Grants available

Content grants support the development, production and distribution of content via Australian community media.

Our guiding principles, approach and goals relating to content grants are outline in our Supporting Content Framework.

This year we are particularly looking to:

• increase community participation and diversity in community broadcasting and/or
• support creativity and excellence in content production.

Content grants are distributed twice per year, with the greater portion allocated in Round 1.

Content grants include funds specifically dedicated to Specialist Radio Programming. This portion of our content grants funding is available to support ongoing ethnic, Indigenous and RPH programs. For applicants looking to apply for Specialist Radio Programming funds, you must complete a separate grant application specifically requesting this funding.

Developing dynamic content enhances community media in Australia. Beyond their listening and viewing audiences, producers are often recognised for their achievements in awards. For inspiration of Content projects, view Our Stories.

Our grant guidelines and our Frequently Asked Questions detail everything you need to know about Content grants. Please review these guidelines and preview the application form before starting your application. Also, remember members of our Grants Support Team are always happy to provide tips and advice about your application.

Key grant round dates

Our key dates page lists the opening and closing dates for the current grant rounds.

Subscribe to our e-news to hear the latest updates about our grants.

Development & Operations grants aim to support community media station resilience by strengthening governance, building community, sustainable operations and technical capacity.

Your application must clearly demonstrate how the proposed activities address one or more of the areas listed below:

• Governance – strategic planning, technology planning, developing open and transparent governance policies and procedures, recruiting and maintaining a governance team with diverse skills and experiences
• Sustainable operations – improving the financial sustainability, and/or reducing the environmental impact of community media
• Building community – engaging the diverse members of your community.

Grants for Development & Operations are distributed twice per year, with the greater portion allocated in Round 1.

Our grant guidelines and our Frequently Asked Questions detail everything you need to know about Development & Operations grants. Please review these guidelines and preview the application form before starting your application. Also, remember members of our Grants Support Team are here to provide tips and advice about your application.

Key grant round dates

Our key dates page lists the opening and closing dates for the current grant rounds.

Subscribe to our e-news to hear the latest updates about our grants.

Quick Response grants are available to support community media organisations experiencing emergencies that risk discontinued transmission or operations, or who have been provided with a time-limited opportunity. To apply for this grant, you will need to provide evidence that this situation could not have been reasonably anticipated prior to the most recent CBF grant round, cannot wait until the next round and cannot be covered by your organisation’s reserves.

This could include for the following:

Emergencies

• Replacing essential equipment and related expenses to restore basic transmission following an unforeseen event such as flood, bushfire, lightning, theft or drought
• Replacing essential operational equipment and related expenses not able to be reasonably anticipated
• Unexpected changes at your studio or transmission site such as a sudden need to relocate
• A financial loan while an insurance claim is being processed and/or funds are raised

Opportunities

• A matched funding opportunity for a project
• Other costs associated with a time-limited opportunity

Grants will be considered outside the normal grant rounds – you will normally receive advice about the outcome of your application within one week.

Eligibility

To be considered eligible for a Quick Response grant, you will need to answer yes to the following questions:

• Has this emergency/opportunity arisen unexpectedly? That is, that it could not have been reasonably anticipated during a previous funding round and cannot wait for the next funding round.
• Can you provide evidence of the emergency/opportunity in your application? Such as:
  o Photos of equipment needing replacing
  o Documentation from ACMA, local council, landlord, owners corporation, utility company, real estate agency
  o Insurance documentation
  o Evidence of support from funding partners
  o Hyperlinks or screenshots of the unique equipment sale
  o Financial statements demonstrating costs cannot be met from organisation reserves
• Can you provide the following information required within the grant application?
  o Your latest Annual Report with financial statements, even if you have supplied this information to the CBF previously
  o Your current Strategic and/or Business Plans
  o A description of your transmission setup, any apparatus licenses and block diagram of the current and proposed transmission chain (for transmission projects)
  o An agreement with a registered training organisation (for training projects)
  o A competitive quote for any equipment purchases over $2,000
  o A clear and detailed project budget
  o Contact information for your organisation and a key individual involved in the proposal

Funding conditions

To receive a Quick Response grant, you must meet the following funding conditions.

• Amount we may fund:
  • Emergencies:  100% of the financial cost of the project
  • Opportunities: maximum of 50% towards the total financial cost of the project
• Loans will need to be fully repaid within the agreed time-frame (even if insurance does not cover the full amount). If loan repayments are not provided within the agreed timeframe, the CBF will not consider grant applications from the organisation.
• You must provide evidence of the emergency or opportunity taking place outside of CBF grant rounds.
• You must provide evidence that costs cannot be met from organisation reserves.

How to apply

If you believe your project meets the Quick Response grant eligibility and funding conditions, the next step is to discuss your project with a CBF Grants Support Team member that looks after your area. If eligible, you will be provided with a link to our online grant application in SmartyGrants.

The Quick Response grant application form is a modified version used for our Development & Operations and Content grants.

We support community media by funding major projects.  These investments in the community media sector are by invitation only.