Community Led Climate Solutions

Community Led Climate Solutions Projects must support remote, rural and regional communities to act locally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help address the impacts of climate change for positive and sustainable environmental, social and economic outcomes.

Stream 1 Engage & Deliver grants up to $20,000 are available for a broad range of community-led initiatives that must achieve at least one of the following objectives:

• Drive engagement, education and leadership in remote, rural and regional climate solutions;
• Activate locally-led opportunities to advance: the clean energy transition, climate adaptation, decarbonisation, or circular economies; or
• Support just transitions to clean energy economies to help communities thrive.

A small number of Stream 2 Scaling Grants between $20,001 and $75,000 will also be offered through an Expression of Interest process.
Scaling grants must do ALL the following:

• Scale an existing locally-led project to a more mature state;
• Directly alleviate socioeconomic disadvantage;
• Be able to demonstrate how their project is an appropriate solution to a demonstrated risk or impact of climate change; AND
• Improve the capacity of the local community to take an active role, or lead, in the mitigation or adaptation of climate change.

Project activity supported may include:

• Community education and engagement in opportunities and benefits of innovative climate solutions, such as clean energy, energy efficiency and circular economy practices;
• Community engagement in the planning and delivery of just transitions to maximise opportunities for local communities and First Nations peoples;
• Decarbonisation and transitions to clean energy production, storage or usage that embeds community decision making and asset ownership, or creates local jobs, or addresses equity, inclusion or affordability;
• Climate change adaptation that intersects with health, preparedness, resilience or addresses equity, inclusion or affordability;
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land and sea management practices supporting climate solutions;
• Protection, restoration and regenerative practices for land and sea supporting climate solutions;
• Sustainable agriculture and food production that embeds community decision making and asset ownership, or creates local jobs, or addresses equity, inclusion or affordability; and
• Reducing, reusing and recycling waste, and implementing circular economy activities.

Yes, Community Led Climate Solutions is a national program with funding available in remote, rural and regional regions in all States and Territories.

Community Led Climate Solutions Round 2 has $625,000 available for granting nationally into remote, rural and regional Australia across two streams:

• Stream 1 Engage & Deliver Small Grants up to $20,000 for local projects (total funding available $400,000).
• Stream 2 Scaling Grants from $20,001 to $75,000 (total funding of $225,000 available) for projects scaling locally-led initiatives that alleviate socio-economic challenges and enable communities to thrive.

While all requests aligned to the Program Purpose will be considered, priorities for funding are outlined below:

• Projects initiated and delivered by local community not-for-profit organisations;
• Project activities which can deliver social or economic benefits in addition to environmental outcomes; and
• Projects that are evidence-based, demonstrate strategic planning for sustaining program operations at the end of the grant period, and are inclusive in supporting diverse community members and stakeholders.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants seeking between $20,001 and $75,000 will need to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI), due by 5pm VIC time (AEST), 22 August 2024. This can be completed online, outlining the basic details of your project via the Apply Now tab above.

Phone support is available to help in developing your EOI. Applicants will be advised three weeks prior to the round closing if they are progressed to a full application, to enable time to develop their full applications. Full applications for Stream 1 and Stream 2 are both due at 5pm VIC Times (AEST) on 26 September 2024.

A broad range of charitable projects aligned to climate solutions outcomes of reducing emissions and adapting to the changing climate are considered under this program, including:

• Delivering, or providing activities, events, programs and services, including staff/contractor support;
• Community resource development;
• Local ‘climate solutions’ programs;
• Community infrastructure projects*; and
• Activities and resources that will strengthen ‘climate solutions mission-driven’ organisations (capability and capacity building).

*Note: Applications requesting the installation of solar panels or batteries, or community gardens must demonstrate a ‘broader community climate solutions’ impact beyond enhancing operational outcomes for the organisation.

There are several areas that we can’t fund through this program. If in doubt, please contact us.

• Projects that support core business and areas of responsibility of Federal, State or Local Governments;
• Ongoing core organisational operational costs (e.g. rent, utilities, regular wages, loan repayments);
• The encouragement or advancement of sport, recreation, and social activities are not considered charitable activities under Australian law. Applications from sporting organisations need to clearly demonstrate charitable outcomes and benefit to the wider community that are above and beyond the sporting activities of the club;
• Overseas travel and overseas projects;
• Prizes, gifts, trophies, or awards;
• Political lobbying;
• Legal actions;
• Projects that primarily benefit private business, a sole trader, or private interests; and
• Projects solely focused on animal welfare.

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

• Applicant organisations must be a not-for-profit organisation with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN. If you are unsure if your organisation is a registered not-for-profit (e.g., if you are a Co-operative, Other Unincorporated Entity, Public Company or Trust), please contact FRRR;
• Project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
• Not-for-profit organisations with or without DGR endorsement are eligible;
• Organisations can submit one application per grant round; and
• Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural, or regional Australia.

Please note, you will be considered ineligible if:

• Application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN);
• Application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity (i.e., a registered not-for-profit), without the written consent of the governing/partnering body who holds the ABN/Incorporation Certificate;
• Application is submitted without required financial information (see additional information on the second tab);
• Final report/s from any FRRR grants awarded in the previous seven years have not been acquitted (delivery organisations should check with the legal organisation to see if there are any outstanding final reports);
• Application is for a project or activity that has already occurred/is occurring prior to the announcement of funding;
• Application is incomplete. NOTE: Due to the volume of applications received, applications are assessed based on the documentation received at the time of application. FRRR is unlikely to follow up missing documentation after applications have been submitted.

Every application needs to include an organisation that holds either an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. If your organisation doesn’t have that, FRRR may still fund the project but you need another organisation’s support, which we refer to as the ‘legal organisation’ (with your organisation being the delivery organisation). This situation often occurs when the organisation delivering the activity or project is a branch of an overarching organisation – such as a local CWA or YMCA branch. In this case, the CWA or YMCA would be the legal organisation.

Even though your organisation may complete the application (and will be doing the work), it’s the ‘legal organisation’s’ legal and financial information that needs to be provided. They also need to provide a letter of support, confirming they are willing to play this role.

Applications from ACNC and/or unincorporated associations are required to submit their organisation’s Constitution.

Applications received without the requested financial information are ineligible. Providing incorrect financial information is currently the most common reason why applications are not able to be considered. You must include the organisation’s:

• Annual income;
• Annual expenditure;
• Current assets (from your audited financials or bank balance).

Please note:

• If financial information is more than 18 months old, please provide an explanation as to why the organisation does not have more recent documents;
• Please explain any deficits and steps to sustain the organisation financially;
• Provide a brief explanation of any large financial surplus or current assets and reasons why FRRR funds are still required;
• FRRR conducts a broad range of due diligence queries when reviewing applications, such as: reviewing current and past incorporation, DGR and ACNC status. If your organisation has happened to have their incorporation status, DGR status, or ACNC status changed or ACNC registration revoked or voluntarily withdrawn, please let us know the reasons for this.

Please contact us if you cannot provide required financials or you are unsure about what to provide.

You must include a project budget that clearly shows the items that FRRR grant funds would be used for and that also shows all income and expenses related to your project.

Budgets should be realistic and must add up – i.e. total expenditure must match total income.

Applicant contributions in cash or in-kind are highly regarded. Quotes or detailed rationale for items over $1,000 are required, where possible. Note: FRRR suggests costing unskilled volunteer labour at $45 per hour.

For more info on costing volunteer labour, visit: https://explore.fundingcentre.com.au/help-sheets/valuing-volunteer-labour.

Helpful resources:

• How do I cost labour in my project?
• Preparing your budget

FRRR strongly recommends that you provide supporting materials such as letters of support, community plans, survey results, photographs, media clips, and research reports that can show broad community support and partnerships involved in the project.

Large documents should be referenced and explained in the application.

Please note: A requirement of this program is that a high-resolution photo (between 1MB to 10MB) must be submitted as part of the application process. The photo can be a group shot of staff or volunteers in your Community Organisation OR an action shot relevant to the project you are applying for including people. If you are successful, FRRR may utilise this photo in grant announcements and/or associated communications.

Helpful resources:

• Tips on taking great photos

Each application is assessed on its ability to address local priorities and benefit the broader community. A clear description of exactly what the grant funds will be used for, when and where the project will happen, who will benefit and who will be involved in delivering the project, why the project and grant funds are needed, how funds will be spent and how the activities and success of the project will be recorded, evaluated and shared.

Where possible, we encourage you to make it really clear that your organisation is ready and able to deliver the project and, if required, provide ongoing support for the initiative.

Helpful resources:

• Tips for great applications
• Project Planning Tool Download