Image courtesy The Courier - Ali Smith

What is a RASF Community Futures Grant?

The Royal Agricultural Society Foundation (RASF) is offering opportunities for community-minded people to be awarded up to $25,000 in funding for community projects in their local area.

Previously funding has gone to projects including air-conditioning in the local hall to portable yard panels for the showground or a pop-up gazebo, satisfying community needs and benefiting many.

Taking part is easy:

• Identify a need in your rural NSW community

• Partner with a local community organisation

• Create a project plan for your initiative

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible, applicants must also be a resident of the rural NSW community the project will benefit. The 2023 round will close on Wednesday 30 November 2022. 

What types of projects are eligible?

The RASF invites ideas that deliver strong community benefits and result in enhanced economic and social outcomes for your community. Projects that involve collaboration between people in your town and deliver sustained and broad community benefits will be highly regarded. Applicants will be passionate about rural and regional NSW and have a good understanding of any issues affecting their community.

Infrastructure for local showgrounds and Show Societies are eligible. The improvements must demonstrate that they go beyond benefiting just the local Show Society in running the local Show, but rather enabling broader use by other community groups to run on-going projects or programs.

What projects are not eligible?

While the criteria for this program are broad, the RASF does not fund wages, consultant’s fees, one-off events, operational and administration costs, travel or accommodation.

What is a Community Partner?

A Community Partner can be any local agency or group that delivers a service, provides a benefit or whose purpose is charitable in nature. For example, educational organisations, your local Show Society or service club (Rotary, The Lions Club, Apex etc).

Applications for the 2023 Community Futures Grant are now open and will close on Wednesday 30 November 2022. You can access the online application form here.