Participation Grants and Funding for Sport and Recreation

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) primarily funds and supports NSOs to coordinate and deliver sport participation and development programs, to increase participation, and achieve high performance outcomes.

• National Sporting Organisation (NSO) Investment, Australian Sports Commission. Data available from 2018-19 to current.

The ASC also provides a range of grants aimed at athletes, learning and development, and organisations to assist in developing sporting excellence and increasing participation and achievement by all Australians.

Athletes:

• dAIS Athlete Grants. The dAIS scheme provides an opportunity for athletes athletes with direct financial support to enable them to focus on training and competitions to achieve the strategy targets in Olympic, Paralympic and Commonwealth Games sports.
• Local Para Champions. Grants for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international championships for athletes with a disability.
• Local Sporting Champions. This program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships. [normally four application rounds per year]
• Compensation Grant Program. To provide financial support to Paralympians whose Disability Support Pension (DSP) payments have been affected due to travelling outside Australia for training and/or competitions exceeding the general travel allowance of 28 days in a financial year. [one application round per financial year]
• Paris 2024 Olympic & Paralympic Games Preparation Fund. The Fund will provide $20 million in additional financial support for eligible national sporting organisations to help deliver key HP initiatives and projects that can significantly enhance the medal potential and improve the performance of our Australian athletes in the lead up to the Paris 2024 Games.

Learning and development:

• Women Leaders in Sport. Funding and support to help provide women with development opportunities to reach their leadership potential in the sports industry. Opportunities include leadership workshops, individual grants and organisation grants.
• AIS Elevate Learning Grants Program. Targets Performance Pathway Coaches and Performance Pathway Practitioners and Performance Support Team members currently working directly with Performance Pathway athletes categorised as Emerging, Developing or Podium Potential.
• AIS Research Grant Program. To support the undertaking of quality Research and Development projects delivering outcomes aligned to the National High Performance Sport Research Agenda.

Schools:

• Sporting Schools. Offers grant opportunities for primary schools, and targeted grant opportunities for secondary schools in relation to year 7 and 8 students. Grants support the delivery of sport-based programs to help students build the confidence and capability to be active for life. The ASC has partnered with more than 35 national sporting organisations (NSOs) to facilitate delivery of Sporting Schools programs. [funding available per school term]

The Australian Sports Foundation (ASF) was established by the Australian Government in the 1980’s to raise money for the development of Australian sport. Today it is Australia’s leading sports fundraiser and charity.

Athletes, coaches and officials from grassroots to elite sporting organisations, schools and community group, government departments and councils or national and state sporting organisations can fundraise for sporting equipment, facility and ground upgrades, coaching and training costs, travel costs, participation or development programs, or athlete welfare and support.

• ASF is the only organisation in Australia to have Deductible Gift Recipient status for sport. This means any donation of $2 or more is tax-deductible.
• Grants programs focus on helping kids get active, on breaking down the barriers of entry for women, and on bringing more diversity to sport and access for all.
• ASF is also responsible for distributing money raised by the Play for Purpose raffle to clubs for relevant charitable grassroots sporting projects.

• Ron Clarke Griffith Futures Scholarship. The scholarship named in honour for one of Australia’s greatest middle distance runners, Ron Clarke AO MBE, is a partnership between CGA and Griffith University designed to support two young indigenous student athletes to study at Griffith University.

Play Our Way program. The Australian Government is providing $200 million for the Play Our Way program. The program will run over 3 years from 2024–25 to 2026–27. The program will provide funding for local solutions and improvements that address participation barriers faced by women and girls. Local governments, community organisations, not-for-profit organisations, and, sporting organisations are eligible to apply for funding. [Applications opened 18 March 2024 and will close at 2 pm on 29 April 2024]

Para-sport Equipment Fund. Designed to provide opportunities for Australians with disabilities to participate and compete in Para-sport by addressing the challenges associated with the high cost of Para-sport equipment.

• Dylan Alcott Foundation. A charitable organization to help enrich the lives of young people with disabilities by eliminating the barriers of entry to get involved in sport and study through mentoring, grants and scholarships.
• Green & Gold Athletes.  Provides opportunities to offset the costs of competition, through matched funding; teach athletes and their families how to raise funds themselves, to achieve some financial independence; and provide access to a panel of Green and Gold Legends as mentors.
• Heart Foundation Active Australia Innovation Grant.  Program funds community-based projects that encourage physical activity.
• IGA Community Chest. Funds to support community organisations. Organisations can approach their local IGA to enquire about becoming a beneficiary.
• Macquarie Sport. Provides grants to sporting organisations that run programs supporting young people who face barriers to opportunity, and corporate scholarships to elite young sports people, helping them pursue both their sporting and career goals.
• National Library of Australia - Community Heritage Grants.  Offer grants to community organisations to care for Australian cultural heritage collections.
• QANTAS Regional Grants.  Provides funding to community organisations that enhance the lives of people in regional communities.
• Sport Access Foundation. Founded by para-triathlete Katie Kelly Sport Access Foundation provides grants for Australian children with a disability so that they can have the opportunity to play and participate in sport.
• Sports Excellence Scholarship Fund. Provide financial scholarships of $1000 each to support emerging school aged students to represent their State or Country at sporting championships. Families must demonstrate financial hardship.
• SportsPass. A member rewards program which adds value to Australian sporting memberships while providing a new and ongoing funding source for local grassroots sporting clubs and associations.
• Play For Purpose raffle. Launched in December 2018 Play For Purpose is a collaboration between the 50-50 Foundation, Tabcorp, and the Australian Sports Foundation, endorsed by the Australian Sports Commission. It aims to raise money for charitable grassroots sporting projects.

Sport and Recreation. Grant programs are available to eligible organisations to support participation in active lifestyles through the delivery of quality programs, services, and facilities for the benefit of the Canberra community. The primary funding programs are:

• Sport and Recreation Operational Program (SROP)
• Community Sport and Recreation Development Program (CSRDP)
• Capital Assistance Program (CAP)
• Inclusive Participation Funding Program (IPFP)
• Women Sport and Recreation Participation and Leadership Program (WSRPLP)
• Sports Loan Interest Subsidy Scheme (SLISS)
• Nature Play Grants Program (NPGP)

ACT Government Grants. Contains links and information on a variety of territory government grants.

Other

• Variety Heart Scholarships [ACT/NSW]. Variety provides scholarships to children with an existing talent - in the arts or sport - living with disabilities, chronic illness or financial hardship to achieve their full potential and to follow their dreams.
• Variety We Move - Equipment Grants [ACT/NSW]. Provides grants to children for the purchase of life-changing equipment to increase physical development, independence, and social inclusion.

Office of Sport. Financial assistance and grants are available to sport and recreation organisations through a number of sources. The range of programs include:

• ClubGRANTS Category 3 Fund
• Community Building Partnership Program
• Community Development Grants Program
• Stronger Communities Program
• Community Sport Recovery Package
• NSW Football Legacy Fund
• Sport Infrastructure Recovery Fund
• Regional Sport Facility Fund
• Greater Cities Sport Facility Fund
• Outdoor Active Recreation Marketing Support Grant Program
• Centre of Excellence Fund
• Local Sport Grant Program
• Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund
• Cross Border Sports Fund
• Her Sport Her Way Grant Program
• Surf Club Facility Program

Grants and Funding. Find a government initiative, grant or funding program to help support your business, your project or your community.

Community Building Partnership. The partnership program awards grants for community infrastructure projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes.

Local Government

• Grants and Sponsorship. Liverpool City Council

Other

• Clubs NSW Club Grants program. ;ClubGRANTS funding is available to community groups, charities, and sporting teams across NSW.
• Variety Heart Scholarships [ACT/NSW]. Variety provides scholarships to children with an existing talent - in the arts or sport - living with disabilities, chronic illness or financial hardship to achieve their full potential and to follow their dreams.
• Variety We Move - Equipment Grants [ACT/NSW]. Provides grants to children for the purchase of life-changing equipment to increase physical development, independence, and social inclusion.

Department of Arts, Sport and Leisure. Grants are available to organisations and individuals that facilitate sport and active recreation outcomes. Current grant programs include:

• Grass Roots Program
• Quick Response (urgent funding) Program
• Remote sport program

Grants directory.  The Northern Territory Government provides a wide range of grants, scholarships and other forms of support for businesses, community organisations and individuals.

Healthy Lifestyle Grants Program.  The Healthy Lifestyle Grants Program provides funding to local projects that address one or more of the following objectives; increase physical activity for those who are inactive or semi-active, increase water and healthy food intake and decrease the consumption of unhealthy food and sugary drinks and create health promoting environments where the community spend their time.

In 2019 the Queensland Government launched Activate! Queensland (2019-2029), a 10-year sport and active recreation strategy. The strategy included a suite of initiatives and funding opportunities to improve the coordination of state government investment and effort so more Queenslanders can benefit from an active life. Funding programs include:

• ActiveKIT (Knowledge, Innovation, Technology)
• Active Clubs
• Active Community Infrastructure
• Active Gameday Projects
• Active Industry Fund
• Active Industry Project Fund
• Active Restart Infrastructure Fund
• First Nations Sport and Recreation Program
• Torres Strait Community Sport and Recreation Program

FairPlay Vouchers. Parents, carers or guardians can apply for one voucher valued up to $150 for their child per calendar year. Vouchers can be used towards sport and active recreation membership, registration or participation fees with registered activity providers. Program is open to Queensland children aged 5-17 who hold, or whose parent, carer or guardian holds a valid Department of Human Services Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.

Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) grant. Administered by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General. The objective of the fund is to allocate funding to not-for-profit community groups to help them provide services, leisure activities and opportunities for Queensland communities. There are multiple funding rounds each year and the funding limit is between $500 and $35,000.

Cycle Network Local Government Grants Program.  Local governments with a published Principal Cycle Network Plan can apply for funding towards projects that provide high quality bicycle infrastructure on the principal cycle network's highest priority routes.

Walking Local Government Grants. Walking network plans focus on precincts of up to 2km around primary destinations such as public transport, schools and town centres, and result in works programs to make the plan a reality. Eligible local governments can apply for state-matched funding through an annual application process.

Local Government

• Grants and Partnerships. Townsville City Council

Other

• South West Indigenous Network (SWIN) Pathways Program. This program provides pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to travel the state to represent their communities at regional and state level sporting competitions.

Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing. A wide range of funding is available to help organisations and individuals provide high quality active recreation and sport facilities, programs and activities. These include:

• Active Club Program
• Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program
• South Australian Sport Institute (SASI) Individual Athlete Program

Sport Vouchers. All school students aged 5-15 years are eligible for one $100 voucher per calendar year, towards reducing the cost of fees in sport, dance or learn to swim programs.

Local Government

• Recreation and Sports Funding. Adelaide City Council

Other

• SA Power Networks Community Grants. Program supports a range of community-based activities.

Sport and Recreation. Funding is available to increase opportunities for participation in sport and active recreation and to assist the ongoing development of Tasmania’s sport and active recreation sector. Clubs, not-for-profit organisations, and local government entities that provide sport and recreation opportunities to the community may apply for grants.

• Improving the Playing Field Grants Program
• National / International Sport Championship Program
• Solar Power Sporting Grants Program
• Sport and Active Recreation Equipment Grants Program
• Sporting Competitions Access Fund
• State Grants Program

Ticket to Play. Provides two vouchers up to $100 each towards club membership for children aged 5-18 years and listed on a Centrelink Health Care or Pensioner Concession Card or in Out of Home Care. Vouchers can be used either both at one activity provider, or at two different activity providers.

Business Tasmania.  This page provides a comprehensive list of funding opportunities available to businesses in Tasmania.

Community Support Levy.  Funds for the Sport and Recreation Major and Minor Grants Programs are made available from the Tasmanian Government's Community Support Levy (CSL).

Sport and Recreation Victoria. Grants and funding are available to support groups from local community clubs through to the elite level. Funding is available for a range of activities, from improving or building new facilities to putting in place community projects and programs.

• Significant Sporting Events Program
• Emergency Sporting Equipment Grant Program
• Community Motorsport Program
• Golf Scholarship Program
• World Game Facilities Fund
• Preventing Violence Through Sport Grants Program
• Change our Game Research Grants Program
• Community Cricket Program
• Shooting Sports Facilities Program
• Change Our Game Community Activation Grants Program
• Local Sports Infrastructure Fund
• Sporting Club Grants Program
• Access for All Abilities Program
• Aboriginal Sport Participation Grant Program
• Country Football and Netball Program

VicHealth. VicHealth’s strategic approach focuses on making physical activity part of everyday living as well as increasing participation in competitive and social sport. VicHealth Sport Investments provides a number of different opportunities for community organisations to apply for grant funding throughout the year. Some grants include:

• Active Women and Girls for Health and Wellbeing
• Growing Participation in Sport
• Regional Sport Program
• Innovation Challenge: Sport
• Active Club Grants

Grants Victoria. The Victorian Government grants directory enables you to search for government grants and assistance within the state of Victoria. Find community, education, legal, and business grants or financial assistance that are available.

Business Victoria. Use the filters on this page to find grants and programs to support your business.

Local History Grants. Encourages and fosters community activities that preserve, record and share the local, social and community history of Victoria and Victorians.

Change Our Game Grants. Provide a range of grants and programs to support women and girls at all levels in sport and recreation in Victoria.

Get Active.  Helping eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and active recreation. Eligible children may receive up to $200 to cover the costs for membership and registration fees.

Local Government

• Individual Excellence Grants. Knox City Council

Other

• Team Sports 4 All (TS4A). TS4A currently assists over 100 Victorian children to play sport who otherwise would not be able to. We are established in Bayside and in 2020 commenced taking on families in Stonnington with the future plan to set up TS4A in as many municipalities as possible so we can make team sport accessible to all families no matter their circumstances.

Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. The Department provides funding to organisations and individuals that facilitate sport and active recreation outcomes. Grant and funding opportunities include:

• Active Regional Communities Grants
• Club Night Lights Program
• Coach and Official Education Subsidy
• Coaching and Officiating Grants Program
• Community Place Based Grants
• Community Sporting and Recreation Facilities Fund
• Country Sport Enrichment Scheme
• Event Suppliers Support Program
• Every Club Grant Scheme
• Executive Management Professional Development Program
• Innovation Challenge Program
• North West Travel Subsidy
• Outdoor Active Recreation Participation Program
• Regional Athlete Support Program
• Regional Athlete Travel Subsidy Scheme
• Regional Organisation Grants
• Regional Servicing Grants
• Sport and Recreation Events Funding Program
• Sport Development Funding Program
• Targeted Participation Program

KidSport vouchers. Enables eligible Western Australian children aged 5 to 18 years with a valid Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card to participate in community sport by offering them financial assistance of up to $150 per calendar year towards club fees. KidSport applications are assessed by the local government in which the child resides or by the KidSport team at the department.

Healthway WA support grants which align to our strategic priorities and for most of our grant programs, applications are open year-round. Some grants include:

• Health Sports Program – Sports clubs and district associations can apply for up to $4,000 in funding to implement healthy eating initiatives and improve canteen facilities.
• Healthy Partnership Program – Funding to sports, arts, racing and community events to provide healthy environments, and to educate and promote good health
• Healthy Spaces Program – Funding that focuses on providing healthy environments in sport and recreation settings
• Healthy Communities Program – Funding for health promotion projects within our community
• Healthy Research Program – Funding for health promotion research that builds the evidence base and builds research capacity through fellowships and scholarships.

Funding for major events, Tourism WA, (accessed 5 May 2022). Funding proposals for major events are assessed on a case-by-case basis however they must be submitted at least 12 months prior to the event date.

Grants and subsidies.  Financial help and assistance for those in need, including eligibility criteria and entitlements for ongoing and one-off payments rates and subsidies.

Other

• Wally Foreman Foundation. The Foundation will annually provide one scholarship to a maximum value of $15,000 for the purpose of pursuing international sporting success.

• Fundraise free and easy with Toyota It costs nothing to fundraise with Toyota and we’ve made the process so easy that anyone at your club can get involved. Just get your members and supporters to buy and sell $5 raffle tickets, while the club gets to keep 100% of the proceeds. Plus someone in your community could win a brand new Toyota… that’s a whole lot better than a meat tray! (AFL)
• Bachar Houli AFL Academy. A high performance football talent program for emerging players aged between 15-18 years who are from an Islamic background.
• Telstra Footy Country Grants. Designed to financially assist initiatives that can support Community Clubs affiliated to the AFL.

• Disaster Relief Fund. Provides assistance to lawn bowls clubs that have suffered damage due to natural disasters, such as fire or flood.

• Australian Cricket Infrastructure Fund. The ACIF is open to all clubs, associations, schools, councils and cricket facility managers, acknowledging the important role that these partners play in providing facilities for community cricket across Australia.
• Grassroots Cricket Fund (GCF) has been established by Australia’s cricketers to strengthen grassroots cricket for generations to come, and will commit up to $30 million from player payments to be invested to support and strengthen Australian community cricket.

• Beyond the Boards.  Diving Australia's Beyond the Boards Grant Program is offering $20,000 in funding, to encourage and support eligible athletes to pursue professional development and educational opportunities, for life after sport.

• Get Into Golf facility marketing fund, Golf Australia, (31 August 2020). The 2020/21 'Get Into Golf facility marketing fund' is designed to assist facilities across Australia in the promotion of their Get Into Golf programs with access to a $250 marketing grant.
• NSW Golf Foundation. Provides opportunities for funding for participation, publicity/public relations, and innovation.
• Cameron Smith Scholarship. The Cameron Smith Scholarship offers two athletes an invitation to Cameron’s home in Florida for a week of practice, training and living like a PGA Tour professional, a truly unforgettable experience.
• Karrie Webb Series Scholarship.  Two scholarships to the value of $15,000 to be spent on international travel, playing experiences over the northern hemisphere summer and additional development opportunities.
• The Young Golfer Grant, Greenfee.Golf.  A grant designed to empower and propel young golfers to success with an award of totally $1,000 USD.

• Confident Girls: Give Every Girl a Chance to Shine. Confident Girls is the main grass roots campaign of the Netball Foundation – the fundraising arm of Netball Australia and partner of the Australian Netball Diamonds team.

• NSW Pony Club Association. Provides grants for Camp Assistance and Cross Country Courses.

• The Flavia Gobbo OAM Bursary. The bursary will award two $5000 grants annually to one male and one female athlete demonstrating outstanding potential and commitment to the sport.

• Support for talented swimming athletes. Multiple swimming scholarships are available for athletes commencing and continuing their studies at Griffith University

• Table Tennis Australia Equipment and Facilities Grant Program. Provides an opportunity for grassroots table tennis clubs and associations across Australia to purchase new equipment; or assist with the upgrade/improvement of local table tennis facilities.

• Tennis Australia Facility Loan Scheme. Financially assists affiliated Australian Tennis Clubs, Centres and Associations with upgrades, replacements and improvements on their tennis facilities, by providing low interest loans.
• Tennis Australia National Court Rebate. Funding program assisting affiliated venues, local councils and schools to create positive environments for the long-term success of tennis in Australia. Projects supported by the program range from developing new courts, upgrading existing facilities, building or line-marking ANZ Tennis Hot Shots courts, Tennis Australia’s Book a Court with integrated gate access technology, major projects and strategy and planning.

• Community Club of the Year.  The Community Club of the Year award will be presented to a Touch Football club that has fostered participation and enjoyment at all levels. The club will have become an integral part of their local community and shown innovation in its administration.

• WPA Personal Development Scholarship.  The program is designed to offer athletes professional development opportunities, and could include university degrees, vocational courses, short course or micro-credentials, virtual internships, registration or licensing, as well as flights and accommodation to complete any of the above.

• Community grants: a quick guide to key internet links., (updated 15 September 2020). Parliamentary Library guide provides links to selected sources of financial assistance to community groups. It does not include links to scholarships, fellowships, or research grants.
• GrantGuru Community, (accessed 13 July 2023). Database of nationwide grants and funding programs for community based and not-for-profit organisations.
• Grants and programs finder, (accessed 13 July 2023). Provided by the Australian Government: Business find support, funding, assistance packages and loans for your business from all levels of government. [accessed May 2021]
• Sports Community: Open grants, accessed 13 July 2023). Provides links to a broad range of Australian grant programs for sporting organisations.

Each funding program or scheme will have criteria specific to eligibility, application procedures, expenditure, reporting, and assessment. It is important to clearly identify what your organisation wants to fund/do and then assess whether you will meet the criteria for the funding opportunity before you apply. Make sure you can also articulate what issue or program requires the funding and what solution the funding will provide.

Some resources for writing grant applications include:

• Grants, Club Help, (accessed 13 July 2023). Provides brief tips and information on grant writing including Understanding grant guidelines; The write up; Planning for grants; and additional resources.
• Grants Help Centre, The Funding Centre, (accessed 13 July 2023). Provides a variety of resources and information for the grant process from deciding to apply, writing the application, and monitoring the project.
• How to win a grant, Sports Community, (accessed 13 July 2023). Provides a brief overview and tips for understanding what grants are; who offers grants; where to find them; and strategies for writing successful grant applications.
• OurCommunity.com.au – where not-for-profits go for help., (accessed 13 July 2023). Website provides advice, tools, resources, and training for not-for-profit organisations.
• Basic Grant Writing Tips - Getting Started, the grants hub, (accessed 13 July 2023). Grant application tips, turning ideas into ‘projects’, applying for government grants, budget development, relationship building, grant terminology & more.

Research

Why do people give to sport? Australian Sports Foundation, (2017). Australia's first ever study into the motivation of Australians who donate to sport. The goal of this qualitative research was to help Australian sporting clubs and organisations better understand why donors donate and how to make the donor experience more rewarding and enjoyable. The key donor motivations examined were:

1. Sports giving involves both our emotional heart and rational mind.
2. The success of fundraising campaigns depends on how well donors are engaged.
3. Giving to sport is like a boomerang - it returns powerful psychological rewards to donors.
4. Giving to sport affects people's emotional well-being.
5. Giving to sport is very personal and is tightly linked to dedication and commitment to the sport and the club.
6. The donor giving journey.
7. Co-creating fundraising campaigns with club members is the key.
8. Donors like to be present in their donation experience.
9. Satisfaction with the donation experience drives donors' willingness to give again (or more).

When writing grants you may need to provide information and evidence to support your application. This could include demographics or statistics for your club/region/sport, or evidence to support why your sport/program will benefit a specific or broader community objective.

The Clearinghouse for Sport Evidence Base provides access to a broad range of topics covering background information, research, and good and promising practice. Some topics and resources that may be relevant include:

Population and participation trends and statistics:

• AusPlay survey (AusPlay). AusPlay is the Australian Sports Commission's large scale national survey to track Australians' sporting behaviours and activities.
• Mapping Australia's Population (MAP). MAP is a Monash University initiative, with the support of the Scanlon Foundation. It provides information and data on Australian immigration and population issues including trends, population maps, and public opinion of immigration and population issues.
• Participation in Sport. Clearinghouse for Sport topic.

Sport and government policy objectives (how sport/physical activity can contribute to meeting government objectives):

• Australia's First Nations Peoples and Sport, Clearinghouse for Sport topic.
• Sport and Persons with Disability. Clearinghouse for Sport topic.
• Physical Activity. Clearinghouse for Sport topic.
• Women in Sport. Clearinghouse for Sport topic.

Value and benefits of sport (how sport can benefits individuals, communities, and the broader Australian society):

• The value and benefits of sport, Clearinghouse for Sport topic.
• Economic, Clearinghouse for Sport topic.
• Education, Clearinghouse for Sport topic.
• High Performance, Clearinghouse for Sport topic.
• Preventative Health, Clearinghouse for Sport topic.
• Social and Mental Wellbeing, Clearinghouse for Sport topic.

Research: