Tips

How to search for grants

Think broadly about all the types of grants your project may be eligible for. A sports club seeking funds for young volunteers might also fit community grants or youth grants. Thinking laterally means you won't miss relevant opportunities.
The Wentworth Funding Finder is a free tool available to the Wentworth community, and the best place to start. GrantConnect is also free and covers all current federal grants.
Some organisations also use paid subscription tools such as The Grants Hub, GEM Local and Our Community's Funding Centre, which offer similar search and alert features for an annual fee.
Aim to pull up a manageable number of results from each search, around 10 is a good guide, so you can review them properly rather than being overwhelmed.
Look for a good match between your project and a grant before investing time in an application. If unsure, call the provider to discuss your project first. They can tell you whether it aligns closely enough with their goals.
Be proactive. New grants are released regularly, so knowing what's coming, not just what's open now, lets you prepare and submit stronger, more timely applications.
Don't overlook philanthropic funders. Intergenerational wealth transfer means more money is moving into philanthropy, so it's worth checking your DGR status and auspicing options. Relationship-building with a philanthropic funder typically takes around 12 months, not three years as many assume, and bequests are a commonly overlooked income stream worth researching.
As a rough rule, aim for a mix, one state, one federal, one philanthropic grant, and no more than around six applications on the go at once.

Choosing grants to apply for

Once you have found a grant or grants which you consider may be worth applying for:

Check the closing date to ensure enough time for a good application, and the eligibility criteria, including whether your entity type (company, joint venture, not-for-profit or charity) qualifies.
Check the budget: will the grant provide enough funding, and is a co-contribution required? As a guide, funders often expect 10 to 30% minimum, so aim for close to a 50/50 split where possible.
Never start work or take on obligations before the contract is signed.
Make sure your organisation's public profile and social media presence are current and consistent. Funders often check this, and people give to people.
Consider your capacity to prepare the application and meet ongoing requirements, including reporting. Would you need to outsource any part of the process, and do you have time to do so?
Think about what's unique about your project and why it would appeal to this funder.
Read the guidelines, attend any information sessions, and contact the provider with questions. This keeps you informed and puts your project on their radar.

Writing compelling applications

Have a clear, logical understanding of your project and a comprehensive plan before you start. Develop any unfinished parts of the project first.
Weight your narrative towards the solution, not the problem, roughly 20% problem, 80% solution. Funders invest in outcomes.
Structure answers using Attention, Interest, Desire, Action: what's the situation, why does it matter, what will change, what are you asking the funder to do.
Your first and last lines carry the most weight with assessors reading quickly, so make them count.
Use confident, forward-looking language (“we are,” “we will,” not “if” or “maybe”). Frame the grant as an investment, not a gift.
Answer clearly and concisely, and answer the actual question asked. Every question is scored, so don't shortchange the smaller ones.
Use word limits properly rather than stopping well short, there's usually a reason for them.
Be specific: real numbers, concrete examples, short case studies. Where genuine, show innovation and sustainability, funders' two favourite qualities.
Attach supporting evidence for any claims (budgets, letters of support).
If drafting with AI or referencing past applications, treat them as a starting point only. Assessment processes increasingly detect copied or AI-generated text.
Proof read for spelling, grammar, repetition and readability, and ensure your budget figures add up and demonstrate value for money.
Sign off, submit on time and in accordance with instructions, and keep a copy of your application and an eye on your spam folder for provider responses.

Managing a successful grant

Define what success looks like before you start, so you know what you're working towards from day one.
Start gathering evidence of your project's impact early. Evaluation isn't an autopsy done at the end, it works best as an ongoing record.
Report and acquit the grant properly and on time. This matters for your relationship with the funder and any future applications.
Have a clear answer for what happens to the project once the grant funding runs out.

Application rejections

Not every application will be successful. This may be for a number of reasons including the level of interest in the grant as well as possible issues with your grant application. Try to take opportunities to absorb constructive feedback which may assist you to submit better applications in the future.