Expressions of Interest are now open for the Federal Government-funded 2024–25 Volunteer Grants Opportunity.
Grants valued between $1,000 and $5,000 are available to assist organisations with the costs of supporting their volunteers. This year, the program has been enhanced with changes designed to better meet the evolving needs of volunteer organisations and to align with the Federal government’s commitment to supporting children and young people.
Organisations that are nominated will be invited to submit an application through GrantConnect by 12 March 2025.
Two Categories of Volunteer Grants
The Volunteer Grants program features two distinct categories, focusing on areas where volunteer organisations are facing the greatest demand:
Category 1: Funding for communications and IT items, including laptops, phones, payment devices, software, and insurance premiums. This category aims to help organisations stay connected and efficiently manage their operations.
Category 2: Funding to support the development and well-being of children and young people under the age of 18. This category is designed to help organisations that work with young people to enhance their services and support.
How to apply
If your organisation is interested in applying for the Volunteer Grants submit an Expression of Interest form to your local Member of Parliament by Wednesday, 15 January 2025.
To be eligible, organisations must:
- Be not-for-profit with at least 40% of the workforce comprising volunteers.
- Operate within Australia and have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Be nominated by their Federal Member of Parliament.
Local MPs play a key role in identifying organisations for these grants through community consultation. Organisations are encouraged to express interest to their Federal MP, who will then assess and nominate applicants.
For more details on the eligibility criteria, refer to the Grant Opportunity Guidelines (below), which provide comprehensive information about how to apply and what is required for each category of funding.
Community organisations that do not participate in this EOI process will not be able to apply for a Volunteer Grant at a later date.
Federal MPs will notify applicants of the outcomes of the EOI process.
Nominated organisations will be invited to submit an application through GrantConnect by 12 March 2025. Applications will be assessed on their alignment with program objectives and value for money.
