$400,000 in grants available to power local climate solutions

First Nations-led and First Nations-directed organisations in remote, rural and regional communities across Australia are being encouraged to apply for grants of up to $20,000 through the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal’s Community Led Climate Solutions program (CLCS), which opens today.

In total, $400,000 is available for projects that address climate change at a local level by implementing activity or building awareness of practices and solutions that can reduce emissions and help communities create positive and sustainable environmental, social and economic outcomes.

The program can fund a wide variety of First Nations climate-focussed initiatives including projects that support local communities to adopt clean energy practices; educate community members; reduce emissions; implement low carbon power sources; embrace reuse and regenerative practices; support solutions that deliver sustainable agriculture and food systems; encourage biodiverse ecosystems; or ensure the transition is just for all.

Jill Karena, FRRR’s Head of Granting.

Jill Karena, FRRR’s Head of Granting, said that although the program is open to all community groups across remote, rural and regional Australia, FRRR is keen to back First Nations communities to lead their own climate journey.

“Remote, rural and regional communities across Australia are experiencing climate impacts in different ways, because every place is different,” Ms Karena said.

“This program recognises that and allows for NFPs to shape the climate solutions that will work in their context – whether that’s educating people about what climate action can look like, improving energy resilience by enhancing community infrastructure, restoring habitat, building capability, or testing solutions and sharing their impact.

“A great example is Yued Aboriginal Corporation, who we supported with a grant on their journey to establish a nursery for seed collection and native propagation by Yued Noongar Rangers.

What is FRRR

• The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal is a national Australian foundation dedicated to supporting the social and economic strength of remote, rural, and regional communities through funding and capacity-building programs.
• Established in 2000 by the Australian Government and the Sidney Myer Fund, FRRR aims to ensure a
• vibrant, resilient, and sustainable future for rural and regional Australia.
• It is a tax concession charity that provides seed funding and grants for a wide range of projects, including social, health, education, cultural, environmental and economic initiatives beneficial to local communities.

A great example is the Yued Aboriginal Corporation, who FRRR supported with a grant.

“We have also funded projects that educate locals on ways to lessen or mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. For instance, we supported Deadly Science’s Deadly Weather initiative to provide 30 schools across remote and regional Australia with weather monitoring kits, teaching resources and implementation support to build local capacity for climate awareness, adaptation, and action.

“Other communities are actively seeking ways to transition to sustainable energy. In Borroloola in the Northern Territory, we’ve funded the Ngardara Cooperative’s work supported by Original Power, which will see the community leading the establishment of their own solar microgrid, providing them with a sustainable energy source and reducing their reliance on diesel-powered electricity.

“These are just a couple of examples of what can be funded. We know that groups in remote and very remote communities face some unique, practical challenges when it comes to applying for grants, like digital connectivity.

“We encourage anyone thinking about applying for a grant to first take a look at the program guidelines to check whether we can back your idea. Then, reach out to our team to have a yarn about the idea and application.”

Applications close 5pm AEDT, March 12, with grants to be announced in late June. Projects funded in this round must be delivered between July 2026 and July 2027.

Learn more about what makes a good application at a free online Grantseeker Workshop, including a Q&A session, on February 17, 12pm–1 pm AEDT. Register via Humanitix.

To learn more about eligibility and apply, visit: https://frrr.org.au/community-led-climate-solutions.

Generous contributions

Since launching in 2023, the CLCS program has awarded 67 grants, distributing $1.6 million to support locally‑led climate solutions.

Funding in Round 4 is supported by the generous contributions of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Elders Insurance in partnership with the QBE Foundation, Hand Heart Pocket – the Charity of Freemasons Queensland and the Sidney Myer Fund.

FRRR welcomes interested trusts, foundation and corporate organisations to join this collaboratively-funded program.

Climate solutions

Early insights from the evaluation of Round 1 projects show strong community engagement and meaningful on‑the‑ground outcomes. Many projects have improved the general understanding of climate solutions, reducing misconceptions and strengthening collaboration, while also delivering tangible environmental and operational benefits such as reduced waste, restored land and lower energy costs.

“These changes are significant because they’re long‑lasting and transferable,” Ms Karena said.

“They build momentum by making climate solutions visible, relevant and accessible to everyday people, helping ensure that the transition to a low‑emissions future is fair and inclusive. We’d love to be able to fund even more of these kinds of initiatives and invite new partners to join us.”