you to measure the impact of your work and communicate the outcomes achieved.
Date: Thursday 12 August | 9.30am – 1pm
Venue: This workshop will be held online.
Register here
Social Enterprise – The Essentials Workshop
This workshop will cover the key fundamentals for small to medium organisations to consider when establishing a social enterprise.
Date: Wednesday 25 August | 9.30am – 1pm
Venue: This workshop will be held online.
Register here
Report Writing, Acquittals and Evaluation Workshop
This workshop will cover knowledge of report writing, acquittal and evaluation processes to improve your ability to report effectively on funded projects.
Date: Wednesday 8 September | 9.30am – 1pm
Venue: This workshop will be held online.
Register here
Grant Writing Intensive Workshops
Join Western Sydney Community Forum (WSCF) for a 2 hour intensive workshop about grants writing. In this session you will have the opportunity to work closely with the WSCF team in adapting your ideas into a grants submission or further unpack the knowledge from the first grants writing workshop.
Dates:
- Thursday 15 July, 1.30pm – 3.30pm (Online option only)
- Thursday 19 August, 1.30pm – 3.30pm
- Thursday 9 September, 1.30pm – 3.30pm
- Wednesday 22 September, 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Venue: This workshop will be held online.
The workshops are primarily targeted at smaller not-for-profit organisations and limited to 10 organisations per workshop. Please only register for one workshop. To express your interest, email The Grants Team at grants@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au.