Community Grants Program

At Black Dog Ride, we are committed to supporting community-led initiatives that improve mental health awareness, strengthen resilience, and help prevent suicide across Australia.

Our Community Grants Program provides funding to organisations and individuals delivering practical, local impact in these areas.

What We Fund

We support a range of initiatives that align with our mission, including:

Community Mental Health Projects

Grants of up to $10,000 are available for initiatives such as:

• community education and awareness programs
• mental health workshops and events
• peer support initiatives
• locally-led suicide prevention activities

Mental Health Training Programs

We also support individuals and organisations to build capability in their communities through recognised training, including:

• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor Training
• safeTALK suicide alertness training
• ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) – Train for Trainers (T4T)

These programs increase the number of trained people who can recognise and respond to mental health challenges and suicide risk.

Strategic Grants

From time to time, we may consider larger or strategic funding requests where there is strong alignment with our purpose and a clear opportunity for significant community impact.

How the Program Works

Our grants program operates across four funding periods each year:

• April – June
• July – September
• October – December
• January – March

Applications are assessed monthly, with the Grants Committee meeting on the last Thursday of each month.

Recommendations are then provided to the Board for formal approval.

Funding Availability

Grants are funded from the Black Dog Ride Gift Fund, which means:

• funding availability varies throughout the year
• applications are assessed against available funds at the time
• early application is encouraged

If funding is fully committed in a period, applications may be deferred to the next funding round.

Application Process

1. Download and complete the Community Grants Application Form
2. Submit your application with all required supporting documentation
3. Applications are reviewed at the next monthly assessment meeting

You will be notified of the outcome following Board ratification.

If Your Application is Successful

If approved:

• you will receive a Letter of Offer and Grant Agreement
• this must be signed and returned within 14 days
• funding will then be released

If documentation is not returned within this timeframe, the grant may be deferred to a future funding period.

Project Delivery and Reporting

All grant recipients are required to:

• deliver the funded activity as outlined in their application
• submit a short acquittal report within one month of completion, including:
• • how the funds were used
  • outcomes achieved
  • community impact

Organisations that do not complete reporting requirements may not be eligible for future funding.

Important Information

• Grants are competitive and assessed on merit and alignment
• Funding is limited and not all applications can be supported
• Black Dog Ride reserves the right to pause or defer funding rounds if available funds are fully committed

Apply for a Grant

To apply, download the application form below and submit your completed application to:

📧 office@blackdogride.org.au