Investing in Strong and Resilient Communities: New grants program for volunteer involving organisations

The objectives of the Strong and Resilient Communities Activity grants 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

If your grassroots volunteer involving organisation supports one or more of the following cohorts, we encourage you to apply:

• 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 issues 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.

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/sub-group of an organisation with an annual income greater than $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.