Rainbow Families Mini Grants
Switchboard is offering small grants ($500–$1,000) to support connection and activities for Rainbow Families.
Applications for our inaugural funding round are now open.
And close:
01 May 2026, 11:00pm
For Rainbow Families, connection, kinship and belonging often extend beyond traditional ideas of family.
Switchboard’s Rainbow Families program supports connection, wellbeing and community for LGBTQIA+ parents, co-parents, caregivers, donors, surrogates and prospective parents across Victoria.
We know the best work happens in community. These mini grants are designed to support and uplift grassroots, community-led initiatives.
Our grants come with few strings attached, and we’ve kept the application and reporting process as simple as possible.
Tell us what connection in Rainbow Families means to you, and how you will foster it. We trust that you know what your community needs.
Apply through the form below or preview the application questions as a document here.
Grants are between $500 - $1000
Grant amount: $500 – $1,000
Total grant pool: $5,000
Applications close: 1 May 2026
Who can apply?
Community-led groups and collectives
Small organisations
People supporting LGBTQIA+ caregivers, parents, co-parents, and prospective parents
You must be based in Victoria.
Who are rainbow families?
Rainbow Families include LGBTQIA+ parents, co-parents, caregivers, prospective parents, surrogates, donors, and the people and professionals who support them.
We recognise that families are diverse, and that connection, care and belonging can look different for everyone.
What can the funding support?
Funds can be used for activities that strengthen connection and community among Rainbow Families, including:
Social events and gatherings
Peer support and community care initiatives
Creative projects and storytelling
Practical resources and information-sharing
Capacity-building for community groups
This list is a starting point and we welcome broader ideas.
What we’re looking for
We’ll prioritise applications that show:
Connection – How will this bring (or continue to bring) Rainbow Families together?
Community – Is it grounded in lived experience and community need? Could these funds help you set up your group for the future and/or a one-off meaningful event?
Relationships – Do you have the connections to make it happen?
Collective care – Does it support shared ways of caring and belonging?
Mini Grant FAQs
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This grant is for groups supporting Rainbow Families living in Victoria.
The application questions will help you decide if this opportunity is a good fit for you and your community.
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No, but you will need an Australian bank account and be currently based in Victoria.
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Things like food, venue hire, facilitators, artists, childcare supports, materials, printing, or promotion. Anything as long as it benefits Rainbow Families.
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30 July 2026.
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A short summary of how the funds were used, receipts, and one photo that captures something meaningful about your project (no faces required). We’ll ask permission before sharing anything.
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If successful, you will need to sign and complete a short form agreement, in which you will provide your bank details.
There are also some simple reporting requirements (see above).
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We’ll be led by you. Optional support may include project planning templates, check-ins, promotion through our channels, or connecting you with others.
Please note this is a one-person team with limited capacity.
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Yes. You can audio or video record your responses to the application questions. Please keep audio/video under 10 mins.
You will need to upload the audio or video file to a platform like Google Drive or Dropbox, then share the unrestricted link via email by application close:
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We aim to get back to all applicants by end of May 2026.
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Application questions are here.
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Send the Rainbow Families team an email: rainbowfamilies@switchboard.org.au. We’ll try to get back to you within two weeks. Please note this is a one-person team with limited capacity.
About Switchboard’s Rainbow Families Program
You can read more about our program here.