Grants of between $1,000 – $5,000 are available to enable volunteer involving organisations to strengthen community functioning by increasing participation in volunteering. A total pool of $123,250 will be available within the ACT.

Organisations must meet the following criteria to apply:

• At least 40% of the organisation's workforce must be volunteers
• Be a not-for-profit organisation, non-corporate State/Territory Statutory Authority, Corporate Commonwealth Entity, or Corporate State/Territory Entity
• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) or be willing to provide a Statement by Supplier Form (reason for not quoting an ABN). Please refer to the Australian Tax Office for further information; and
• Have an account with an Australian Financial Institution.

Assessments will be undertaken through a competitive grant process. Prior to applications being reviewed by the selection panel(s), consideration will be given to the following criteria:

• Organisations that provide support to Indigenous people
• Organisations with a high ratio of volunteers
• The size of organisations
• Value of the grant
• Organisations providing volunteer programs that support vulnerable people
• Organisations that involve vulnerable people in their volunteer programs.

Assessors will review each grant application based on merit. Applications will be assessed against the two selection criteria below:

1. Describe the expected outcomes of this project (50%)
2. Describe how this project will support the volunteers and the work they do for the organisation and broader community (50%)

Please view the 2020 Supplementary Volunteer Grants Applicant Guidelines for more details on eligible and non-eligible items.

Eligible items
Volunteer Involving Organisations can use the small grant for items and activities that support and benefit the organisations volunteers, such as:

• Small equipment items;
• Transport costs of volunteers with a disability;
• Fuel costs incurred by volunteers;
• Training for volunteers;
• Background screening checks of volunteers;
• Documentation requirements;
• Post COVID-19 re-engagement activities for volunteers
• Adapting practices to support volunteers' safety in relation to COVID19.

Ineligible items
Volunteer Involving Organisations cannot use the small grant for:

• Items that do not directly benefit the organisation’s volunteers
• Advertising, logos, banners, display boards, uniforms, badging, or other things that advertise the organisation/community group (and do not link to increasing volunteer participation)
• Administration and running costs of the organisation
• Organisations/community groups are not permitted to charge a fee for administering their Volunteer Grants
• Costs already incurred. Grants will not be provided to cover retrospective costs
• Goods and services delivered by State or Territory peak volunteering bodies
• Fuel costs that are not eligible
• Transport costs that are not eligible
• Ineligible training costs
• Background screening checks of volunteers that are not eligible

Before applying, you must read and understand the guidelines in the 2020 VolunteeringACT Supplementary Volunteer Grant Guidelines for Applicants.

To apply you must:

• Meet all eligibility criteria
• Complete the application form and provide all required information
• Be an authorised signatory for the organisation (eg CEO, President, Chairperson, Treasurer or Secretary)
• Submit your application via the online link before the grant period closes

Applications open: Tuesday 25 August 2020
Applications close: 11.59PM AEST 20 September 2020
The 2020 Supplementary Volunteer Grants are funded by the Australian Government.

2020 Supplementary Volunteer Grants Guidelines for Applicants 2020 Supplementary Volunteer Grants Frequently Asked Questions For further clarification and enquiries please email grants@volunteeringact.org.au or call (02) 6251 4060.