There’s More Support Available For Your Community Group Than You Might Think
And we can help you find it.
Sporting clubs. Progress associations. Arts and cultural organisations. Emergency services groups. Charities. Indigenous organisations. Community halls and neighbourhood centres. The organisations that hold regional communities together rarely have the resources to go looking for funding – and yet funding exists specifically for them.
Most community groups in the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island have no idea what they can access. Not because they don’t deserve support. Because nobody told them.
We’re Regional Development Australia Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island. Connecting community organisations with funding, support and resources is part of what we do – and we’re here to help.
Find A Grant For Your Project
The Hills and Coast Grant Finder is free, and it’s built for organisations like yours.
The Hills and Coast Grant Finder brings together grants from councils, state and federal government in one searchable place – covering community groups, sporting clubs, arts organisations, Indigenous organisations, emergency services, progress associations and more.
It’s free to use. Register once, set up alerts for the types of grants relevant to your organisation, and you’ll be notified when new opportunities open. With 6,240 grant searches already completed by registered users across the region, the opportunities are there for organisations ready to look for them.
Are You Grant Ready?
Before you apply, work through these six questions.
The organisations that win grants are the ones that are ready before they start looking. Work through these before you apply – and if you can answer yes to all six, you’re in a strong position.
Project Clarity – Is your project clearly defined and does it align with your organisation’s purpose and plan?
Project Delivery – Do you have a realistic methodology, timeline and key milestones mapped out?
Project Leadership – Is there someone with the skills and commitment to lead and deliver this?
Project Scope – Are your activities, outputs and budget clearly defined and realistically planned?
Project Readiness – Do you have budgets, designs, approvals and quotes in place?
Project Stakeholders – Do you have support from partners or community members, demonstrated through letters or endorsements?
If you’re unsure about any of these, that’s exactly what a conversation with our team is for.
Finding The Right Grant
The right grant is the one your project is genuinely aligned with.
One of the most common mistakes community organisations make is trying to fit their project into a grant it was never designed for. Before investing time in an application, understand what the grant is actually trying to achieve. Is it about creating jobs? Reducing carbon emissions? Improving community facilities? Supporting young people? Preserving cultural heritage?
Once you’ve found grants with the right alignment, check the eligibility criteria carefully:
Who is the grant open to? Is your organisation type eligible? Are you in the right region? What can the funds be spent on? Are there matching funding requirements?
If anything is unclear, contact the funding body and ask. They would far rather answer a question upfront than receive an ineligible application.
Writing A Strong Application
Good grant writing is a skill – and help is available.
A strong grant application tells your organisation’s story in a way that funding assessors can say yes to. It takes attention to detail, clear writing, and an ability to align your project’s goals with the grant program’s objectives.
If your organisation doesn’t have someone with the time or confidence to write a strong application, professional grant writers who service our region are available. Our team can point you in the right direction.
Supporting evidence also makes a real difference. Demographic and economic data for the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island is available through our regional data platforms and can strengthen your case by demonstrating the community need your project addresses.
Other Funding Options For Community Organisations
Grants are not the only path to funding.
Hills and Coast Grant Finder
Free grant portal covering councils, state and federal programs. Register for automated alerts relevant to your organisation type.
Funded
A South Australian platform connecting charities and community organisations with donors and local giving opportunities. If you’re a fund-seeking charity or a community group looking for philanthropic support, this is where to start.
Corena Fund
Zero-interest loans for community organisations funding projects that reduce carbon emissions – solar installations, improved energy efficiency, electric vehicles.
Red Hat Impact
Connects investors with enterprises creating positive social, environmental or cultural impact. Also offers business and organisational support for impact-focused groups.
business.gov.au – Funding
The Australian Government’s comprehensive overview of funding options, including programs relevant to not-for-profit and community organisations.
RDA AHFKI
Not sure which option suits your situation? Contact our team and we’ll point you in the right direction.
More Support for Your Sector
Connections and resources for agribusiness and First Nations businesses.
We work with businesses across every sector – manufacturing, food and agribusiness, tourism, services, retail and primary production. We understand the specific pressures of operating regionally, and the genuine competitive advantages that come with it.
We Can Help You With
Support beyond finding a grant.
Letters of support
For many grant applications, a letter of support from a regional body strengthens your case. We provide letters of support for community projects that align with the region’s development priorities. Get in touch to discuss your project.
Economic modelling and data
For larger community grant applications, demonstrating the economic or social benefit of your project to the broader region can be a deciding factor. Our team can help with regional data interpretation and, for significant projects, economic impact modelling.
Connections and referrals
Sometimes what a community project needs is the right introduction – to a council officer, a government program manager, a potential partner organisation or a community leader who has done something similar. We maintain relationships across all six councils and all levels of government, and we’re happy to make introductions where we can help.
We’re Also Fighting For This Region
Advocacy that benefits every community member.
Beyond funding support, RDA advocates with state and federal government on the issues that affect daily life across the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island – public transport, digital connectivity, aged care, childcare, housing and regional infrastructure.
These aren’t abstract policy positions. They’re the things that determine whether people can get to work, access healthcare, keep their kids in local schools and stay connected to their communities.
Stay Across What’s Available
Our weekly newsletter covers funding opportunities, regional news, upcoming events and program updates – written for people who live and work in this region.
More than 3,000 subscribers. A 47.7% open rate. Once a week. Free.
Ready To Find Out What’s Available For Your Organisation?
A conversation with our team costs nothing and usually opens doors you didn’t know were there.