Grants up to $250,000 to support delivery of strong, lasting community benefit, particularly through infrastructure improvements, asset purchases and projects that stimulate local economic activity.
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What is the Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants (CBF-MCG)?
The Northern Territory Government’s Community Benefit Fund – Major Community Grants (CBF-MCG) program provides funding to support projects that enhance community services, leisure activities and opportunities for Territorians.
The CBF receives funding from a levy on electronic gaming machines in licensed hotels. These funds are redistributed to support community-focused initiatives across the Northern Territory.
Major Community Grants are designed to deliver strong, lasting community benefit, particularly through infrastructure improvements, asset purchases and projects that stimulate local economic activity.
Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants level of support
Funding amount:
- Minimum funding: $15,001
- Maximum funding: $250,000
- Grants may fund a project in full or in part.
- There is no guarantee of ongoing or recurrent funding.
Co-contribution is not mandatory, however:
- Preference is given to applications that include a co-contribution.
- Co-contributions may include cash and/or in-kind support.
- Applications that demonstrate shared investment and financial commitment are viewed more favourably.
Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants important dates
There are two funding rounds per financial year:
Round 1
- Opens: 1 July
- Closes: 31 August
- Notification: By 31 October
Round 2
- Opens: 1 January
- Closes: 28 February
- Notification: By 30 April
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Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants objectives
The objectives of the Major Community Grants program are to:
- Enhance community services across the Northern Territory
- Support leisure activities and community participation
- Improve access to opportunities for Territorians
- Deliver projects that generate wide-reaching community benefit
- Stimulate local economic activity through the use of NT suppliers and contractors
- Support infrastructure and asset investments that provide long-term benefit
Current Funding Priorities
Priority 1: Infrastructure improvements or asset purchases that demonstrate ongoing community benefit beyond the funding period.
Priority 2: Projects that support NT growth and:
- Provide multi-level economic stimulus
- Use local NT suppliers and contractors
Projects and expenditure eligible for Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants support
Projects must:
- Deliver community benefit aligned with CBF objectives
- Seek funding for a permitted activity, purpose or project
- Align with CBF priorities
- Represent value for money
- Demonstrate strong community development focus
- Include accurate, viable and clearly justified budgets
- Include supplier quotes (preference given to NT-based suppliers)
- Demonstrate community support or involvement
- Identify measurable outcomes
- Show organisational capacity to deliver
Funding will not support:
- Operational or core business activities
- Recurrent expenses (e.g. regular salaries, administration, short-life equipment)
- Commercial ventures or developments
- Experimental or pilot programs without guaranteed future funding
- Debt repayment, loan repayments or reimbursement for completed projects
- Projects that have already commenced
- Fundraising activities
- Political or religious activities
- Projects inconsistent with CBF objectives
- Projects negatively impacting local commercial activity
- Projects that are the responsibility of another government funding program (unless that program lacks funding capacity)
Only one application per organisation per round is permitted.
Organisations with overdue acquittals or an active Major Community Grant are not eligible to apply.
Other Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants support
Applicants must be:
- An NT-based non-profit community organisation
- An NT regional council
Organisations must:
- Be incorporated under an eligible Act (e.g. Associations Act (NT), Corporations Act 2001, CATSI Act or other Act of Parliament)
- Be not-for-profit
- Have a physical presence in the NT
- Be compliant with reporting obligations
- Have no outstanding CBF acquittals
Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants assessment criteria
Applications are assessed by the Community Benefit Fund Committee, which makes recommendations to the Minister.
There are no published percentage weightings, however assessment is comprehensive and comparative.
Step 1: Eligibility Check
The CBF Secretariat verifies:
- Organisational eligibility
- Compliance with reporting obligations
- No outstanding acquittals
- Funding history
Step 2: Merit Assessment
Applications are assessed against the following:
- Alignment with eligibility requirements
- Alignment with CBF priorities
- Clear demonstration of permitted activities
- Inclusion of detailed quotes (NT suppliers preferred)
- Inclusion of co-contribution (cash or in-kind)
- Demonstration of value for money
- Evidence of broad and positive community impact
- Capacity to self-fund ongoing operational components
- Accurate and viable budget
- Strong project planning and defined outcomes
- Evidence of community support
- Strong community development focus
- Organisational capacity to deliver
- Evidence of sound financial management
- Consideration of previous CBF funding received
- Funding availability in the round
Applications are assessed on merit against competing applications within the same round.
How do I get the Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants support?
To maximise your chances of success, applicants should clearly demonstrate:
- Strong alignment with CBF priorities
- Long-term and measurable community benefit
- A realistic, well-costed and viable budget
- Clear evidence of community need and support
- Organisational capability and governance strength
- Financial stability and sound management practices
- Co-contribution commitment (cash or in-kind)
- Use of local NT suppliers and contractors
- Clear outcomes and community impact metrics
- Capacity to sustain the project if ongoing
Projects that are infrastructure-based and deliver ongoing benefit are particularly competitive.
Information to prepare for the Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants support
Applicants should prepare:
- Certificate of incorporation
- Evidence of compliance with reporting requirements
- Detailed project plan
- Comprehensive project budget
- Supplier quotes (preferably NT-based)
- Evidence of co-contribution
- Evidence of community support
- Financial statements
- NTG infrastructure guidance form (if upgrading NT Government-owned property)
Applying for the Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants support
Applications must be submitted via GrantsNT during an open funding round.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Community Benefit Fund: Major Community Grants resources
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