Funding a trust

Obtaining a loan or grant for your trust

There are a number of sources of funding for your trust, such as grants and loans. These may be provided by LPMA through the Public Reserves Management Fund (PRMF), and other government or non-government agencies that provide funds to community organisations.

Public Reserve Management Fund

LPMA administers the Public Reserve Management Fund (PRMF) that provides funds as grants and/or loans at competitive interest rates. These grants or loans are available for the development, maintenance and protection of Crown reserves. These funds are also used to improve infrastructure on reserves.

As the PRMF is self-funded, most of its funds are allocated as loans rather than grants. This is to ensure that the PRMF will be able to meet the financial demands on it into the future.

Other sources of funds

• Community Directory of Financial Assistance produced by the Western Sydney Information and Research Service. This provides a directory of community funding sources. www.westir.org.au
• Community builders is a website operated by the NSW Government. It has information about community development and services with links to funding opportunities. Additionally, the funding facts section contains information on other ways of raising funds and how to write submissions.
  www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au/
• Our Community has information about what grants are available, advice on developing a grants submission, and other general guidance on accessing community resources. www.ourcommunity.com.au/index.jsp
• EasyGrants Newsletter with information about currently available grants and also includes a bulletin service that reminds you of upcoming important grants. www.ourcommunity.com.au/funding/grant_main.jsp
• Better Boating Program is a NSW Maritime grants program aimed at providing recreational boating infrastructure for the benefit of the boating community on New South Wales waterways.
  www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/cv/infra_grants.html
• Heritage Incentives Program has a range of programs that provide funding for specific works of a heritage nature. www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/02_index.htm
  Coastal Management Program provides financial assistance on a 50:50 basis to councils to develop management plans for coastal areas. www.environment.nsw.gov.au/grantsandfunding/index.htm 
• For general fundraising ideas see www.fundraisingideas.com.au/

More information on fundraising for your trust is available in the Trust Handbook.