Grants
The Foundation provides grants to assist Aboriginal communities and individuals by providing funds to support projects which advance the aims of the Foundation, with the current focus on supporting art, literacy, education, health and cultural projects with a connection to Aboriginal art and/or artists.
The ABF only supports organisations or companies endorsed as a “Deductible Gift Recipient” (DGR). Evidence of this is a requirement for receiving our grants. For further information regarding DGRs, click here.
The ABF was focused on supporting a small number of large projects over the period 2018-2020. News about organisations and their projects supported by ABF is reported here.
Current grant priorities
We encourage new applications over coming months. Please note that applications close Friday 3 March 2023. We will consider projects shortly after.
The ABF has considered the negative impacts of COVID-19 and adjusted its grant priorities accordingly. In 2022/2023, it will support projects:
- aimed at improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing (including that of children) of indigenous communities in remote, rural and regional Australia
- supporting indigenous arts, acknowledging that this sector has been deeply impacted by COVID-19
- that would typically ‘fall through the cracks’ because they are not eligible for government funding
- with staged development, for example, deliverables funded in year 1 with scope for additional deliverables with additional funding over year 2-3 subject to progress
- on a scale that would effectively use a grant of $5,000-$20,000 per year (note this is higher than the usual value of one off grants offered).
The other general criteria for grant making by the ABF and the conditions on the application form will still apply.
Intending applicants are encouraged to read about other projects supported by the ABF before preparing and submitting applications by the deadline.
Guidelines
In view of the limited resources available to the Foundation, priority for funding is typically given in the following categories:
1. Seeding grants:
- to research the relevance and value of new projects with a connection to Aboriginal art and/or artists – preference is given to small and intermediate sized projects that may be ineligible for support from other organisations.
- to facilitate schemes or projects with a connection to Aboriginal art and/or artists which are of benefit to Aboriginal health, welfare or education which have potential for wider application.
2. One-off grants in support of:
- health and well being of artists and their families
- education through art projects which will benefit individual or community health and well being
- individuals and communities, with a connection to Aboriginal art and/or artists, to meet special needs
Level of grants provided
The Foundation will usually fund projects between $500 to a limit of $5,000.
To enquire about other levels of funding please contact us via the contact page.
Application form
Applications for grants can be made using the ABF Grant Application Form. Download a PDF version here or a Word version here.
Information for successful applicants
If your application is successful, you will receive an email or letter advising you a grant is offered. Payment of a grant will not be made until the grant conditions have been agreed and accepted.
It is a standard grant condition that organisations agree to acknowledge the support of the ABF in all promotional material associated with the project. This includes use of our logo (available upon request), and if appropriate, a standard text of acknowledgement:
This project has been assisted by the Aboriginal Benefits Foundation.