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Funding Centre tip: how to find federal Budget grants in the database

It’s one thing to see big federal funding announcements for not-for-profits, but how do you actually find those grants? And how do you know when they open?

In a late 2024 Funding Centre survey, we found that 36 percent of respondents mentioned lack of time and/or resources as their biggest barrier to finding and applying for grants. You can stay ahead by setting up tailored email alerts, running live searches, and saving the grants that matter most to your organisation.

Here’s how.

Example: The 2025–26 federal Budget included a $200 million commitment to protecting bushland and natural environments.

1. Set up grant alerts

Go to your Settings and select relevant categories like:

  • Environment
  • Community development
  • Rural and regional
  • Bushfire and disaster relief
Budget preferences
Visit Settings to adjust grant categories, eligibility and location.

Indicate your eligibility (e.g. incorporated not-for-profit, local government, school), select your state, and tick Australia-wide.

You can also add up to 10 local government areas (LGAs) to capture place-based opportunities. You’ll receive tailored alerts straight to your inbox when grants matching your interests open.

2. Run a live search

Head to the grant search page and enter:

  • your eligibility type(s)
  • Australia-wide and state-based filters
  • your LGAs.

Use the same categories you selected in your settings, or try relevant keywords like bushland, natural environment, or climate resilience to narrow results.

Read our guide to getting the most out of the keywords field

Budget search
Enter search criteria into the filters to find grants open now.

3. Save your search

Once your filters are set, scroll to the bottom and click ‘Save search’. Give your search a name and it’ll be ready to re-use next time – filters will auto-fill when you select it. You can save multiple searches for different focus areas or projects.

Save search2
Save a search to lock the filters in place, ensuring you don't have to re-enter filters each time you search the database.

4. Save a grant and assign it to a project

When you spot a grant you're interested in, click the ‘Add to dashboard’ star. You can:
• Assign the grant to a project
• Add notes
• Upload files
• Set tasks and deadlines.

Everything will appear in your grants list, so you can stay on top of due dates, progress, and priorities.

Save dashboard
Save and sort your grants by project so you never miss a deadline.
Try it for yourself now - search for grants
Read about the Budget highlights for community groups and social sector

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