How to get your local footy club a grant from Telstra and the AFL

Local footy is the foundation of the game we love and is the beating heart of our community. That’s why last year, we announced the Telstra Footy Country Grants with our mates at AFL, which will provide $8 million worth of funding over four years to clubs across Australia. And there’s more up for grabs!

What is Telstra Footy Country Grants?

Local footy clubs are the lifeblood of our communities, fostering a sense of belonging, pride, and connection. They provide not just a place to play, but a hub for community engagement and development.

These clubs are vital, which is why we’re committed to making sure they thrive.

The Telstra Footy Country Grants aims to support grassroots footy clubs across rural and regional Australia, and so far, the response has been overwhelming.

They're designed to give local footy clubs the financial boost they need to enhance their operations and offerings.

Whether it’s upgrading equipment, improving facilities, training volunteers, or expanding programs to attract more players, especially young girls and Indigenous Australians, these grants aim to address the most pressing needs of clubs across Australia.

What have Telstra Footy Country Grants already been used for so far?

We’ve already seen first-hand the incredible impact these grants can have on local footy.

Clubs like the Mackay City Hawks in Queensland have used the funding to create Indigenous guernseys and provide education about First Nations heritage. In South Australia, the Glencoe Football Club purchased life-saving defibrillators, ensuring the safety of players and spectators.

Meanwhile, the Gungahlin Jets in the ACT established two girls’ teams, fostering growth and participation. And in the Northern Territory, the Rovers Football Club made footy more accessible to their wider Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

If you're part of a local footy club, some or all of these programs probably resonate with you personally.

Recently, we travelled to Brisbane during Sir Doug Nichols round to share the news of the round two grants, highlighting our support for Indigenous communities and their players. This round is part of our broader effort to celebrate and empower Indigenous players and communities within the AFL.

Additionally, we’ve bolstered our support to the stars of the future by partnering with AFL for the Telstra AFL Rising Star award in 2024. The award expands on our support for young, emerging talent in the sport. This partnership is set to create more opportunities for youth development and engagement in footy.

While there, we paid a visit to the local Blackburn Footy Club. They requested a Footy Country Grant to fund barista training for their canteen volunteers. Many of their current volunteers are long-serving, so they are eager to engage a new generation. To help, we brought a few friends to help.

We surprised the club with a year's supply of coffee and hosted a barista training session with Western Bulldogs Captain Marcus Bontempelli, a cafe owner himself! He needed some additional support so we also brought along former Carlton/GWS player Dylan Buckley, Melbourne’s Ben Brown, North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel and Carlton’s Sam Docherty.

This was a great way to not only upskill the local community with skills they need for future events, but also a way to connect with kids in the community and inspire them with a visit from heroes.

More grants up for grabs: how to apply for a Telstra Footy Country Grant

There’s still plenty of time to apply for grants this year. This is a fantastic opportunity for your club to secure the funding needed to take it to the next level.

Whether it’s for equipment, volunteer training, or new programs, these grants are here to support the kids in your community and your club’s growth and sustainability.

Applying for these grants is straightforward. Head to the website and check out the guide on how to apply.

We’ve got more rounds of funding to distribute in 2024, so don’t miss out on this chance to get the support your club needs.