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

As bushfires ravaged countryside and drought continues to decimate farming communities the RASF is focussing on recovery for rural and regional New South Wales. The 2021 Community Futures Grant program is offering assistance to bushfire and drought impacted areas, with funds for rebuilding and support for vital community projects.

Eligibility Criteria

• 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. This year projects should assist the recovery and rebuilding of drought and bushfire affected towns. 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).

For more information, visit RAS Foundation.