Social Impact Grants Program (Round 1) – Australia
Section
Deadline Date
August 21, 2025
Donor Agency
Department of Human Services
Grant Size
$1000 to $10,000
The Department of Human Services is offering Social Impact grants to eligible organisations for short-term projects, resources, materials and programs that encourage and support strong and inclusive communities and social and emotional wellbeing in the community.
Objectives
- Belonging - to communities that are inclusive, equitable and resilient.
- Connecting - with opportunities to engage and participate
- Building - resources and skills for self-direction and a fulfilling life
- Aspiring - toward economic social and civic empowerment
- Creating - safe environments and wellbeing
Funding Information
- Grants SA’s Social Impact Round offers funding of up to $10,000.
Focus Groups
- Funding is prioritized for projects that support people and/or communities experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage and other vulnerabilities and who may face additional barriers to accessing services such as:
- Aboriginal peoples.
- People from new and emerging culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
- People with disability, with a focus on those not currently supported through the NDIS.
- LGBTIQA+ community.
- People who are financially disadvantaged (for example unemployed, in receipt of government support payments, health care card).
- People residing in communities identified as places where persistent and/or relative location-based disadvantage exists (including rural/remote). Areas of disadvantage as identified by the Socio- Economic Indexes for Areas.
Eligible Costs
- Equipment purchases and resources to support community participation and volunteering Examples: catering equipment, furniture, shelving, storage, resources to host a community event or a new activity, external training to upskill volunteers.
- Resources for community spaces, including community gardens Example: hard or soft furnishings, garden equipment, raised garden beds, BBQ’s,
- To build digital connectivity, access, and capability Example: IT equipment, digital skills volunteer training.
- Minor upgrades to infrastructure to improve physical access, install other devices to facilitate inclusion of priority groups or to expand/improve community spaces Example: disability access upgrades and accessible bathrooms, devices for inclusion (e.g., to enhance sound, tactile guides for people with reduced vision); build or modify rooms to expand delivery of activities, create sensory spaces; build outdoor spaces.
- Intergenerational projects, mentoring, skill sharing Example: workshops, demonstrations, learning sessions
Ineligible Costs
- Grants SA funding cannot be used for the following items. If these items are included in the budget for your application, they will be removed from your funding request:
- Core business costs i.e., operational staff wages, rent, insurances, utilities, internet, websites, phones, phone systems and video conferencing, purchase or lease of buildings, land, vehicles, or lease of IT equipment. Payment of volunteers, boards or committee members (including honorariums).
- Marketing and administration costs above 10% of the total project value.
- Retrospective funding for items, services, or resources already paid for or purchased.
- Items to be purchased and distributed to individuals as prizes, awards, gifts, trophies, sponsorships, donations, reimbursements, uniforms, and costumes.
- Emergency and food relief (e.g., food hampers, food vouchers, pre-paid store cards, individual debt, or bill payments).
- First aid or emergency equipment, including defibrillators and first aid kits.
- Grants writer, auspice, audit fees, research projects, feasibility studies, Council and/or building approvals.
- Purely sport and/or recreational activities. Applications from sporting clubs must demonstrate charitable outcomes and benefit to the broader local community and Priority focus groups.
- Projects that focus on Religious, political, or animal welfare outcomes.
- Projects that have previously been funded by Department of Human Services are not eligible for top-up funding for project shortfalls.
Eligibility Criteria
- To align with the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund, Grants SA can only award funds to the following eligible organization types:
- Aboriginal Community-Controlled organizations (ACCO),
- Not-for-profit organizations 4
- Social Enterprises
- ACCOs and Not for Profit organizations must be incorporated under the South Australian Associations Incorporation Act, the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006, or have evidence of a comparable legal status, such as an Australian Public Company limited by guarantee, Social Enterprises must hold a current certification from Social Traders.
- Organizations must:
- Be currently registered with a valid and eligible Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Have an Australian bank account in the name of the legal entity.
- Have been operating or established as a legal entity for more than 12 months.
- Be currently operating within South Australia and delivering programs, services, or initiatives to residents of South Australia.
- Agree to the terms and conditions of the grant agreement.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Unless you are Social Enterprise, you may not apply if you are an individual, sole trader, a for-profit organization, a private company, or a trust (except fixed trusts).
- organizations must not:
- Have any outstanding contractual or financial obligations (acquittals, unpaid invoices) for any funded Department of Human Services projects/programs.
- Have licensed gaming machines in their facilities or hold a gaming machine license.
- Be educational institutions or related representative bodies (e.g., schools and/or their parent or student associations, universities, colleges).
- Be Government agencies (Commonwealth or State Departments and Local Government Agencies). Local Government Agencies can only function as sponsors for community organizations.
For more information, visit Department of Human Services.