Ignite and Queer Futures Fund

• EOI open - 29 June

• EOI close - 3 August

• Shortlist notified - 7 September

• Full applications open - 18 September

• Full application close - 9 November

• Applicants notified - 4 December

Amplify Pride Fund

• Invitation to apply - 7 September

• Application due - 9 November

• Applicants notified - 4 December

Rainbow Giving Australia currently offers two open grant programs:

• Ignite Pride grants support LGBTQIA+ led organisations and projects that directly serve LGBTQIA+ communities across Australia.

• The Queer Futures Fund supports LGBTQIA+SB young people aged 18 to 26 to create arts, culture and community projects.

Both programs run on the same timeline and are assessed by a Community Assessment Panel.

We also offer the Amplify Pride Fund, a targeted, invitation-only opportunity for organisations tackling systemic challenges facing LGBTQIA+ communities.

If you would like to learn about other opportunities to get funded, check out GiveOUT Day here and grants available around Australia from other funders here.

Amplify Pride is Rainbow Giving Australia's grant program for organisations tackling systemic challenges facing LGBTQIA+ communities, with grants between $30,000 and $60,000.

For the 2027 program year, Amplify Pride is moving to a by invitation only to enable us to work more deeply and longer-term with our grant partners. You can read more about why we are making this change and what it means for the sector here.

Ignite Pride grants are designed to support LGBTQIA+ led organisations and projects that directly serve LGBTQIA+ communities. Applicants must be registered charities or auspiced by one, and grants can be used for projects, programs or operational costs.

The Queer Futures Fund is specifically for LGBTQIA+SB young people aged 18 to 26 who want to create arts, culture or community projects. It is open to individuals, groups and organisations, and does not require ACNC registration. Grants are focused on creative and community projects led by and for LGBTQIA+SB youth.

The two programs have different eligibility requirements, purposes and assessment criteria.

Start by checking whether you meet the eligibility requirements for each program. The Queer Futures Fund is only open to LGBTQIA+SB people aged 18 to 26, so if you or your organisation don't meet that criteria, Ignite Pride is the right program for you.

If you do meet the Queer Future Fund eligibility requirements, think about the nature of your project. If it is an arts, culture or community project led by and for LGBTQIA+SB young people, the Queer Futures Fund is likely a strong fit. If it is a broader community services, advocacy or operational funding need, Ignite Pride may be more appropriate.

If you meet the eligibility requirements for both programs, you can apply to both. However, applications must be for different purposes or projects.

Yes, you can apply for an Ignite Pride or Queer Futures Fund grant multiple times. The outcome of previous applications does not impact the assessment process.

Yes, you can submit multiple applications for different purposes or projects. However, please note we are unlikely to award multiple grants to the same applicant in the same round.

We know how much time and effort goes into grant applications, and we want to be respectful of that. Both Ignite Pride and the Queer Futures Fund use a two-stage process — a short Expression of Interest followed by a full proposal for shortlisted applicants. This means that only applicants with a strong chance of receiving funding are asked to invest the time in a detailed application. If your EOI is successful, you will be invited to submit a full proposal with more detail about your work, budget and plans.

It depends on which program you are applying for.

For Ignite Pride, applicants must be an Australian charity registered with the ACNC, or be auspiced by one. You do not need to be endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR1).

For the Queer Futures Fund, you do not need to be a registered charity. Individuals, groups and organisations can apply as long as they have an Australian Business Number (ABN). Individual applicants will also need a Tax File Number (TFN).

If you are not sure whether your organisation is eligible or whether an auspice arrangement would work for you, get in touch with us before applying.

An auspice arrangement is where an established, registered charity agrees to receive and manage grant funds on behalf of an organisation that is not itself eligible to receive funding directly. This is relevant for Ignite Pride applicants who are not registered with the ACNC. The auspicor takes on legal and financial responsibility for the grant. Auspice arrangements are not required or relevant for Queer Futures Fund applicants.

Ignite Pride grants can be used for a wide range of costs, including specific projects or activities, and operational or core costs such as staff salaries, volunteer coordination, equipment, professional development, venue hire, professional fees and fundraising activities. We recognise that many LGBTQIA+ organisations struggle to access funding that covers the true cost of their work, and we actively welcome applications for operational costs that are difficult to fund elsewhere.

Queer Futures Fund grants can be used to support arts, culture and community projects led by LGBTQIA+SB young people. This includes making, sharing or developing creative work across a wide range of art forms including visual art, photography, film, writing, spoken word, music, dance, performance, theatre, cabaret, drag, digital art and animation. Projects can take many forms, from creating and producing original work to delivering workshops, collaborative projects or documenting queer stories and experiences.

Yes, absolutely. Ignite Pride is specifically designed to support smaller organisations and grassroots initiatives, including those that are largely volunteer-run. You do not need to have paid staff to apply. We assess applications based on the quality and relevance of the work, not the size or structure of the organisation.

It depends on which program you are applying for. The Queer Futures Fund is open to individuals, groups and organisations, so if you are an LGBTQIA+SB young person aged 18 to 26 with an arts, culture or community project, you can apply as an individual. Ignite Pride is designed for organisations and projects with an organisational base. If you are an individual interested in Ignite Pride, you must be associated with an organisation to apply.

We want the application process to be as accessible as possible. If you need support completing your application, have questions about the process, or would like to discuss submitting your application in a different format, please get in touch via info@rainbowgiving.org.au. We encourage you to get in touch early so we have time to support you before the application deadline.

Applications for both Ignite Pride and the Queer Futures Fund are assessed by a Community Assessment Panel, a group of people from across the LGBTQIA+ community, RGA's funding partners and the RGA Board. The Panel assesses applications against the grant criteria and provides recommendations to the RGA Granting Subcommittee, who make final funding recommendations to the RGA Board.

We will announce this year’s grant pool very soon but expect it to be in line or more than last year ($622,000).