Please note: to apply you must be registered in our application management system a minimum of two business days prior to the closing date
ACF Boost 2026
Key dates
- Applications open: Monday 27 October 2025 at 12pm AEDT
- Applications close: Monday 17 November 2025 at 12pm AEDT
- Notification: Monday 15 December 2025
Contact
Book a 15-minute consultation: Booking link
Send us a question: hello@australianculturalfund.org.au
Image: Long Listen audience. Photo: Cynthia Lee
ACF BOOST OCT 2025
Watch our briefing about the ACF Boost 2026 program. The briefing includes a walk-through of the application steps.
About the program
ACF Boost is a matched funding program designed to enable independent artists and small groups or arts organisations using the Australia Cultural Fund (ACF) to leverage private sector support through a matched funding ‘boost’.
ACF Boost offers dollar-for-dollar matched funding of up to $5,000 for applicants that run a fundraising campaign on the ACF platform between 2 February and 30 April 2026.
Eligibility
To be eligible, applicants must meet the ACF’s registration criteria:
- I am engaged in the promotion and presentation of arts and cultural activities
- I will use a grant from Creative Australia within Australia or for the benefit of Australia.
In addition, applicants must:
- be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident
- be aged 18 years or over
- have an ABN and be prepared to receive project funds, or have an agreement in place with an auspicing body
- be prepared to run a fundraising campaign between 2 February and 30 April 2026.
You can’t apply if:
- you have outstanding acquittals with the ACF or Creative Australia
- you were a participant of the 2025 ACF Boost program
- you are a participant from the 2025/26 MATCH Lab or Plus1 programs
- you owe money to Creative Australia
Protocols
Please note that if children will be engaged as part of the funded activity, all successful applicants will need to implement the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Applicants working with First Nations artists, communities, or subject matter are required to adhere to the First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property Protocols published by Creative Australia as a condition of funding.
Program stages
Stage 1 | Applications open
Applications open: Monday 27 October 2025 at 12pm AEDT
Applications close: Monday 17 November 2025 at 12pm AEDT
To apply for ACF Boost, applicants will be required to have the following:
- ACF Artist Profile
- ACF Project with the Boost tick box selected 'I would like this project to be considered for ACF Boost, a matched micro-grant program that is granted to artists and organisations using the ACF platform to fundraise for a project’
- A response to the additional question on the project form 'What impact would ACF Boost have on your project and your ongoing artistic practice?’
Your application can be saved and edited at any time until the application deadline. Once submitted, you cannot make further edits or amendments.
The information you’ll need to provide in your application includes:
- Your profile information (address, ABN, Artist/Group biography)
- Information about your auspicing body (if applicable)
- Details about the project you will be fundraising for
- A project budget including your ACF campaign target
- Fundraising strategy and contingency strategy
- How ACF Boost matched funding would impact your project and ongoing artistic practice.
Stage 2 | Assessment
Assessment: Monday 24 November – Monday 1 December 2025
Applicants notified of the outcome of their submission: Monday 15 December 2025
Applications will be assessed by Creative Australia staff. Consideration is given to ensuring that successful applicants reflect a geographical spread across all states and territories, as well as a spread across art forms.
For more information on how we assess applications please visit our Assessment page.
The assessment process will consider:
Quality
Assessors will assess the quality of the artistic and cultural activities at the centre of your proposal. They may consider:
- Demonstrated strategy to leverage matched funding as part of a wider fundraising campaign
- Vision, ideas and artistic rationale
- A well communicated case for support.
Impact
Assessors will assess the impact of your proposal. They may consider:
- Impact of ACF Boost funds on the proposed project
- Impact of the project on ongoing artistic practice
- Timeliness and relevance of the work.
Viability
Assessors will assess the viability of your proposal. They may consider:
- Capacity to deliver the proposed ACF campaign
- Skills and ability of artists, arts professionals, collaborators, or partners involved, and relevance to activity
- Realistic and achievable planning and resource use, including fundraising and contingency plans.
Stage 3 | Fundraising
Fundraising campaign window: Between Monday 2 February and Thursday 30 April 2026
The ACF Team will make your fundraising campaign live on 2 February 2026 and it will close on 30 April 2026 at 11:59pm, you can choose within this window when you want to promote the campaign to your networks.
Funds you raise through your ACF campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000 per participant. As a keep-what-you-raise platform, we will match any funds raised up to $5,000. For example, if your target is $2,000 and you raise $800, we will match the $800. If your target is above $5,000, we will only match up to $5,000 of your total funds raised.
This program will match funds donated through the ACF from:
- Individuals
- Businesses
- Trusts and foundations
This program will not match:
- Business sponsorship
- In-kind support
- Revenue from fundraising events
- Bequests
- Donations from the participant
- Loans
- Earned income (including membership, box office and non-deductible ticket expenses)
- Local, state or federal government funding.
Please note that even though they may receive an ACF donation receipt for their gift, family members cannot claim a tax-deduction on their donation to an ACF campaign. It is the responsibility of the donor to ensure that any claim of tax-deductibility is compliant with the ATO’s rules on deductible gift recipients.
If your donors are unsure of their eligibility for tax deductibility via the ACF, they should contact the ATO directly to receive specific advice on the eligibility of their gift.
Stage 4 | Project Delivery
The delivery of the project itself can start any time from May 2026. Participants are expected to liaise regularly with the ACF Team and communicate any project changes or challenges. Any material changes to the funded project/activity must be approved by us in advance.
Stage 5 | Acquittal
Participants are required to report on the results of their campaign and project via the ACF’s online acquittal process. Acquittals are due 30 days after the submitted Project End Date.
The acquittal covers:
- final project budget including amount raised through ACF Boost campaign
- assessment of the challenges and opportunities encountered through the campaign
- your experience using the ACF.
Before you submit your application, read these guidelines and FAQs thoroughly and contact the ACF Team with any questions.
Fundraising resources, general FAQs, and case studies are available on the ACF Blog, including our First Timers Kit which is full of great tips on how to get started with the ACF.
Application steps
- Log onto the ACF Portal. If you are new to the ACF, you will first need to register an Artist/Group Profile. Please allow 1-2 business days for your profile registration to be processed.
- Select ‘Create a new Project’ via the Artist Dashboard.
- Select ‘I want to run a fundraising campaign’.
- Fill out the project form by following the prompts.
- Once the project registration form is complete, select the tick box 'I would like this project to be considered for ACF Boost, a matched micro-grant program that is granted to artists and organisations using the ACF platform to fundraise for a project’.
- Complete the additional question ‘What impact would ACF Boost have on your project and your ongoing artistic practice?’
- Click ‘Submit & Launch’ to finalise the ACF Boost project submission.
Access
Please contact the ACF Team at hello@australianculturalfund.org.au if you need support to submit an application in another format.
Frequently asked questions
What is ACF Boost?
ACF Boost is a matched funding program designed to enable independent artists and small groups or arts organisations using the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) to leverage private sector support through a matched funding ‘boost’.
ACF Boost offers dollar-for-dollar matched funding of up to $5,000 for applicants that run a fundraising campaign through the ACF between 2 February and 30 April 2026.
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible, applicants must meet the ACF’s registration criteria:
• Be engaged in the promotion and presentation of arts and cultural activities
• Use a grant via the Australian Cultural Fund within Australia or for the benefit of Australia
• Have an ABN and be prepared to receive project funds; OR have an agreement in place with an auspicing body
• Be prepared to run a fundraising campaign between 2 February and Thursday 30 April 2026.
What are the program timelines?
Applications open: Monday 27 October 2025 at 12pm AEDT
Applications close: Monday 17 November 2025 at 12pm AEDT
Assessment: Monday 24 November – Monday 1 December 2025
Applicants notified of the outcome of their submission: Monday 15 December 2025
Fundraising campaign window: 2 February - 30 April 2026 (you choose within this window when you want to promote the campaign to your networks.)
ACF Grant payments distributed: mid-late May 2026 (upon grant agreement being signed and bank details provided.)
Projects commence: Anytime from May 2026
Project Acquittal: Due 30 days after your submitted Project End Date
I already have a project live on the ACF – can I apply for ACF Boost?
If you already have a project live on the ACF you cannot apply for ACF Boost. Only projects submitted within the application window, Monday 27 October 2025 – Monday 17 November 2025, will be considered for Boost.
You are welcome to apply for ACF Boost with the same project by creating a new project submission.
Can I apply for ACF Boost for multiple projects?
No, you can only apply for ACF Boost with one project.
Can I apply for ACF Boost if I/my organisation was an ACF Boost recipient in 2025?
No, you are not eligible to apply for ACF Boost 2026 if you were a part of the ACF Boost 2025 cohort. You will be eligible to apply in the 2027 round.
If my application is not successful, do I still need to run an ACF campaign?
No, you will not be required to run an ACF campaign if your application to ACF Boost is not successful. However, we encourage you to run your campaign with or without ACF Boost funding and we will be available to assist you with resources and advice if you choose to do so.
The ACF is a keep-what-you-raise platform so there’s nothing to lose!
If you would still like to run your campaign without ACF Boost funding, please get in touch with the ACF Team and we can organise this for you.
How do I choose my ACF campaign target?
Your ACF campaign target lets us know how much you are hoping to raise for your project, however it’s important to find a balance between being ambitious and being realistic.
Think about your resources, networks and time; you will only have between four and twelve weeks to complete your fundraising campaign. You can raise your target at any time, so we recommend to start modest and then raise this when needed.
Have a look at our blog for some great tips and advice on how to set a campaign target that will work for you or get in touch with the ACF Team to discuss your proposed campaign.
I have exceeded my ACF campaign target – can I receive more ACF Boost funds?
Firstly, congratulations! It’s quite a feat to exceed your campaign target, so take a moment to congratulate yourself. ACF Boost has a fixed pool of funds to distribute so there is no opportunity to receive more than $5,000 of matched funding - however you are welcome to increase your campaign target so you can leverage more donations. Simply contact the ACF Team to increase your campaign target.
I haven’t met my ACF campaign target – what happens now?
The ACF is a keep-what-you-raise platform, so if you don’t reach your campaign target, you still receive the amount you raised, plus dollar-for-dollar matched funds from ACF Boost for the amount you raised up to $5,000.
Can I offer rewards?
No. The ACF cannot receive donations (nor provide a deduction) where the donor or an associate obtains, or would be expected to obtain, any benefit other than the benefit of a tax deduction.
A gift is defined as arising from ‘benefaction’. A donor cannot receive any tangible benefit in return for their gift or expect or oblige the artist to give them a benefit. An ACF artist cannot offer a benefit as an incentive to donate.
Acknowledgement on your website, newsletter or donors’ board is not regarded by the ATO as a tangible or material benefit. However, enlarging the acknowledgment into forms of advertising would prevent the payment being a gift.
More information is available on the ATO website.
Can I apply for ACF Boost but fundraise through a different crowdfunding platform?
No, all ACF Boost projects must complete their fundraising campaign on the ACF to be eligible for matched funds.
What kind of ABN do I need to have?
We accept any current, active ABN including sole trader, partnership, limited partnership, trust, proprietary limited, corporation and non-profit. If you are being auspiced, please enter the organisation’s ABN when creating your ACF profile or contact the ACF Team with the auspice organisation’s details.
When can I start fundraising?
Fundraising campaigns commence on Monday 2 February 2026.
If you would like to start your fundraising campaign before you have been informed of your ACF Boost application outcome, please get in touch with the ACF Team and we will open your campaign early. This will not impact your application for ACF Boost.
If your submission is successful, and you started fundraising before 2 February 2026, funds up until this point will also be matched.
I’m new to fundraising. How can I learn more about creating a fundraising campaign?
We have a range of online resources to get your fundraising ready.
A great place to start is our First Timers Kit which has some helpful hints for first time fundraisers. It’s also worth looking through the ACF blog, which is packed full with FAQ videos, case studies, and fundraising resources to help you shape your campaign.
The ACF Team is available for 15 minute consultations which you can arrange here.
Do I need to include a video with my application?
This is optional and won’t be included as part of the assessment, however we encourage you to create a campaign video. A video link can always be added to the project later.
Do I need to supply any support material?
No. You don’t need to upload or attach any support material to your application. Any additional information (letters of support etc.) that is uploaded or attached to the application won’t be included in the assessment.
How do I fill out the budget in the application?
The budget in the application is for the project/project stage that you are raising the funds for. The budget must be balanced, this means that the income and expenditure must match.
See below an example for how to complete the budget in your application.
| Projected Income | $ | Projected Expenditure | $ |
| Income Generated from Project | 0 | Project and production costs | 0 |
| Applicant Contribution | 500 | Marketing and promotion costs | 3,500 |
| Grants Received | 0 | Administration | 0 |
|
Sponsorship and Support
|
3,000 | Salaries, fees and allowances | 10,000 |
| Donations Other | 5000 | Logistical and travel costs | 0 |
| Donations through ACF | 5,000 | ||
| Total Income | 13,500 | Total Expenditure | 13,500 |
| Net Income | 0 |
Where do I add the Boost matched funds in the budget?
Please include the matched funds to a maximum of $5,000 under the ‘Donations Other’ budget line.
What support is available for my ACF Boost campaign?
Participants will be invited to a webinar to explore fundraising best practice and hear from past Boost participants. ACF Boost campaigns will be featured on the ACF social media channels to support overall visibility and to promote the matched funding component of the program. Additionally, participants will be able to access guidance and advice from the ACF Team and Creative Australia’s State Managers Development and Partnerships.
When will I receive our ACF Boost funds?
ACF Boost grant agreements will be issued in mid-late May 2026. Once issued, participants will need to sign the grant agreement and submit their bank details – the funds will be transferred within 3-5 business days of this happening.
When does the project need to be delivered?
ACF Boost projects can be delivered any time from May 2026.
Do I need to complete a project acquittal?
Yes, all projects that run fundraising campaigns on the ACF are required to complete an ACF acquittal. Project acquittals are due 30 days after the submitted Project End Date.
