The Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia (ECFA) is inviting applications for grants funding for the 2026-27 financial year.
Whether you’re an individual or an organisation, if you have a project that promotes Estonian culture or benefits the Estonian community in Australia, Estonian Cultural Foundation of Australia can support your activity by providing a financial grant.
In the past, we have supported language classes, literary and film projects, arts and crafts activities, children’s camps, choirs, folk-dancers, history and archives projects, touring artists and community events. Projects must align with ECFA’s mission to promote Estonian-origin arts and culture in Australia. Applications are welcome from all Australian states and territories, and projects can be national or local in their focus.
Our total funding pool for 2026-27 is around $30,000. Projects may receive full or partial funding from this pool, depending on merit, the number of successful applications, and at the discretion of the ECFA Board. In 2025–26, $38,000 in grants was distributed across the country.
How to apply
Application forms for a 2026-27 grant will be available from 1 June 2026 on the ECFA website at ecfa.eesti.org.au. Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight 30 June 2026 AEST. Extensions beyond this deadline will not be granted.
What to provide
The application form will ask you to provide information including:
- your name and organisation
- contact details and details on the project leader
- a detailed project description
- a detailed budget, showing all proposed sources of revenue for the project and major areas of expenditure
- the amount of ECFA funding requested for 2026-27 and what it will be used for
- key people involved with the project, including project team members, office holders, and whether volunteers and paid staff will be involved
- a program of activities, implementation timetable, and key milestone dates
- goals of the project and how success will be measured
Additional or supplementary information on the proposed project or activity is always welcome.
All applications must be in English and submitted via the online form. The funding we offer is for 2026-27 only and must be acquitted by 30 June 2027. Past recipients of ECFA funding may reapply for funding in 2026-27, but need to submit a new application for this current funding round.
What happens if I am successful?
All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application in the early part of August 2026.
If you are successful, then we will discuss the transfer of the grant funds into the relevant bank account. You will be required to:
- submit an annual report detailing project outcomes and acquitting expenditure by 30 June 2027
- acknowledge ECFA’s support on any promotional materials, websites and in social media reports on the project
- provide photos and a short article upon project completion for ECFA’s promotional use
Interested in more information?
If you want more information on the forthcoming funding round, please send an email to ecfa@eesti.org.au using the subject line: ECFA Grants – seeking more information. We will respond to your inquiry as quickly as we can. If you would like to talk on the phone or by video, please provide contact details and a member of the ECFA Board will get back to you. But bear in mind the cut-off date for applications, and the risk that last-minute inquiries may not be responded to.
Summary of what to do next
1. To apply for a grant, complete the application form available from the ECFA website at ecfa.eesti.org.au, or directly using the online form: Apply Now
2. To ask questions about ECFA grants in general, or the 2026-27 funding round in particular, send an email with the subject line: ECFA Grants – seeking more information to: ecfa@eesti.org.au
3. Complete the online application form, with any supporting information emailed to ecfa@eesti.org.au by midnight 30 June 2026 AEST.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in the first part of August 2026.
Good luck!
Lembit Suur
Chair of the Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia
Read more
Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia
Grants, performances and what’s next — an ECFA update | HEIA
Estonian clown duo Piip ja Tuut touring Australia | HEIA
Mamma Lood brings Hiiumaa humour to Australian stages | HEIA
Estonian Cultural Foundation in Australia: past, present and a new board | HEIA
