Grants
National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia offers grants to Friends of Parks and Nature Member Groups for work in parks, as described below. Groups may also be eligible to apply to other grant providers.
Grants
Friends of Parks and Nature 2026-27 Grants Program
A 4 year funding commitment of $3 million by the State Government is supporting volunteers with in park activities between 2026 – 2030 (inclusive). The popular Friends of Parks & Nature Grants Program provides funding to deliver practical on-ground conservation projects, supporting the great work that the Friends of Parks and Nature volunteer groups do in South Australia’s National Parks and reserves.
Applications to fund interpretive signage will also be considered and are subject to approval by National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) staff or the relevant landowner. Along with grants for the restoration of biodiversity, funding to support the purchase of hand tools, secure storage and wildlife monitoring equipment can also be applied for.
Member groups can also include an amount for fuel subsidies as part of their application (the NPWS Volunteer Fuel Subsidy criteria will apply to this aspect). Full details of application requirements can be found in the latest Grant Guidelines.
The 2026-27 round of Friends of Parks and Nature Grants will open on 23 September 2026 for 6 weeks and offer grants of up to $15,000 per application, with a total funding pool of up to $675,000 available. The program emphasises conservation activities such as protecting and restoring biodiversity, preserving Aboriginal cultural heritage and undertaking European heritage restoration. These efforts span national parks, reserves and broader landscapes, and align with the objectives of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. The program can also assist groups in the purchase of minor plant/equipment and other materials/services that support a project’s conservation outcomes. Grant funding is available for projects that span 18-months and the application period will close on Wednesday 4 November 2026.
For eligibility or specific grant application questions please contact DEW Volunteer Programs and Community Partnerships staff at: DEWVolunteers@sa.gov.au or telephone the Grants Officer on 0439 870 378.
2026 Fuel Subsidy Grants Program
The latest round of National Parks & Wildlife Service Remote Travel Fuel Subsidy Grants is closed. This program provides grants of up to $2,000 to support DEW volunteer groups with fuel costs for remote travel (>300km round trips), to undertake DEW endorsed activities in our National Parks. Strict guidelines apply and this round will open again in early 2027 so keep an eye on this page for details.
Previous Friends of Parks and Nature Grant Recipients
View the previous Friends of Parks and Nature grant recipients here.
Gift Fund
Friends of Parks and Nature Gift Fund
The Friends of Parks and Nature Inc. operate a Gift Fund registered on the Australian Government’s Register of Environmental Organisations, all donations are fully tax-deductible and every contribution helps support volunteer efforts across our parks and natural spaces. Receipts will be provided for your tax records. Under taxation rules, donations to the Gift Fund cannot be directed to a specific park or project, however rest assured, your generosity will benefit the broader environment and the communities that care for it. You can download an application form here. For further information please contact DEWVolunteers@sa.gov.au.
Scholarships
Educational Scholarship program
The aim of the scholarship is to engage students of all ages in on-park environmental activities by providing financial support through a collaborative learning process with a local Friends of Parks and Nature group.
Please note, this program is not currently open.
Scholarship brochure
