Applications for the 2017 Social Investment Grants Program open up next week on the 10 July 2017. They are administered in conjunction with the Community Enterprise Foundation and aimed at charities building resilience and capability for people experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence.

The Community Sector Banking believes that it is a worthy cause as homelessness is “still a persistent and growing problem across Australia and people who have experienced domestic and family violence make up a large percentage of those seeking homelessness services.” In fact, the combined health, administration and social welfare costs of violence against women has been estimated to be $21.7 billion a year, with projections suggesting that if no further action is taken to prevent violence against women, costs will accumulate to $323.4 billion over a thirty-year period from 2014-15 to 2044-45.

The 2017 Social Investment Grants Program is offering a total of $200,000 which will be broken down into four $25,000 grants and two $50,000 grants. The grants will be administered and dispersed through Bendigo Bank’s Enterprise Foundation in partnership with Community Sector Banking.

Applicants must be a not-for-profit organisation focused on working with communities within Australia. There is no requirement for deductible gift recipient (DGR) status and all projects funded should be completed by the end of 2018. Confirmation of other funding sources in the application is also encouraged.

Grants will not be awarded for ongoing operating costs, capital works, housing capital, research or policy development, overseas projects, retrospective requests or scholarships.

Applications can be submitted online after the 10 July. All applicants will be asked to demonstrate:

• The extent to which the project generates value

• The extent to which the projects build resilience and capability

• How the grant will build capacity within the organisation to deliver the project or program sustainably

• How many people will be directly assisted

Read the supporting documentation checklist thoroughly in the application form to ensure you meet eligibility. Full copies of original project quotes and financial statements will need to be submitted with your application.

For more information, download the complete information pack here. Applications will close at 5pm AEST, on Friday 4 August 2017.