Empowering Women and Girls Grant | Northern Rivers Community Foundation

Youth + Disability + Health & Wellbeing + Environment & Conservation + Aged Services

Applications for the 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant are opening soon!

This grant will be awarded at our Grant Giving Night on Thursday 3 September 2026.

The NRCF Empowering Women & Girls Grant is an annual program that offers funding to grassroots initiatives in the Northern Rivers, focusing on empowering women and girls to overcome inequality and disadvantage. The objective of the grant is to provide seed funding to pilot new programs and services, or enable existing programs and services to pivot, scale or build their evidence base.

The program is unique to other grants because the funds raised come from women in the Northern Rivers, through the NRCF Women’s Giving Circle. By bringing together passionate women from the Northern Rivers, the Circle aims to promote equality, human rights and an environment free from discrimination and violence for women and girls through collective giving and participatory grant making.

OPENING JUNE 2026

DOWNLOAD GRANT GUIDELINES

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP

Key Program Dates

15th June - 2nd July 2026	Call for applications period
23 June 2026	Grant-Writing Webinar
3rd - 14th July 2026	Evaluation Committee shortlists applications
14th July 2026	Evaluation Committee convenes to confirm shortlist
17th July 2026	Shortlisted applicants and unsuccessful applicants notified
3rd - 9th August 2026	Voting period opens and closes
12th August 2026	Successful and unsuccessful applicants are notified
3rd September 2026	Grant Giving Night and Celebration
4th - 14th September 2026	Grant Agreements and Funding distributed
31st March 2027	Mid-way pulse check
31st September 2027	Final check-in and submission of financial acquittal

Grants

Eligibility

There are three basic criteria for being eligible for the Empowering Women & Girls Grant:

Benefits Women and Girls: The primary objective of the project should be to empower women and girls in the Northern Rivers.
Locally based: The grant supports organisations working within the 7 LGAs of the Northern Rivers (Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley, Ballina, Byron and Tweed). Organisations outside the Northern Rivers can apply, however they need to demonstrate local governance, such as a local partner or a board or committee based in the Northern Rivers.
Not-for-profit: Organisations must either be an Incorporated Association under NSW Legislation or registered with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (or both). NRCF does not fund social enterprises, sole traders or people operating through a Company structure (e.g. Pty Ltd).

Notes:

Applicants must also be available to send a representative to the Grant Giving Night on 3rd September and deliver a 5-minute presentation to members of the Women's Giving Circle.

Further Support