Expressions of Interest Open:

2024-25 Small grants for volunteer involving organisations

Australian Capital Territory volunteer involving organisations are invited to express interest in the ‘Strong and Resilient Communities Activity (SARC) – Community Support – Smal Grants for Volunteer Involving Organisations’ program.

Administered by the State and Territory volunteering peak bodies, the small grants will assist grassroots organisations to strengthen volunteering through capability and capacity building.  

Small volunteer involving organisations will be able to apply for grants ($10,000 – $20,000) for one-off, time limited projects that build volunteer management capability, and help the organisation to support the social and economic participation of vulnerable and disadvantaged people. 

 

The objectives of the Strong and Resilient Communities Activity grant are to build volunteer management capability within organisations to uplift volunteer capability, including volunteer knowledge, skills and volunteer numbers; and to support alignment with the strategic objectives of the National Strategy for Volunteering and National Standards for Volunteer Involvement in organisations that support:  

  • young people 12 to 18 years who are disengaged, or at risk of disengaging, from education to reconnect with their community, school, training and/or employment; 

  • people with disabilities and/or mental health conditions to participate in the community, and work towards becoming or remaining independent and engaged in the economy and/or society; 

  • women who experience, or are at risk of experiencing isolation or discrimination to participate in the community and/or economy and increase their self-agency; and/or 

  • people who are unemployed to increase participation in their community and/or increase their capacity to engage in employment, training, or existing employment services.  

What can funding be used for? 

Read the Grant Opportunity Guidelines for more examples and eligibility requirements. 

  • Training opportunities for volunteer managers to improve the quality of volunteer programs e.g. building volunteer recruitment, engagement and retention. 

  • Engaging consultants to review policies and processes (such as recruitment and retention processes) to align with National Standards for Volunteer Involvement and the National Strategy for Volunteering to promote inclusion of identified cohorts. 

  • Cultural workshops with your volunteers to understand the needs of, and support people within the identified cohorts. 

  • Training opportunities for volunteers to facilitate group workshops, self-empowerment activities, and activities that support independence and self-reliance for people within the identified cohorts.  

Eligibility 

The small grants are to build capacity of volunteering programs in grassroots organisations that:

  • have an annual income under $500,000 OR are an autonomous branch/subgroup of an organisation with an annual income greater than $500,000, but that branch/subgroup income is under $500,000;

  • use a large proportion of volunteers (40% or more of the workforce)

  • are a not-for-profit organisation

  • have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or be willing to provide a Statement by Supplier Form (reason for not quoting an ABN;

  • have an account with an Australian financial institution; and

  • support one or more of the above cohorts.

Expected timings

Expressions of interest will be collected nationally, and the assessment and selection process will be coordinated by each of the State and Territory volunteering peak bodies.

Expressions of Interest open

 18 September 2024
Expressions of Interest close 4 October 2024
Review against eligibility period 7 – 11 October 2024
Invitations to apply announced 14 October 2024
Applications close 28 October 2024
Assessment and selection period 28 October – 22 November 2024
Notification of grant recipients 25 November 2024
Activity starts from 29 November 2024
Activity ends 30 May 2025
Reports due to VolunteeringACT 16 June 2025
Financial acquittal report due to VolunteeringACT

16 June 2025

To Apply

  • Community organisations interested in participating should express interest by 4 October 2024, 4pm AEST.
  • Following the review process, eligible organisations will be invited to submit an application through VolunteeringACT. 

  • Read the Grant Opportunity Guidelines for example projects, eligibility, objectives and outcomes, and the grant assessment and selection process. 

 

For queries, please contact VolunteeringACT’s Grant Manager, Katie Kennedy, at grants@volunteeringact.org.au or call on 02 6251 4060. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The grants are funded by the Department of Social Services and administered by the volunteering peak bodies.