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26 February 2026$50,000 Grants for Australian Charities: QBE Foundation 2026 Program Now Open
Last updated: 17 February 2026
Multiple $50,000 grants for Australian charities and not-for-profit organisations are now open for applications. The QBE Foundation has officially launched its 2026 Australian Local Grants Program, targeting community organisations working on climate resilience or inclusion across Australia and the Pacific. The EOI window closes 16 March 2026 — so if your charity or NFP is eligible, now is the time to act.
If your organisation is tackling environmental challenges, supporting marginalised communities, or building disaster-resilient neighbourhoods, this is one of the most significant corporate grant opportunities available to Australian community organisations in 2026.
$50,000 Grants for Australian Charities: QBE Foundation 2026. EOI closes 16 March 2026.
What Is the QBE Foundation Local Grants Program?
The QBE Foundation is the philanthropic arm of QBE Insurance Group, one of Australia's leading insurers. Each year, through its Local Grants Program, the Foundation directs funding to community-based initiatives that create measurable, lasting impact.
For 2026, the program is focused on two key areas: climate resilience and inclusion — two of the most pressing challenges facing Australian communities today.
Our local grants program continues to highlight the incredible dedication and impact of organisations working at the heart of their communities. By supporting initiatives that enhance climate resilience and advance inclusion, we're helping support positive change where it's needed most.
Grant Streams Available
Applications can be submitted under three distinct streams:
Which Australian Charities and NFPs Can Apply?
To qualify for the program, organisations must meet the following criteria:
- Be a not-for-profit registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
- Hold Australian Tax Office Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR 1 or DGR 2) endorsement
- Be based in Australia (projects can be delivered in Australia or selected Pacific jurisdictions, including New Zealand, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands)
Organisations affiliated with political parties or unions are not eligible. Faith-based organisations may apply, provided the funded initiative does not incorporate religious teaching in program delivery. Australia Pacific QBE Foundation charity partners and 2025 local grant recipients are excluded from this round.
How Does the Application Process Work?
Stage 1 : Expression of Interest (EOI)
All applicants must begin with an EOI. The EOI window is open from 9am AEDT on 16 February until 5pm AEDT on 16 March 2026. Applications will first be assessed for eligibility and alignment with the chosen category.
Stage 2: Full Application
Selected organisations will be invited to submit a full application, which goes through several rounds of review. A shortlist of five applications per category is developed, and QBE employees then participate in a live internal vote — each voting for their top three. The three highest-ranked applications overall are selected as the successful recipients.
Key assessment criteria include expected outcomes and impact, community need, clarity of proposed use of funds, ability to measure and report, alignment with QBE Foundation goals, and elements of innovation.
Reporting Requirements
Successful recipients will need to submit an acquittal report by 31 July 2027, or upon completion of the initiative. QBE may also request a progress update approximately six months after the grant is awarded.
The Foundation may use information from grant reports as case studies or in impact reporting, with prior approval from the charity.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| EOI Opens | 16 February 2026, 9am AEDT |
| EOI Closes | 16 March 2026, 5pm AEDT |
| Acquittal Report Due | 31 July 2027 |
Who Won in 2025? Meet the Recipients
The 2025 program awarded $600,000 across twelve organisations, selected from more than 300 applications. Here's a look at who received funding and what they're doing with it.
Inclusion
Friends with Dignity
Friends with Dignity partners with refuge and crisis centres to provide practical support for people escaping domestic and family violence. The grant will furnish 13 fully equipped homes — with beds, linen, whitegoods, and kitchenware — for survivors including those from CALD, LGBTIQ+, and First Nations backgrounds.
WithYouWithMe Academy
WithYouWithMe Academy is a social impact tech company tackling the gender gap in Australia's digital workforce. The grant supports WithWomen, a national initiative aiming to help 2,000 women — particularly those facing systemic barriers — establish careers in tech through free skills assessments, digital training, and industry-recognised certifications.
TABOO Foundation
TABOO Foundation is working to eliminate period poverty in Australia. The grant will fund menstrual health support across six remote First Nations schools in far north Queensland, providing culturally safe period products to young girls. As co-founder Eloise Hall notes: "1 in 5 people who menstruate in Australia have struggled to afford period products. We want to change that."
The Warrior Woman Foundation
The Warrior Woman Foundation supports vulnerable young women through mentorship and leadership programs. Thanks to the grant, 30 young women aged 16–25 from disadvantaged areas in Western Sydney will participate in their Young Warrior Woman Program, building confidence, financial literacy, and job readiness.
Employee Choice
Precious Wings
Precious Wings provides memory boxes, grief resources, and peer support to families who have lost a child. The grant will fund the co-design of three sibling support packs tailored for different age groups, ensuring the "forgotten grievers" — brothers and sisters — receive dedicated care in the critical early days of loss.
Safe Pets Safe Families
Safe Pets Safe Families supports people fleeing domestic violence by providing pet fostering, vet care, and food banks. The grant will establish a Domestic Violence Community Veterinary Fund, giving survivors access to 18 partner vet clinics across South Australia, so no one has to choose between their own safety and the wellbeing of their pet.
the lung warrior
The Lung Warrior Inc. supports children and families in Western Australia navigating complex lung conditions. The grant will scale five core programs, including monthly Respicare packs for patients at Perth Children's Hospital and community connection activities for families post-discharge.
The TLR Foundation
The TLR Foundation is working to grow Australia's stem cell donor pool by recruiting young and diverse donors. The grant will fund a national digital campaign and peer ambassador program targeting university students to raise awareness about stem cell donation and improve match rates for blood cancer patients.
Climate Resilience
A cultural burn is carried out at Tarcutta Reserve. Photo: Vikki Parsley
Bush Heritage Australia works to protect ecosystems and wildlife in close partnership with Traditional Owners and farmers. The grant is funding strategic fire management across two conservation reserves on Wangkamadla Country in the Simpson Desert — together spanning 448,500 hectares — using aerial burning and firebreaks to protect vulnerable desert species and cultural sites.
Deadly Science STEM schools - Bush Soap
DeadlyScience Ltd provides STEM resources and education programs to over 800 regional and remote schools. Their Deadly Weather initiative blends First Nations seasonal knowledge with smart weather technology, upskilling educators and providing permanent kits that bring climate science to remote Indigenous students in a culturally relevant way.
Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation - Talking About Blackberry
Mornington Peninsula and Western Port Biosphere Reserve Foundation is Victoria's only UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve. The grant is supporting their Western Port Blue Carbon Community Resilience Project, helping rural landholders adapt to coastal erosion and rising sea levels through workshops, consultations, and nature-based solutions.
Parklands Albury Wodonga Limited - Hume Bank Tree Planting
Parklands Albury Wodonga Limited is using the grant to restore 1.5km of Waterworks Regional Park along the Murray River — installing fencing, planting resilient vegetation, and building boardwalks in partnership with First Nations communities, the Wodonga Men's Shed, and local schools. This will complete the last gap in the 66km conservation corridor between Lake Hume and West Wodonga.
Looking for More Corporate Community Grants in Australia?
The QBE Foundation is one of several major corporations and insurers offering dedicated funding for community organisations each year. Other active programs worth exploring include the nib foundation, the RACQ Foundation, the NAB Foundation. Each program has its own eligibility criteria, focus areas and application windows — so it pays to keep an eye on multiple opportunities throughout the year.
At Helptia, we track funding opportunities for Australian charities and not-for-profit organisations to help you stay informed and never miss a deadline.
