The QBE Foundation has opened applications for its 2026 Australian Local Grants Program, offering multiple $50,000 grants to not-for-profit organisations working on climate resilience and inclusion in Australia and selected Pacific markets. The program is open to registered charities and community organisations delivering programs in Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands. Applications must begin with an expression of interest (EOI), which can be lodged between 9am AEDT on Feb. 16 and 5pm AEDT on March 16, 2026.
“Our local grants program continues to highlight the incredible dedication and impact of organisations working at the heart of their communities. By supporting initiatives that enhance climate resilience and advance inclusion, we’re helping support positive change where it’s needed most. We’re excited to see the meaningful work and initiatives that emerge through this year’s applications,” QBE Foundation co-chair Chris Esson said.
For the 2026 round, QBE Foundation Local Grants Australia will accept EOIs under three streams:
The climate resilience stream will fund initiatives that prepare communities for, respond to, or recover from climate-related events. Eligible activities can include projects related to environmental regeneration, climate change impacts, disaster preparedness, community resilience, and post-event recovery. The inclusion stream focuses on initiatives intended to improve access to opportunities and resources for groups experiencing exclusion or marginalisation. These may include programs addressing reconciliation, LGBTIQ+ inclusion, and gender equality, among other areas. The QBE Employee Choice stream is limited to QBE employees based in Australia, who may submit an application in partnership with a charity they support or are involved with. Employees are required to outline their relationship with the organisation and may later be asked to speak on its behalf during the internal assessment process.
To be eligible, an organisation must be a not-for-profit registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and hold Australian Tax Office deductible gift recipient endorsement (DGR 1 or DGR 2). The organisation must be based in Australia, although projects can be delivered in Australia or the nominated Pacific jurisdictions. Organisations affiliated with political parties or unions, or that take an overtly political stance in their work, are not eligible. Faith-based organisations may apply, provided the funded initiative does not incorporate religious teaching in program delivery. Australia Pacific QBE Foundation charity partners and 2025 local grant recipients are excluded from this year’s program.
Applications must clearly align to one of the three categories, and only one application is permitted per project. QBE states that the program is intended to support defined community projects rather than routine operating activities. Where initiatives rely on multiple funders, applicants are asked to identify existing and expected funding sources and describe how the QBE contribution will be tracked and reported. The foundation plans to award multiple $50,000 grants in each category during 2026. The Australia Pacific QBE Foundation retains discretion over whether to make a grant and the final value of any funding allocation.
From 2026, the local grants program includes an EOI phase ahead of full applications. EOIs will first be checked for compliance with eligibility criteria and fit with the nominated category. EOIs that meet these requirements will then be assessed by the QBE Foundation team and relevant subject matter experts, with selected organisations invited to complete a full application. Full applications will go through several stages of review. The QBE Foundation Committee, working with subject matter experts, will develop a shortlist of five applications per category. Assessment criteria include:
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QBE’s Financial Crime Management team may undertake additional due diligence on shortlisted applicants. Shortlisted proposals are then presented to QBE employees. Staff have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the applications before taking part in a live internal vote. Employees select their top three applications, and the three highest-ranked proposals in each category proceed as recommended recipients. If there is a tie or other issue in voting, the Australia Pacific QBE Foundation will make the final decision.
Successful applicants must submit an acquittal report by July 31, 2027, or on completion of the initiative, whichever occurs first. QBE may also request a progress report or informal update approximately six months after grant award to monitor delivery against the original proposal. The foundation may use information from grant reports as case studies or in impact reporting, subject to prior approval from the charity. QBE plans to work with successful recipients to develop content about their initiatives for use across QBE’s social media and other communication channels. For Employee Choice grants, the staff member who nominated the charity may be asked to speak publicly about their involvement. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email. QBE has indicated that feedback will be limited and typically provided at the end of the program.
Deadly Science, an Indigenous STEM community organisation, received support from a previous QBE Foundation local grants round. The organisation provides science resources and education programs to more than 800 regional and remote schools, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners. “We are using the grant to support our Deadly Weather initiative, a STEM education program blending First Nations seasonal knowledge with smart weather technology to engage remote Indigenous learners in climate science,” Corey Tutt, founder & CEO of Deadly Science, said. Deadly Weather supplies permanent kits that teachers can use to deliver climate and STEM content in remote school settings.
The QBE Foundation Local Grants Program is one of several insurer-backed community funding mechanisms in the Australian market. Other insurers with dedicated foundations or community funds include nib foundation, HCF Research Foundation, Medibank Community Fund, Insurance Advisernet Foundation, RACQ Foundation, and the RACV Community Foundation. These entities fund programs in areas such as health and medical research, mental health, social inclusion, and disaster resilience in communities across Australia and the region.
