The Future Drought Fund's Communities Program brings together five elements that directly support communities to prepare for and build social resilience to drought in agriculture-dependent communities across remote, rural and regional agricultural communities.

CIP is an integrated package of support in 12 regions to strengthen the social capital, wellbeing and connectedness of communities to prepare for and build social resilience to drought. Based on local engagement and collaboration, it will include:

• Community Impact Grants:  Working with locally led community organisations to develop and deliver a program of support to strengthen community networks, capabilities and facilities that support drought preparedness (delivered by FRRR); and
• Community Leadership Activities:   Supporting community members to develop their leadership skills to contribute to drought resilience in their community (delivered by ARLF). Learn more about the options on ARLF's website.

Please review the list of regions and LGAs that are supported by this program.

The program will provide grants up to a maximum grant of $150,000 in 12 regions across Australia. A total of $900,000 is available for each region through a collaborative grant making process.

To apply, your organisation must meet the following criteria:

• Applicant organisation must be a not-for-profit organisation with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. Organisations with or without DGR-1 endorsement are eligible. The proposed project must be for charitable purposes and offer clear public benefit;
• Applicant organisation must be identified in the Regional Roadmap as
  • a contributor to the development of the Roadmap; and
  • as the organisation agreed by fellow contributors to apply for the project described in the application;
• Organisations can submit one application per grant round; unless otherwise agreed with FRRR;
• Projects must benefit communities in remote, rural or regional Australia that are agriculture-dependent.

Please note, you will be considered ineligible if the:

• 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 documentation (see additional information in the guidelines)
• Overdue final report/s from any FRRR grants awarded in the previous seven years have not been acquitted (delivery organisations should check with 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.

• Phone: 1800 170 020
• Email: futuredrought@frrr.org.au