Apply for a Seed Giving Circle Grant
Together, we’re planting the seeds of a thriving, connected Northern Rivers.
What We Fund
We have up to $10,000 in total to distribute. Our intention is to split this into:
- One larger grant of $5,000
- Two smaller grants
Exact amounts will be confirmed by the Grants Committee upon review of all applications.
We also invite you to share any capacity development, mentorship and other support needs. Even if you do not receive a grant, we will be looking at ways we can connect you to other forms of support that can enable the work you do.
Applications close: 13 October 2026
Shortlisting: October (by Seed Giving Circle Grants Committee)
Voting: October–November (by Seed Giving Circle members)
Grantees announced: Late November 🎉
Criteria
💡 What We Don’t Fund
Ready to start your application?
Questions and Answers
🌱 Eligibility — Who Can Apply for a Seed Giving Circle Small Grant?
We want this grant round to be as open and welcoming as possible.
If your initiative supports environmental or climate outcomes in the Northern Rivers, you’re encouraged to apply — even if you’re unsure whether you meet other criterion.
This might include initiatives with any of these outcomes:
- Restoring land, rivers and or the environment;
- Conservation;
- Caring for Country;
- Sustainability education;
- Sustainability enterprise development;
- Sustainable development;
- Creative projects with environmental outcomes;
- Projects that deepen community connection with Country or ecology.
- Food resilience;
- Climate action;
- Community resilience;
- Sustainability;
- Circular economy initiatives;
We also value the following other criteria but they are not necessary to apply:
Be community-led & place-based
To what extent is the work grounded in the Northern Rivers and connected to the communities it serves?
Honour First Nations wisdom
Projects led by, or centring, First Nations knowledge systems and governance traditions for Caring for Country are welcomed and encouraged.
Back diverse voices
We welcome projects led by, or uplifting, communities and voices often left out of environmental action.
Show systems-aware thinking
We look for an understanding of how your project contributes to broader change — whether through collaboration, shifting narratives, regenerating ecosystems, or strengthening local resilience.
📨 If in doubt — apply. or reach out to us
Your initiative doesn’t need to fit perfectly into every category for us to consider it.
If your work contributes to caring for the environment or climate in the Northern Rivers in any way, we’d love to hear from you.
What is the process after I apply for a grant?
Once you submit your application, our community-led process kicks in. Here’s how it works:
Grant Application Timeline
Applications close — 13 October
Shortlisting — Early October
Our Seed Giving Circle Grants Committee (a group of volunteer members) reviews all applications against the criteria and creates a shortlist. If we need any extra information from you at this stage, we’ll be in touch.Member Voting — October to November
The shortlisted projects are shared with the full Seed Giving Circle membership. Each member casts their vote to determine which projects will receive funding and how the funds are allocated.Grantees Announced — Late November 🎉
Successful applicants will be notified directly, and all applicants will receive an update. We also announce the funded projects publicly and celebrate them across our networks.
We aim to keep the process transparent, community-powered, and supportive — and we’re always here if you have questions along the way.
Do I need to be a not-for-profit to apply, and what does “not-for-profit” actually mean for my project?
You don’t need to be a formally registered not-for-profit to apply — but all projects must operate on a not-for-profit basis, meaning the project exists to benefit the community or environment, not to generate private profit.
If you’re already a registered NFP, great. If you’re an unincorporated group or an individual, you can still apply — shortlisted applicants will simply enter into an auspice agreement with Seed Northern Rivers or another eligible NFP.
Being “not-for-profit” does not mean you can’t pay yourself. You can use the grant to cover fair wages, contractor fees, materials, venue hire, and other legitimate project costs. You just can’t treat the grant as personal profit or use it for non-project purposes.
If you’re unsure, reach out — we’re happy to help.
Why a Giving Circle?
By pooling resources and decision-making power, members join a movement that amplifies regenerative climate and environmental projects while strengthening the backbone of a thriving regional ecosystem of changemakers. This isn’t traditional philanthropy — it’s collective power in action. Members don’t just give; they connect, vote, and shape the future of our region.
Globally, Giving Circles are revolutionising giving, with over $3.1 billion contributed collectively between 2017 and 2023, according to Philanthropy Together. Now, this transformative model has arrived in the Northern Rivers — turning shared purpose into lasting impact.
How is the Seed Giving Circle different from traditional philanthropy?
Unlike traditional models where one donor decides where the money goes, Giving Circle members pool their contributions and co-decide how funds are distributed, ensuring transparency, shared purpose, and a deeper connection to the impact we create together.
Our greatest power lies in our ability to give flexible, responsive grants to small-scale initiatives that need trust, not red tape. As our circle grows, so does our impact—more members mean more funds, more grants, and more local projects powered from the ground up.
What will the Small Grants Program fund?
We honour First Nations knowledge systems, governance traditions, and cultural continuity, and we prioritise projects led by or centring First Nations Peoples and their enduring connection to Country. We back diverse voices and lived experience, especially from communities historically excluded from environmental spaces, because real climate justice means everyone is at the table.
And we know that collaboration is where the magic happens. We support efforts that build relationships, share knowledge, and strengthen networks across generations, communities, and sectors. If you're cultivating connection and growing something regenerative from the ground up, you’re in the right place.
What is the Changemakers Collective?
The Seed Changemakers Collective is a direct response to this reality. After 18 months of listening to changemakers across the region, one message is clear: leaders need support that is relational, responsive, and rooted in place. Grounded in systems leadership, this program will create the conditions for collective resilience by equipping changemakers with the skills, tools, and relationships needed to lead with care. Through training, mentoring, and capacity-building, the Collective will help local leaders and organisations thrive and seed transformative change across the region.
