Grants of up to $100,000 to support the construction and enhancement of community infrastructure, to promote social, environmental, and recreational outcomes across New South Wales.
On this page you will find
What is the Community Building Partnership 2025 Round?
The NSW Government is investing in infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes, while also promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.
Since 2009, the Community Building Partnership (CBP) program has awarded more than $464 million to over 20,900 projects.
Community Building Partnership level of support
Grants
- In 2025, the total value of the CBP program is $41.85 million.
- There is a maximum of $450,000 to allocate in each electorate.
- Eligible applicants can apply for grants of between $10,000 and $100,000. The average grant awarded in previous rounds was around $20,000.
- As total funding will be divided equally among the state electorates of NSW, applications will be assessed against other proposed projects within the same electorate.
Co-contribution
- Projects with contributions from their own, or other sources, will be considered favourably.
- Local councils or their section 355 committees, are required to provide matched funding to the CBP grant amount awarded.
Community Building Partnership important dates
- Applications Close: 21 February 2025, 5 pm AEDT
- Projects to be Completed by: 3 August 2026
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Community Building Partnership objectives
The primary objectives of the CBP 2025 grant program are to:
- Support the growth and enhancement of local community infrastructure.
- Foster community participation, inclusion, and cohesion through improved infrastructure.
- Deliver positive social, environmental, and recreational outcomes across diverse NSW communities.
These objectives aim to not only improve the physical community assets but also to strengthen the bonds within communities by providing inclusive, accessible, and sustainable facilities.
Projects eligible for Community Building Partnership support
Projects in NSW involving:
- capital works including construction of new community infrastructure as well as refurbishment, repair and maintenance of existing community infrastructure. Capital works are: improvements to the land or building, or freestanding equipment that will be fixed or installed to the land or building.
- the purchase of freestanding equipment. Freestanding equipment is: equipment that does not require installation. This also includes vehicles and vessels that do not require registration e.g. tractors, utility task vehicles (UTV) or side-by-side ATVs, dragon boats, golf buggies, dinghies, powerboats or sailing boats less than 5.5 m long or with an engine less than 4.0 kw.
- the purchase of vehicle(s). Vehicles are: cars, buses, trucks, trailers, motorised rescue vehicles including boats and any modifications to existing vehicles.
CBP will consider funding requests for projects with one project location per application only.
An application involving a vehicle must be made separately to a capital works and/or equipment purchase. Your application may be deemed ineligible if you fail to do so.
Applicants can apply for an Automated External Defibrillators (AED) package up to $3,000 per application per project location. Applications for more than one AED package at the same project location will be ineligible.
Ineligible Expenditures
It is important for applicants to note that the following expenditures will not be covered by the grant:
- Activities that primarily serve religious or political purposes.
- Operational costs such as salaries, ongoing maintenance, and utility expenses.
- Projects that have commenced prior to the grant approval.
Other Community Building Partnership important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Community Building Partnership support
Applicants must be one of the following:
- NSW association or non-distributing co-operatives registered with NSW Fair Trading
- Local Aboriginal Land Councils or Indigenous corporations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations
- NSW local councils and their section 355 committees operating under the Local Government Act 1993. Local councils or their section 355 committees are required to provide matched funding to the CBP grant amount awarded.
- not-for-profit entities incorporated under an Act of Parliament
- trusts that are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
- public companies limited by guarantee.
Applicants that received a grant through the CBP 2021 and CBP 2022 rounds must have acquitted their CBP 2021 and CBP 2022 projects by 21 February 2025, unless they have an active and approved extension in place to complete the project.
Organisations listed on the ACNC Register must have a current and up-to-date record. Any organisation that has not met ongoing obligations to the ACNC will have funding withheld if the project is successful. Any outstanding issues must be resolved by the date Funding Agreements are due, or the grant offer may be withdrawn.
An organisation eligible to apply for funding must apply under its own legal name and ABN (if applicable).
Community Building Partnership assessment criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
1. Community Enhancement (25%)
- Demonstrate this through identifying how the project will deliver positive social, environmental or recreational outcomes.
- Describe the current situation in your community.
- Describe how your project will contribute and improve the current situation in your community.
2. Community Need (25%)
- Demonstrate this through identifying why the project is a priority need, why funding is important and how the project will promote community participation, inclusion and cohesion.
- Describe how your project will encourage more members of the community to participate in activities and/or services.
- Describe how your project will promote more inclusive activities and/ or services.
- Describe how you know that the community needs your project as a matter of priority.
3. Organisational Capacity (25%)
- Demonstrate this through identifying how you are able to deliver the project within your organisation’s resources.
- Demonstrate that your organisation can deliver the project on time by including all relevant documentation in your application.
- Describe your organisation’s experience in delivering similar projects.
- Describe the resources and skills your organisation has that will help it to successfully deliver the project on time and within budget.
4. Value for Money (25%)
- Demonstrate this through identifying how the project delivers value for money when comparing the project’s lifetime economic, cultural and environmental benefits, including nonmonetary benefits, with its lifetime costs.
- Detail and itemise all the costs associated with the project and how they will be covered.
- Provide quotations, price comparisons and advice from professionals to show that the costs are reasonable.
- Provide letters confirming other sources of financial support
How do I get the Community Building Partnership?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Successful applicants must:
- maintain a current and up-to-date record if the organisation is listed on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) register.
- meet ongoing obligations to maintain eligibility for new funding.
- apply under its own legal name and ABN (if applicable).
- provide all the information requested
- include all necessary attachments
Information to prepare for the Community Building Partnership application
Here’s a list of the information requirements necessary to apply for the Community Building Partnership (CBP) 2025 program, as specified in the guidelines:
1. For applications that seek to build, upgrade or repair facilities, where development approval is required, evidence of the development approval.
- Acceptable evidence of development approval includes a current valid notice of determination showing consent has been granted, complying development certificate, or construction certificate.
- A planning or zoning certificate, evidence of lodgement of a Development Application and any other documents not clearly demonstrating development approval by a consent authority will not be accepted.
2. For capital works projects, the property/landowner’s consent for your works to be undertaken at the project location.
3. A valid and current Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance in the name of the applicant with a minimum cover of $5 million.
4. Detailed and itemised project budget for the full requested amount.
5. For applications that request $30,001 or above, quotes to verify project expenditure, which align to the information provided in your project budget.
- A project cost sheet, opinion on a probable cost or a pre-tender estimate summary will not be accepted.
- A quote older than 6 months will not be accepted.
6. Quotes for applications that request $30,000 or less are preferred but not mandatory.
Applying for the Community Building Partnership
Applications must be submitted through the SmartyGrants platform.
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 Building Partnership resources
Is Your Business Eligible for This Government Grant?
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