Grants For Organisations

Up to $10,000 for not-for-profits and community groups delivering education, health, wellbeing, and innovation programs in Remote and Very Remote Australia.

About the Grant

The Connellan Airways Trust Grants for Organisations support small to medium not-for-profit organisations and community groups delivering programs and services in Remote and Very Remote Australia across the areas of health, education, wellbeing, and innovation.

The grant is open three times a year for applications up to $10,000.

We prioritises applications from organisations that are based in remote communities, have established relationships with remote people, or exist primarily to benefit Remote and Very Remote Australia.

Who can apply

You are eligible to apply if you:

Are a small to medium registered Not-for-Profit (NFP) organisation with an annual turnover under $3 million
Are an unincorporated community group supported by an eligible NFP willing to auspice the application
Deliver activities that directly benefit people living in Remote or Very Remote areas of Australia
Can demonstrate a clear link between your proposed work and measurable community outcomes

Talk to Us Before You Apply

We encourage organisations to contact us before submitting an application. A short conversation with our Executive Officer will help you understand whether your project is eligible, how to frame your application, and whether CAT is the right source of funding.

Applications that have been discussed with us beforehand consistently perform better. It is also the best way to avoid spending time on an application that does not fit our guidelines.

What we fund — and what we don't

CAT funds reasonable, evidence-based costs that are essential to achieving your stated outcomes, including:

Health & Wellbeing: Outreach programs, mental health workshops, and initiatives that improve access to health services for remote communities
Education & Training: Accredited courses, facilitated training programs, materials, and equipment that support skill development and community capacity
Innovation & Problem Solving: Community-led pilots and practical new approaches to delivering services in remote contexts
Community Connection & Leadership: Programs that strengthen participation, build local leadership, and support communities to drive their own futures
Project Delivery Costs: Wages or contractor fees directly tied to project delivery; essential tools, materials, or consumables; and modest overheads directly related to delivery

What We Don't Fund

Retrospective funding (activities you have already completed, or activities that will be complete before grant outcomes are announced)
Core government responsibilities (e.g. permanent staffing of hospitals or schools)
Operational salaries unrelated to the funded activities
Sports programs, competitions, or participation activities
Arts and creative activities
Fundraising events, prizes, or donations
Projects without clear plans, measurable outcomes, or direct community benefit
Projects where the budget does not clearly specify what CAT funds would cover

How applications are assessed

CAT uses a transparent, three-stage assessment process:

Eligibility Check: Applications are screened against eligibility, remoteness criteria, allowable costs, and evidence requirements.
Scoring: Each eligible application is independently scored using CAT's evaluation rubric. Additional weight is given to applications from organisations serving Very Remote areas.
Ranking & Allocation: Applications are ranked by score and funded in order of merit. The board retains discretion to make final funding decisions.

Question	What assessors look for	Weight
What do you want to do?	A clear, well-defined activity with strong expected benefits for the community	20%
Why is this needed?	Evidence of genuine need and understanding of local context	25%
When, where and who?	A realistic plan with clear timelines, location and demonstrated readiness to deliver	20%
Budget and value	A transparent, well-supported budget with good value for money	15%
How will you measure success?	Clear, practical indicators of community benefit and how change will be tracked	10%
How will you share outcomes?	A plan to share results within your community or sector	10%

How to apply

Applications are submitted online through the Connellan Airways Trust grants portal. When a round is open, complete all required fields and submit electronically, no paperwork needs to be posted separately.

If your internet connection is unreliable, an offline application option is available. Contact the Executive Officer on 1800 733 810 to arrange this.

You can create an account and review questions outside of open rounds to prepare your application in advance.