Have you sent your application form in for the Volunteer Grants for 2016? Thanks to the Australian Government, you can apply for a grant to receive between $1,000 and $5,000 to assist with volunteering and administrative costs. The total grant pool is worth $10,000,000, so you have a good chance if you get your application in before the due date.

Note that you cannot apply if you are a sole trader, a for-profit organisation, a local government entity or a political group. Your charity or NFP must be located in Australia to be eligible.

Bear in mind that priority is given to those who work with the disadvantaged community or those from a disadvantaged background. Charities who assist with the community in natural disaster areas are also worth applying. Organisations that have more volunteers than paid staff, or have small operating budgets, will also be a priority application.

Applications close at 2.00pm AEDT on 20 December 2016. If you have not done so already, it is time to get organised and send it in. As with all grants, they have their rules and regulations as to who can apply and what you can spend the money on. So take your time to read through all the information before applying. You don’t want to miss out on the grant money, just because you failed to dot the I’s and cross the T’s.

The money can go a long way towards paying for small electronic equipment such as laptops, iPads and printers and ensure that all volunteers have up to date digital and electronic equipment to do their job thoroughly and efficiently. The money can also pay for such things as rent, telephone bills, utility costs, as well as stationery and printing. If you are struggling to find the money in the kitty to get your next marketing project started, then this grant may just be the help you are looking for. You can even use the money for relevant staff training.

Grants are not to be used for property or land purchase, major capital expenditure, retrospective costs, overseas travel, major construction or capital works.

Once you have completed the form, you can submit it electronically through the submission section at the end of the application. This grant, and many others like it, were created by the government to boost productivity for NFPs and remove any unnecessary red tape for community-based organisations.

For further information on how to apply for the grant visit www.dss.gov.au/grants.