Investors, Loans, Financial Opportunities

Name of program: ABC Future Fund

Who is it for?

• Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations

What’s it for? 

• Strengthening remote and regional communities across Australia

Who’s funding it? ABC Foundation

Conditions:

• Organisations must submit their proposals through an online expression of interest platform
• apply for Small Event / Activity Grants (up to $2,500) for small-scale community events or activities that bring people together and create positive local impact
• To apply for larger grants, organisations must become an ABC On-Country Community Partner. This status is awarded to organisations with a proven capacity to deliver long-term projects and meet the criteria. 

When does funding close? Available year-round

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Business Support Loan

Who is it for:

• early-stage small and medium sized businesses that have started to generate revenue, need help meeting a growing demand for their product or service or, require short-term bridging finance

What is the intended impact?

• to help companies demonstrate a commercially validated product, a scalable business model and grow customer demand
• to help overcome early-stage capital constraints and increase revenue capacity to fuel longer-term growth

Who's funding it? EPICORP

Conditions:

• loans range from $75,000 to $300,000 and can be implemented in three to six weeks from initial application
• All loans incur a 2% administration fee, payable once the documentation is executed, and have a maximum repayment term of 24 months.
• When loans are structured as a draw-down facility, a lower interest rate fee will be applied to the funds held in the facility on call
• Your company should be able to demonstrate a recent earning history and sales pipeline that demonstrates the ability to service the loan or be in the planning stages of an equity event or cash injection
• EPICORP have the ability to structure or delay repayments to optimise the use of the funds without immediate repayment if required.

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Climate and Nature Impact Venture Fund

Who is it for:

• early stage or emerging technologies and companies developing climate and nature technologies and solutions like energy, clean industries and transport, food and agriculture, and the circular economy

Who's funding it? Pollination

Conditions:

• investments in the range of $4-12 million. The strategy offers a ten-year term and five-year investment period, with investments anticipated to begin in late 2024. The strategy will be open to wholesale and institutional investors only.

When does funding close? OPEN

Learn more

Name of program: Connecting Australian Entrepreneurs and Angel Investors

Who is it for:

• Businesses looking for investment

Who's funding it? Various

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Esparq Future Fund

Who is it for?

• First Nations businesses and entrepreneurs, primarily across Far North Queensland and Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands)

What’s it for? 

• supporting First Nations entrepreneurs to bring great business ideas to life to directly benefit community

What can you get?

• Business coaching and mentoring – One-on-one, tailored support based on where you're at.
• Strategy and planning – Help with business models, feasibility studies, and setting a clear direction.
• Capacity building – Upskilling in key areas like finance, marketing, operations, and governance.
• Connections and community – We link you into the right networks, opportunities, and people.
• Funding and investment readiness – Guidance on grant writing, investment strategies, and telling your story in the right way.

Who’s funding it? Esparq Ventures

Conditions:

• a commitment to minimum two-year partnerships

When does funding close? Available year-round

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: First Australians Capital Finance Option

Who is it for:

• First Nations businesses

Who's funding it? First Australians Capital

Conditions:

• funds First Nations businesses, from start-ups to growing your business

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Household Energy Upgrades Fund

What is it providing?

• discounted consumer finance

What is the intended outcome?

• to increase sustainability across the housing sector, including through investment in energy efficiency upgrades, high performing appliances and battery-ready solar PV.

Who's funding it? Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) is providing finance to lenders, such as banks, to deliver the program to consumers.

Participating banks:

• Plenti - HEUF Discounted Green Loans
  • First step - applicants must go to the New Energy Tech Consumer Code (NETCC) website first to find an approved seller of rooftop solar, batteries, and other clean energy products you may be interested in. Explore the map on that webpage to find an installer near you.
  • Second step - Contact 1-3 installers to discuss what you are interested in doing (for example, getting rooftop solar financed by a green loan). Ask the installer(s) for a finance quote for buying and installing what you're after. 
  • Third step - Choose the best quote, tell the installer that provided the quote, and then that installer will complete the Green Loan application form with you.
  • Note: There are conditions, so please discuss what they are with the installer.
    

• Other participating banks can be found here, however they tend to have restrictive conditions.

How do I apply? Check their website for latest news

Name of program: Interest-free Loans

Who is it for:

• First Nations non-profits, community organisations and social enterprises, businesses or cooperatives

What can be funded?

• Renewable Energy
  • Solar panels
• Energy Efficiency
  • Energy audits
  • Heating and cooling
  • Lighting retrofits
  • Energy monitoring
• Getting Off Gas
  • Heat pump hot water systems
  • Induction stovetops
  • Heat pump space heating
• Electric Vehicles
  
  • Cars & buses
  • Delivery vehicles

Who's funding it? CORENA

Conditions:

• funds climate projects anywhere in Australia in cases where the up-front capital cost is a barrier
• favours projects that are cost effective and ‘pay for themselves’ in a reasonable time (with loan repayments covered by your savings on bills)

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Investing with IBA

Who is it for: 

First Nations, to:

• facilitate economic independence by enabling participation in a range of diverse commercial investments
• improve business knowledge and commercial and investment capabilities 
• prepare for a time to own and manage an investment independently of IBA.

Who's funding it? Indigenous Business Australia

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Business Loan Package

Who is it for: 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned small businesses

Who's funding it? Indigenous Business Australia

Conditions: 

• Loans of between $10,000 and $5 million

• The loans may be used for:

  • working capital requirements
  • purchase of existing businesses
  • plant and equipment
  • other commercial assets.

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Start-Up Finance Package

Who is it for: 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and businesses

Who's funding it? Indigenous Business Australia

Conditions: 

• The start-up finance package is up to $100,000 and includes:

  • up to 30% of a new business loan as a grant to purchase assets for the business which does not need to be repaid
  • flexible loan repayment options
  • no application or line service fees
  • loan term of 7 years
  • minimum security requirements.

• To be eligible, you must:

  • be at least 18 and of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent
  • own at least 50% of the business, or have at least 50% of the business owned by people of indigenous descent
  • have less than $400,000 in actual annual turnover
  • have been trading for less than 2 years
  • have a commercially viable business model.

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here or here

Name of program: Margaret A. Cargill Foundation

Who is it for: 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and organisations

Who's funding it? Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies 

Conditions: 

• has an invitation-based grant-making process, but you could send an email outlining what you’re hoping to achieve and why.
• Implements integrated grant-making strategies in areas including Disaster Relief & Recovery and Environment.
• Has at least two grants operating in Australia.

When does funding close? OPEN

More information: Click here

Name of program: Oak Foundation

Who is it for: 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and not-for-profit organisations

Who's funding it? Oak Foundation

Conditions: 

• has an invitation-based grant-making process, but they accept an email outlining what you’re hoping to achieve and why.

When does funding close? OPEN

More information: Click here

Name of program: Our Country. Our Future

Who is it for: 

First Nations -

Who's funding it? Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC)

Conditions: 

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: Performance Bonds

Who is it for?

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses

Who's funding it? Indigenous Business Australia (IBA)

Conditions:

• The types of bonds provided include:

  • Performance bonds – give the buyer of your product or service assurance that if you don’t meet your obligations under a contract, the buyer can call on the bond to reduce its losses.
  • Warranty bonds – protect your buyer from loss if you don’t meet your contractual warranty latent defects period (usually 12 months), after the contract is completed.

• To be eligible, businesses must:

  • be 50% Indigenous owned and controlled
  • have a track record of profitability and successful completion of similar projects
  • be incorporated or be a partnership/joint venture between incorporated entities
  • demonstrate capable management, including contract management
  • have an adequate credit history.

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Name of program: SVX Impact Index

• This website is a platform providing information on a variety of investors / issuers globally.

Who's funding it? Various

When does funding close? OPEN

Find out more: Click here

Name of program: Territory Infrastructure Loans

Who is it for: 

• will support the development and expansion of enabling infrastructure, employment and economic growth and improved Indigenous outcomes, through the distribution of concessional loans for terms of up to 10 years, and will produce benefits to the broader economy and community
• The benefit to the NT Economy could include, but is not limited to, employment opportunities, regional income, diversifying and/or deepening industry capabilities, business for local suppliers, and Indigenous employment opportunities.

Who's funding it? Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF)

Conditions: 

When does funding close? OPEN

How do I apply? Click here

Thanks Shubham Dhage for use of the image.