Many councils in NSW provide small grants or loans to assist heritage projects. Check with your local council to see if they offer a local fund program - ask for the officer who normally deals with heritage matters.

The Heritage Branch is prepared to support any rural council to establish a local heritage fund at up to $8,200 dollar-for-dollar per year. Grants are normally small but may be up to $10,000 per project per year in special cases.

Please discuss with your local council if this is of interest to you.

The Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) manages various grants programs under the banner of the NSW Environmental Trust. These programs fund projects that rehabilitate or regenerate the environment, or promote environmental education and sustainability. Please note that 2008 applications for grants programs are closed. Opening dates for 2009 are yet to be announced.

There are a number of grant programs offered, guidelines, application forms and closing dates are available on the Trust website www.environmentaltrust.nsw.gov.au

Of particular interest is the protecting our places program which supports projects that restore or rehabilitate Aboriginal land or land that is culturally significant to Aboriginal people, or that educate Aboriginal and other communities about the environment.

If you have a project which involves a heritage item owned by Railcorp please seek advice from the Office of Rail Heritage, Railcorp. Contact Mr Jim Longworth on (02) 9379 6531.

Each year the Heritage Branch provides funding to the Royal Australian Historical Society to run a small grants program (maximum of $4,500 per project). Projects must assist the conservation or promotion of heritage items in NSW.

Forms are usually available from the RAHS in March. Applications for the program normally close in late May each year. Contact Mari Metzke at the RAHS on (02) 9247 8001 or view details on the RAHS website.

Community organisations such as historical societies, museums, public libraries, archives, indigenous and migrant community groups which collect and provide public access to their cultural heritage collections are eligible to apply.

The Community Heritage Grants Program is funded by the Australian Government through the National Library of Australia, the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, the National Archives of Australia, the Australian Film Commission and the National Museum of Australia.

Opening dates for 2009 yet to be confirmed.

For full details go to National Library of Australia website.

The Museums and Galleries NSW is a community organisation. For enquiries on existing and proposed museum projects phone (02) 9358 1760 or visit www.mgnsw.org.au

The NSW government agency for community museums is Arts NSW. Arts NSW can assist all aspects of collections management, exhibitions, display, education and training programs. Some funding is also available for capital work projects.

For information about arts funding through Arts NSW contact (02) 9228 5533 or go to Arts NSW Funding Opportunities Applications for the 2009 Arts Funding program are currently open and closes on 10 October 2008.

The Cultural Gifts Program encourages gifts of significant cultural items to public art galleries, museums and libraries by offering donors a tax deduction for the market value of their gifts. Gift made under the program are exempt from capital gains tax and the tax deduction may be spread over a period of up to five years.


If this is of interest please ring the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts on (02)6275 9651 for further information or consult the website at http://www.arts.gov.au/tax_incentives/cultural_gifts_program

Under the Saluting Their Service Program funding of up to $4,000 per project is available for the conservation or upgrading of existing memorials or to improve access and safety or the construction of new memorials where none exists.

Also for plaques or honour boards and the restoration, preservation and interpretation of Australian wartime memorabilia for public display. Not available for the construction or maintenance of buildings, including memorial halls and sporting facilities.

For further information see the following website:
http://www.dva.gov.au/commemorations/grants/index.htm, or

Contact the Commemorative Grants Section of Veteran Affairs on free call 1800 026 185.

The NSW government has established the Community War Memorials Fund to help protect and restore war memorials across NSW.

Applications for the inaugural 2008 funding round close on September 30 2008.

For further information visit the website:
http://www.dpc.nsw.gov.au/communities/memorials or phone 02 9228 5370

Establish a National Trust tax deductible appeal for donations to make the project more attractive to potential donors. Ring David Child at the National Trust on (02) 9258 0123.

If are running a major appeal you are eligible to apply to the Heritage Branch for a Kick Start grant of between $5,000 and $10,000. Please contact Victoria Throp at the Heritage Branch on (02) 9873 8576/577 or or email:
victoria.throp@planning.nsw.gov.au

Consider the following fund raising suggestions: auction nights, heritage building open days, antique fairs, art sales, musical evenings or major raffles (preferably with a significant item, such as a car, to generate greater interest).

Check with your local Council, Commonwealth employment agency or the NSW Department of Corrective Services about the possibility of employment support for your project - you may have to supply supervision, equipment and materials.

Ask your local Council for cash or in-kind support for your project; if you have a rateable property request that the rates be reimbursed for the purpose of maintaining your heritage building.

Seek sponsorship in cash or in-kind from local businesses or service groups such as Apex, Rotary or Lions.

Community builders is a government website that lists all funding programs from federal, state and local government as well as institutions, philanthropic trust and companies.

All NSW Government grants are currently being added here. www2.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/funding/programs