Funding from the Seaton Foundation
Empowering Community-Led Change
The Seaton Foundation supports community-focused solutions across the Northern Rivers through responsive funding and strong working relationships with local organisations. Our approach is relational, practical, and grounded in trust. We recognise that community organisations are closest to the work and best placed to understand what is needed.
Our grant pathways
The Seaton Foundation offers three main grant pathways: Always Open (responsive) grants for urgent or emerging needs; New Approaches grants to support innovation and new ways of doing things; and Strategic Focus grants targeting annual priority areas. Multi-year partnerships are also available for established grantees. Grant Packs are available for each pathway, which walk you through the application form, provide guidance on what we’re looking for, and include examples to help you prepare your submission. They can be downloaded from the relevant pathway page below.
Information for Grant Seekers — start here
Grant Pathways
Are you eligible?
You may be eligible to apply if:
• You are endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 by the Australian Tax Office, or are applying through an auspice organisation that holds DGR Item 1 endorsement
• Your initiative takes place in, or clearly benefits communities within the Northern Rivers
• You have a clearly described initiative with defined activities, timeframes and intended outcomes
• Your initiative aligns with at least one of our Focus Areas
Please note that we generally do not fund capital building works, retrospective costs, or initiatives that exclude individuals based on religious or political beliefs. Our goal is to support inclusive, community-driven progress that addresses systemic challenges and creates meaningful opportunities for all residents.
If you are unsure whether your organisation or specific project meets these criteria, we encourage you to reach out to our team. We are happy to discuss your goals and provide guidance on which pathway might best fit your needs before you begin the application process.
How we make decisions
All applications are reviewed by the Seaton Foundation Board. In considering applications, the Board reflects on how well the proposed initiative aligns with our Focus Areas and the purpose of the relevant grant pathway. We consider the outcomes you hope to achieve, how you intend to approach the work, and whether the proposed budget is aligned with the activities described.
We recognise that organisations vary in size, structure, and resources. We value clarity of intent and a thoughtful approach more than polished language, and we know you understand your community and your work better than we do.
All applicants are notified of the outcome of their application. We provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants, recognising the time and effort involved in applying.
Previous Recipients
We are proud to have supported a diverse range of community-led initiatives across the Northern Rivers. Transparency is core to our approach as we work together towards lasting local change.
The table below lists a small snapshot of the 56 projects we have funded with 37 not-for-profit organisations over the past two years and gives a sense of the scale and types of initiatives we support. Note: our grant pathways — Always Open, New Approaches, and Strategic Focus — are new for FY26. Previous recipients are listed without pathway categorisation, and recent awards highlight the diverse pillars of our impact.
Organisation
Project Name
Value
Pillar/ Grant
Brief description
NextSense
Peer-Powered Auditory Rehabilitation for Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients
$15,430
Health, Wellbeing & Dignity
NextSense have created an Adult Listening Group in Alstonville to assist individuals with cochlear implants. Members work together to improve communication skills and reduce the isolation caused by hearing loss.
Our Kids
Swim for Our Kids
$9,963
Health, Wellbeing & Dignity
Contributed funds towards the purchase of a Video Laryngoscope for Ballina District Hospital's Emergency & Anaesthetics Departments. The equipment is needed to assist with intubating children in emergency situations.
Marine Rescue Ballina
Communications Refurbishment
$19,000
Disaster Response
Marine Rescue Ballina's mission is to save lives on the water - both in rivers, and out to sea This project enhanced communications equipment functionality, structural integrity, and system organisation.
Story Dogs
12 Month Sponsorship
$5,500
Youth & Education Equity
Story Dogs is a comprehensive literacy program built around the appealing idea of children and young adolescents reading to dogs.
Back Alley Gallery
Public Art in Practice-Digital Toolkit and Workshop
$10,000
New Approaches Grant
This project creates a practical digital toolkit and a pilot workshop co-designed with local artists to help people launch public art. By providing regional frameworks for planning, budgeting, and permissions, it equips young people and emerging artists with the skills and confidence to deliver their own creative community projects.
The Family Centre
REALSkills Respectful Relationships
$28,000
Youth and Education Equity
This project delivers early intervention education on domestic and family violence to equip young people with the skills to build healthy relationships. By addressing these issues early, it invests in the future to prevent violence and create safer, more compassionate communities.
Byron Bay Community Centre
Byron Seniors Club: Connection and Wellbeing for Older Adults (2026)
$10,000
New Approaches Grant
The Byron Seniors Club was designed to provide free, accessible, and consistent opportunities for older adults to connect, move, create, and participate in community life. Elder Beats combines facilitated group drumming with shared social connection through the accompanying Social Tea gatherings.
Northern Rivers Performing Arts Inc
A Dinner Party at the End of the World
$16,500
Disaster Response; Health, Wellbeing & Dignity
Based in the Northern Rivers, NORPA is a regional, nationally recognized theatre company that collaborates with local partners to create theatre without walls for everyone. This grant covers critical development for their next signature work, A Dinner Party at the End of the World.
Northern Rivers Football Academy
NRFA Hardship Fund
$5,950
Scholarships
Northern Rivers Football delivers high-performance training and development opportunities for players and coaches across Northern NSW. These scholarships provide essential financial support to talented young players, ensuring that financial barriers don't stand in the way of their participation.
Lord's Taverners Northern NSW
Birthday Grant
$10,000
Strategic Focus Grant
To celebrate our 10th milestone year, the Seaton Foundation launched a special, invitation-only grant round, awarding $10,000 each to 10 of our incredible long-term partners. To secure the funding, applicants pitched creative video proposals showcasing the evolution of our partnership and the impact a $10K boost would unleash for their mission.