Apply for Grants for Nonprofits by NAB Foundation Community Grants 2026 Australia, Australian communities are increasingly facing the damaging effects of natural disasters, from the immediate disruption they cause to the long road towards recovery. Rebuilding after a disaster is a collective effort, and communities also need the right resources to prepare for future emergencies.
The NAB Foundation Community Grants program is designed to support this work by funding local projects that strengthen community preparedness, resilience and recovery. Eligible initiatives can receive up to $25,000 to help communities become better equipped to withstand natural disasters and recover when they occur.
The programme distributes $1.2 million in Community Grants each year through two funding rounds. This includes $200,000 in Impact Grants for projects with the potential to deliver a significant and lasting benefit. Organisations receiving an Impact Grant can access an additional $25,000, giving them greater capacity to expand their initiatives and increase their impact within their communities.
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the full details and submit their applications before the specified deadline to seize this grant opportunity.
Last Date of Submission: 14th September 2026
Apply for Grants for Nonprofits by NAB Foundation Community Grants 2026 Australia
What Projects Can Receive Funding?
The NAB Foundation Community Grants program supports locally led initiatives that help Australian communities prepare for, withstand and recover from natural disasters. Projects can fall into four key areas:
Training and Planning: Activities such as educational workshops, emergency preparedness programs and practical or strategic planning that help communities prepare for bushfires, floods, cyclones and storms.
Community Recovery: Initiatives that rebuild community connections, strengthen resilience and support community wellbeing following a natural disaster.
Environment and Wildlife: Projects focused on restoring damaged vegetation and habitats or rehabilitating wildlife affected by natural disasters.
Equipment and Infrastructure: The purchase of equipment, tools or improvements to infrastructure that help communities prepare for disasters, reduce their impact or recover afterwards.
Apply for Grants for Nonprofits by NAB Foundation Community Grants 2026 Australia
How Are Applications Assessed?
Applications are reviewed by the NAB Foundation team together with NAB leaders from relevant regions. Each application is considered on its individual merits, with the final grant amount determined by the nature, scope and needs of the successful project.
Community Grant recipients who qualify for consideration for an Impact Grant will be placed on a shortlist. NAB employees will then vote to determine which shortlisted projects receive the additional Impact Grant funding.
Apply for Grants for Nonprofits by NAB Foundation Community Grants 2026 Australia
Who Can Apply?
The programme is open to a broad range of organisations working for charitable, social or environmental benefit in Australia. Eligible applicants include:
- Charities registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
- Not-for-profit or for-profit social enterprises and start-ups with a social or environmental purpose at the core of their work
- Groups and organisations with an Australian Business Number (ABN) and a charitable purpose
- Local governments and government-funded facilities, such as schools and childcare centres, applying for projects that advance a charitable purpose
An organisation does not need Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status to apply. Organisations that are not ACNC-registered charities or social enterprises must provide documentation demonstrating their charitable purpose and certify this as part of the application.
Government applicants must also confirm that funding will be used solely for the charitable purpose described in their application and will not be treated as a donation to a government or political party.
Previous NAB Foundation Community Grant recipients can apply again, but they must wait one full year, or two grant rounds, before submitting another application.
Importantly, applicants do not need to be NAB customers, operate across Australia or be registered charities. Organisations can also apply even when they have received funding from other grantmakers.
Apply for Grants for Nonprofits by NAB Foundation Community Grants 2026 Australia
What Projects Are Not Eligible?
The programme does not fund organisations or projects operating outside Australia, individual applicants or personal expenses, sole traders or partnerships. Projects must be directly connected to preparing for or recovering from bushfires, floods, cyclones or storms and must fit within one of the programme’s funding categories.
Funding is also unavailable for harmful activities, ongoing or recurrent costs, retrospective expenses, general fundraising appeals, commercial sponsorships or normal business activities such as marketing and fundraising.
Other exclusions include political organisations or political support, bequest programmes, grant-making foundations and most government entities. Religious or sectarian education is not eligible, although religion-based organisations can apply for programmes that serve a non-religious charitable purpose.
What Qualifies as a Charitable Purpose?
A charitable purpose refers to the mission or objective an organisation has been established to pursue and the activities it undertakes to achieve it. Under the Charities Act 2013 (Cth), recognised charitable purposes include advancing health, education, social or public welfare, religion, culture, community reconciliation, human rights, public safety, animal welfare and the natural environment.
Purposes that benefit the general public may also qualify, as can certain efforts to support or oppose changes to laws, policies or practices where those efforts advance one or more recognised charitable purposes.
Can Larger Organisations Apply?
Yes. While the NAB Foundation intends to prioritise smaller organisations with annual income of $3 million or less and those receiving less than 40% of their annual funding from government, larger organisations are still eligible.
For larger organisations, the key consideration is whether they can demonstrate a local project or initiative addressing local needs and show that the grant will be used specifically at the local community level.
Why This Grant Opportunity Matters
The NAB Foundation Community Grants program is valuable because it focuses on a practical challenge facing communities across Australia: preparing for natural disasters before they happen and helping people recover when they do. The funding can give local organisations the resources needed to turn community ideas into tangible preparedness, recovery, environmental restoration and resilience projects.
With grants of up to $25,000, even relatively small organisations can undertake projects that may otherwise be difficult to fund. The additional Impact Grant of $25,000 offers an opportunity for selected projects to scale their reach and deepen their impact.
Another important feature is the programme’s local focus. Applicants do not need to operate Australia-wide, and larger organisations can still apply when they can demonstrate that their project addresses a specific local need. This makes the opportunity relevant to community groups, schools, local organisations and social enterprises working directly with communities affected by natural disasters.
Tips for a Strong Application
Show a clear local need. Explain exactly what disaster-related problem your community faces and why action is needed. Use local data, previous disaster experience, community feedback or other evidence where available.
Connect the project directly to the grant categories. Make it obvious whether your proposal focuses on training and planning, community recovery, environment and wildlife, or equipment and infrastructure. Avoid describing a broad programme without clearly linking it to the grant’s objectives.
Focus on practical outcomes. Explain what the funding will make possible. Instead of simply saying that a project will improve resilience, describe the specific activities, people reached, equipment purchased, habitats restored or preparedness measures introduced.
Demonstrate community involvement. Strong applications should show that the project has been shaped by local needs and that community members, partners or relevant organisations will participate in delivering it.
Present a realistic budget. Clearly explain how the requested funding will be spent and why each cost is necessary. Make sure the budget reflects a one-off grant rather than relying on NAB Foundation funding for ongoing operational expenses.
Explain how the impact will continue. Show what will remain after the grant period ends. Long-term benefits, such as trained volunteers, improved facilities, restored habitats or stronger emergency plans, can demonstrate lasting value.
Make the application specific and measurable. Include clear targets wherever possible, such as the number of residents trained, workshops delivered, households reached, hectares restored or pieces of equipment installed.
Research the programme carefully. Check the eligibility requirements and exclusions before applying. In particular, ensure your organisation has the required ABN and charitable purpose and that the proposed activities directly relate to preparing for or recovering from eligible natural disasters.
How to apply?
How to apply for a Community Grant
The NAB Foundation Community Grants program runs across two rounds in 2026.
Round 1: opens from 16 February to 16 March, with funding awarded in June 2026.
Round 2: opens from 17 August to 14 September, with funding awarded in December 2026.
To apply, visit the NAB Foundation Community Grants portal. The portal provides access to the application form when a grant round is open.
Please contact nabfoundation@nab.com.au if you have any further questions, or if you would like to be notified when we are open for applications again.
Note: For more comprehensive details click the link below
Get full access to the grant information, visit the Official Website Link
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much funding can an organisation receive through the NAB Foundation Community Grants program?
Eligible projects can receive up to $25,000 through a Community Grant. Selected recipients may also be considered for an additional $25,000 Impact Grant.
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Does an organisation have to be a registered charity to apply?
No. Registered charities can apply, but eligible social enterprises, start-ups, organisations with an ABN and charitable purpose, and certain local government or government-funded facilities can also apply. Organisations do not need DGR status.
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Can an organisation apply if it has received funding from another grantmaker?
Yes. Receiving grants from other organisations does not prevent an applicant from applying for a NAB Foundation Community Grant, provided all other eligibility requirements are met.
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What types of projects does the grant support?
Projects must relate to preparing for or recovering from bushfires, floods, cyclones or storms and fit one of four areas: training and planning, community recovery, environment and wildlife, or equipment and infrastructure.
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Can a previous NAB Foundation grant recipient apply again?
Yes. Previous recipients can apply again, but they must wait one full year, covering two grant rounds, before submitting another application.
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