Funding up to $100,000 to support not-for-profit community groups to enhance their capacity to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities that benefit the Queensland community.
On this page you will find
What is the Gambling Community Benefit Fund?
The Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) is Queensland’s largest one-off grants program, providing funding to not-for-profit community groups to enhance their capacity to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities that benefit the Queensland community.
Grants of up to $35,000 (and over, in special rounds) are available for eligible organisations seeking support for equipment, facility improvements, vehicles, community events, and more.
Gambling Community Benefit Fund level of support
- Minimum amount: No stated minimum
- Maximum amount: $35,000 per standard round
- Special rounds: May provide over $35,000 (e.g. disaster recovery or super rounds)
Co-contribution:
A co-contribution is not required. However, the value for money and additional financial or in-kind support from other sources are taken into account during assessment.
Gambling Community Benefit Fund important dates
There are 2 remaining funding rounds for the GCBF in 2025:
- Round 124 $100,000 super round closes: 18 July – Now Closed
- Round 125 $35,000 standard grant round closes: 31 October – Still Open
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Gambling Community Benefit Fund objectives
This funding opportunity is designed to:
- Support community-based, not-for-profit organisations
- Enhance services, infrastructure, and access to activities that benefit Queensland communities
- Ensure equitable distribution of funding across regions, sectors and community priorities
Projects and expenditure eligible for Gambling Community Benefit Fund support
Organisations can apply for a wide variety of community-enhancing projects, including:
- community events/training
- equipment (including medical equipment)
- facility improvements
- machinery
- printing/publications/marketing
- solar
- vehicles/boats
- workshops/conferences.
Facility improvement requirements
If you’re applying for facility improvements for a building or land that you don’t own, you must have:
- written approval from the lessor/owner to make the proposed improvements
- written approval from your infrastructure advisor for land owned by Education Queensland
- quotes from a licensed builder or builder contractor, if applicable by law
- appropriate tenure whereby
- if the property is owned by the government or a not-for-profit organisation, you must have either (or a combination of):
- an instrument of tenure
- ability to demonstrate custom and practice (i.e. have the owner verify the relationship)
- if the property is privately owned, you must have tenure for at least 3 years after the date of your application.
- if the property is owned by the government or a not-for-profit organisation, you must have either (or a combination of):
Ineligible Items (will not be funded)
1. Items purchased before approval:
- Anything ordered, paid for, or committed to (including events occurring) before grant approval.
2. Fees for services:
- Grant writing or application assistance fees.
- Project management fees.
3. Certain purchases:
- From a grant writer or their associated businesses.
- Benefiting individuals.
- Alcohol, vouchers, gifts, prizes.
- From overseas suppliers (without prior approval).
4. Operating costs:
- Contingency budgets or costs not yet incurred.
- Recurring/general operating costs.
- Repayment of loans/debts.
- Overseas travel.
- Staff/member social events.
- Facility upgrades tied to retirement living, body corporate, or similar community schemes.
5. Income-generation aid:
- Subsidies or contributions aimed at unlocking other funding.
- Sponsorships.
Items Unlikely to be Funded (approval is rare)
- Salaries and wages
- Rent or lease costs
- Public liability insurance for events
- Administrative costs (e.g. stationery, postage)
- Consumables (e.g. food, petrol, uniforms)
- Catering
- Internal (non-third-party) training
- Prepaid/store cards
Overseas Purchases
- Must buy local wherever possible.
- Overseas purchases require prior written approval, including:
- A quote from the supplier.
- Justification for why the item isn’t available in Australia.
- Unauthorized overseas purchases will result in grant revocation and funds must be returned.
Other Gambling Community Benefit Fund important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Gambling Community Benefit Fund support
You must be a legal entity or a sponsored entity:
A legal entity:
- is incorporated or registered under an Act of Parliament
- is a proprietary or public company limited by shares or trusts where the shareholders are not individuals and/or for-profit companies
- has an active ABN
- has not-for-profit objectives
- has a bank account in its name
- must provide a bank verification form stamped by its financial institution; if your financial institution is unable to complete the bank verification form, please contact us for assistance.
A sponsored entity:
- is neither incorporated nor registered under an Act of Parliament
- has not-for-profit objectives
- requires a legal entity to sponsor its application
- in some cases must be sponsored by their relevant government department (i.e. a local ambulance committee, rural fire brigade or State Emergency Service group).
Your organisation must also:
- have appropriate insurance cover in place (if successful)
- comply with local, state and commonwealth laws and regulations
- keep copies of all approvals and documents for 7 years to support the application.
Eligible applications
An application is eligible for consideration for GCBF funding if:
- it is submitted by an eligible organisation
- it demonstrates the funding will benefit Queensland communities
- you have sourced multiple quotes; you don’t need to submit the quotes with the application, but we may request them later.
Ineligible applications
An application is not eligible if the organisation (legal or sponsored):
- has a previous application still awaiting an outcome
- has recently acquitted a previous application and is within the exclusion period
- has a previous application that is not yet acquitted and completed
- has not provided information we requested by the due date
- has requested only ineligible items
- does not meet the eligibility requirements
- has submitted more than 1 application for the same location (as determined by us)
- has an overdue application in its own right.
Responsibility of application sponsor (legal entity)
The legal entity sponsoring an application must:
- ensure the sponsored entity—the organisation that’s applying—has not-for-profit objectives
- agree to accept legal and financial responsibility for the grant
- agree with the sponsored entity about how the grant funds will be managed
- ensure they have no overdue applications in their own right
- ensure both organisations’ registration details are up-to-date, including the financial position.
Parents and citizens associations (P&Cs) and parents and friends associations (P&Fs) can apply, but schools are not eligible.
See the guidelines for full details of organisational requirements.
Gambling Community Benefit Fund assessment criteria
Applications are assessed by the Gambling Community Benefit Committee, a 12-member independent body. While no percentages are listed in the guidelines, applications are evaluated in this order of priority:
- Essential repairs/replacements – for damage from a declared natural disaster (last 2 years)
- Equipment/facility improvements – items that enhance services or facilities
- Vehicles and mobile assets – e.g. trailers, boats, buses
- Community events and programs – training, festivals, workshops
- Recent grant recipients – organisations who received over $15,000 in the past 2 years
Additional factors considered include:
- Community benefit and number of people or organisations impacted
- Geographic spread – particularly for rural or underfunded regions
- Financial need – based on most recent financial statements
- Sector impact – especially social, health or inclusivity initiatives
- Cost effectiveness and value for money
- Longevity of the organisation
- In-kind or financial contributions
- Income generation potential
- Number of applications from the same sponsor
- Alignment with government priorities
How do I get the Gambling Community Benefit Fund?
Applicants must:
- Read and understand the guidelines.
- Ensure eligibility for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria will not be considered.
- Deliver the project/s as outlined in the application.
- Provide complete information requirements.
Information to prepare for the Gambling Community Benefit Fund application
Before applying, prepare the following:
- Bank verification form
- Quotes for your proposed purchases (multiple required)
- Facility improvement approvals (if applicable)
- Referee details
- Conflict of interest disclosures (if applicable)
- Documentation of insurance and permits
- Up-to-date financial records
Referee requirements
You will need to provide 3 referees. Suitable referees could be, for example:
- your state or federal Member of Parliament
- the mayor or a councillor from your local council
- people or businesses that utilise your organisation’s services or facilities.
Referees cannot be:
- committee members
- family members of committee members
- people or businesses who will receive a payment or benefit if the grant is approved
- principals of schools, as they are considered members of parents and citizens or parents and friends committees.
See the guidelines for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the Gambling Community Benefit Fund
Applications must be submitted online via the GCBF grants portal.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Gambling Community Benefit Fund resources
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