This grant assists community groups and organisations to deliver events, activities and programs that enhance the lives of local communities, celebrate important community occasions and provide opportunities to develop social cohesion and connection in the Cairns region.

The events, activities and programs Council support are intended to: 

• Drive community and social outcomes to enhance the quality of life in local communities
• Contribute to the region’s balanced portfolio of community, arts, cultural and sporting events
• Celebrate the rich traditions of communities and the importance of these to the Cairns region
• Drive future growth and sustainability of local events, activities and programs
• Improve the capacity and wellbeing of groups that experience disadvantage and or/have difficulty being heard

Assistance Type

This grant provides assistance through cash and the hiring of Council venues and resources. The maximum amount per application is $25,000 (ex GST).

There are four grant rounds per year, as follows:

• Round 10 closes 15 December 2023 for events, activities or projects held 1 April 2024 – 31 April 2025
• Round 11 closes 31 March 2024 for events, activities or projects held 1 July 2024 – 31 July 2025
• Round 12 closes 30 June 2024 for events, activities or projects held 1 October 2024 – 31 October 2025
• Round 13 closes 30 September 2024 for events, activities or projects held 1 January 2025 -31 January 2026
• Round 14 closes 13 December 2024 for events, activities or projects held 1 April 2025 - 30 April 2026
• Round 15 closes 31 March 2025 for events, activities or projects held 1 July 2025 - 31 July 2026
• Round 16 closes 30 June 2025 for events, activities or projects held 1 October 2025 - 31 October 2026

It is recommended that you contact a member of the Community Partnerships team prior to completing an application by phone 1300 69 22 47 or email: communitygrants@cairns.qld.gov.au

Who can apply for assistance?

Applicants must be a registered not-for-profit organisation. A not-for-profit is defined as any association, club, state or national organisation, who holds incorporated status under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 or is a company limited by guarantee under the 2001 Corporations Act and does not operate for the profit or gain (either direct or indirect), of its individual members either from ongoing operations or on its winding up.

Only one funding stream from Council will be successfully approved per event, activity or program with the exception of the Councillor Discretionary Fund stream.

Regional Arts Development Fund Grants may also be approved in association with certain events, activities or programs granted through streams within this policy.

Applicants must advise Council of their intent to apply for other Council assistance for their event, activity or program, including the status of the application.

To be eligible applicants must not: 

• Have outstanding Council grants that have not been acquitted within required timeframes or grants that have previously not been satisfactorily acquitted 
• Have overdue outstanding payments to Council (e.g. rents, rates, fees, Council guarantor loan repayments)
• Be a political party or discriminatory group
• Be a school, university or TAFE college 
• Be an individual 
• Be an organisation that own, lease, manage or operate premises with poker machines

What you can't apply for

• Support for a program, event or activity that has already occurred
• Support for seasonal or regular bookings of Council managed facilities
• Programs, event or activities that are the subject of litigation
• Usual business operating expenses
• Programs that duplicate existing services or programs
• Programs with a sole religious or political purpose
• Programs, events or activities outside the boundaries of Cairns Regional Council
• Gifts
• Prize money
• Alcohol and tobacco products

• Phone: 1300 69 22 47
• Email: communitygrants@cairns.qld.gov.au