Preparing Community Service Organisations for Climate Change Grant

About the program

As our climate changes, it’s important to adapt the way we live and how we respond to climate change impacts. Community Sector Organisations (CSOs) play a critical role in supporting community resilience.

Climate change is already affecting Canberra with:

• increasing temperatures
• more and more frequent hot days and heatwaves
• reduced annual rainfall
• more intense rain events and extreme storms.

This pilot grant program aims to support CSOs to identify and adapt to the risks presented by climate change.

This is a one-off pilot program, supported and part-funded by the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund.

How it works

The ACT Government has collaborated with the ACT Council of Social Services and local CSOs to co-design a toolkit of resources that aim to:

• Assist CSOs in identifying and assessing the climate change risks to their organisation.
• Developing adaptation plans to decide on actions that will increase organisational resilience.
• Implement actions that will lower climate risk and safeguard operations into the future.

This pilot grants program aims to test the suitability and effectiveness of these resources to support CSOs in continuing to deliver essential services to priority populations and mitigate the risks associated with a changing climate.

Funding of up to $50,000 per grant is available across 2 stages:

• Stage 1: $15,000 is available to organisations to undertake a climate risk assessment and prepare an adaptation plan.
• Stage 2: Up to $35,000 is available to organisations to support the implementation of adaptation plan actions approved as part of Stage 1.
  • Non completion of Stage 1 deliverables will result in conclusion of the grant agreement and no access to Stage 2 funding.

Who can take part

This pilot program is open to CSOs that operate in the ACT. Organisations must also meet the meet the eligibility requirements in the grant guidelines [PDF 1.6 MB].

Funding is available Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) for this pilot program. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led organisations should email EPSDDAdaptationandResiliencePolicy@act.gov.au for information on how to apply.

As this is a non-competitive, one-off grant, applications will not be assessed against any merit criteria.

How to apply

Applications have now closed.

You will need to submit your application through SmartyGrants - the ACT Government’s online grants management system. If you are a new user, create a free SmartyGrants account.

Application steps

1. Read and understand the Preparing Community Service Organisations for Climate Change Grant Guidelines.
2. Register or log into your Smartygrants account.
3. Follow the instructions to complete your application.
4. Submit your application before the close date.

Apply now

Cost

There is no cost to apply.

Why it’s important

The ACT Government is taking action to protect the health, wellbeing, and livelihoods of Canberrans from the adverse impacts of climate change. One of the ways we are doing this is by building community capacity to adapt and remain resilient to the impacts of changing climate.

Funded organisations

In 2025, nine ACT Community Service Organisations and one Aboriginal Controlled Community Organisation received funding to trial a Climate Adaptation Toolkit for the development of organisational climate risk management and adaptation plans:

• ACT Disability Aged & Carer Advocacy Service
• Woden Community Service
• Relationships Australia Canberra and Region
• Scouts ACT
• Barnardos Australia
• Canberra Multicultural Community Forum
• Canberra Community Law
• Directions Health Services
• Corroboree Group

Stage 1 of the pilot included a total of $135,000 in funding. This pilot will have a second stage of funding in 2026 that will commence for pilot participants that successfully complete Stage 1.

Contact us

Email EPSDDAdaptationandResiliencePolicy@act.gov.au

Find more ACT Government grants.