The Australian Government Department Social Services announced funding for volunteer involving organisations through its ‘Strong and Resilient Communities Activity (SARC) – Community Support – Small Grants for Volunteer Involving Organisations’ program.
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.
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.
Applications
- Expressions of interest will open on 18 September 2024. Following the assessment and selection process, eligible organisations will be contacted and invited to submit an application through their State or Territory volunteering peak body.
The grants are funded by the Department of Social Services and administered by the volunteering peak bodies.
