There are so many community organisations across the Mighty Eden-Monaro that do good work to support our community.
This is why I would like to invite your organisation to apply for a 2025-26 Volunteer Grant.
Volunteer Grants support the work of local community organisations and this year there is a focus on the inclusion of young people and promoting participation in volunteering.
$66,665 (GST exclusive) is available for Eden-Monaro not-for-profit organisations whose workforce consists of at least 40% volunteers.
Grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 will be available to eligible organisations to support the efforts of their volunteers. The grants can be used to buy small equipment for volunteers, for the reimbursement of volunteer transport, training costs, or to purchase items that help promote awareness of volunteering opportunities.
Applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest to my office which will be assessed by a local committee. Successful EOI applicants will then be invited to submit a formal application to the Department of Social Services (DSS).
There are three categories for Volunteer Grants:
- CATEGORY 1: for organisations to purchase communication or insurance items that will benefit any of the community organisation’s volunteers
- CATEGORY 2 (A): for organisations to purchase items for the main purpose of supporting volunteers from community organisations within cohorts including adults whose volunteering activities support children, children, First Nations People, newly arrived migrants, people with a disability, unemployed people, veterans and Australian Defence Force members, or women experiencing or at risk of experiencing gender-based violence or isolation.
- CATEGORY 2 (B): to fund volunteer-run activities within community organisations supporting activities that support children, First Nations People, newly arrived migrants, people with a disability, unemployed people, veterans and Australian Defence Force members, and women experiencing or at risk of experiencing gender-based violence or isolation, women experiencing gender-based discrimination or advantage, or eliminating racial discrimination and promoting understanding, tolerance and friendship amongst racial or ethnic groups.
Purpose: Volunteer Grants are about strengthening communities by increasing participation in volunteering. The key changes to this round of Volunteer Grants are to better align the program with the National Strategy for Volunteering 2023-33; and to support some key costs facing all volunteering organisations.
Eligibility: To be eligible to apply you must be an organisation that has been nominated by my office, receive an invitation to apply through GrantConnect and:
- be a not-for-profit organisation
- have a minimum of 40% of volunteers working for the 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 in the name of the organisation applying, unless applying as an unincorporated association
If applying as an unincorporated association, an individual connected to the organisation applying must be willing to enter into the agreement and assume personal legal liability.
Please read the grant guidelines to ensure that your organisation and proposed application is eligible, then complete the expression of interest form.
Important Documents and EOI form
2025-26 Volunteer Grants outline
2025-26 Volunteer Grants Guidelines – must read!
2025-26 Volunteers Grants – Expression of Interest by Friday 3 April 2026
Timeline
- Volunteer Grant EOIs open - 19 February 2026
- Volunteer Grant EOIs close - 3 April 2026
- Selected organisations invited by the DSS for a Volunteer Grant - 18 May 2026
- Selected organisations to submit application DSS by 29 May 2026
- DSS notifies successful applicants and award of grant agreements - October 2026
- Earliest start date of grant activity - October 2026
- End date of grant activity - 31 October 2027
If you require assistance, please call my office on (02) 6284 2442 or email me at [email protected]
