The grants are designed to facilitate the conservation and sustainable management of the States natural resources by supporting local community groups to undertake stewardship of natural resources in their local area.

Community Stewardship Grants are available annually to support community-based projects that serve to protect and restore the local environment, enabling local community groups to undertake stewardship of natural resources in their local area. The Community Stewardship Grants program involves both a small grants round and a large grants round. The information on this page refers to the small round. 

• Small grants:
  • are valued between $1,000 - $50,000
  • commence on or after 1 January in the year following the grant round
  • are up to 18 months in duration.

The WA Natural Resource Management Framework sets out the WA Government’s direction for working together in partnership to manage WA’s natural resources for the future, and guides the direction of the State NRM Program. It outlines six priorities for coordinated NRM in WA:

• sustainable management of land resources
• maintain and enhance water assets
• protect and enhance the marine and coastal environment
• conserve and recover biodiversity
• enhance skills, capability and engagement
• deliver high quality planning that leads to effective action.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be an incorporated not-for-profit organisation with an ABN.

Applicants from the following groups or organisations are encouraged to apply:

• Aboriginal community organisations including Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate (RNTBC)
• incorporated associations and not-for-profit companies and trusts, including most community, landcare, and NRM groups, Recognised Biosecurity Groups and grower groups. 
• Land Conservation District Committees
• local government authorities (LGA)
• primary and secondary schools.

The following groups are not eligible to apply:

• for profit organisations, partnerships or companies including sole traders
• individuals
• organisations that do not have a branch or base of operation in Western Australia
• tertiary education institutions such as universities (government and privately funded), monotechnics, polytechnics or colleges
• unincorporated associations*
• Western Australian or Australian Government agencies.

*Unincorporated associations can seek funding via a project sponsor (an eligible organisation that applies on behalf of the unincorporated association). More information on sponsorship is provided in the 2024 Community Stewardship Grants Guidelines.

Projects must be based within the state of Western Australia. Applications for project activities in Australian territories (for example, Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands) are ineligible.

• Phone: (08) 6551 4428
• Email: snrmo@dpird.wa.gov.au