With support of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, we are delivering the Social Enterprise Grant in the form of partnerships to Australian social enterprises and/or First Nations women in business, to support the economic empowerment of Australian First Nations women, girls and sistergirls.

The grant provides opportunities to support First Nations female entrepreneurs to innovate and solve social issues facing their communities and improve the economic security of other First Nations women and their communities.

Applicants can apply for partnerships from $50,000 and up to $200,000 excl GST.

Who is eligible for a partnership?

We want to partner with like-minded social enterprises that are First Nations female led, and deliver, or are ready to deliver, programs and initiatives that support the economic security and participation of First Nations women.

What kind of projects can be delivered with the grants?

To be eligible to access the grant your social enterprise must be ready to deliver a project that will benefit First Nations women, girls and sistergirls in one of the following areas:

• Developing the capabilities to First Nations women to start or grow their business.
• Supporting First Nations women by providing access to resources that build financial management skills and confidence. Including access to financial well-being counselling, planning for the future and money management.
• Supporting the economic security of First Nations women by building skills and confidence to enter the workforce, and for those already employed to progress, including job-readiness programs.
• Supporting First Nations women to be economically empowered through Coaching or Mentor programs, these may include for business, employment and leadership.
• Supporting First Nations women to manage and understand rent/housing obligations and managing household budgets, and affordable living initiatives.
• Building and maintaining networks.
• Well-being and self-care programs that support First Nations women to manage their family, work, business, and community obligations.
• Upskilling and training of enterprise First Nations staff that creates opportunities to expand social impact outcomes in communities.
• Establishing innovative platforms/systems that enhance the way the enterprise does business and impacts communities.

For the full eligibility criteria and details of the grant, please read the IBA Social Enterprise Grant Guidelines. These include a summary of the terms and conditions under which the partnership with IBA will operate.

How will my application be assessed?

The grant selection process is set out in the IBA Social Enterprise Grant Guidelines. Please read these guidelines before submitting your application and if you have any questions, please contact partnerships@iba.gov.au.

How to apply

An application can be completed using the APPLY link below. IBA will contact you if we require additional information.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact partnerships@iba.gov.au.

Please ensure that your application meets the eligibility criteria, is complete, and accurate in accordance with the Guidelines.

If you find a mistake in your application after it has been submitted, contact partnerships@iba.gov.au to amend your application.

Applications for the grant open 16 January 2023 and will close 30 August 2023, unless funds are exhausted earlier.

Definitions 

[1] Social Enterprise - 'Profit for Purpose' (definition), includes elements of, but is not limited to:
- profit is utilised for its defined key purpose, that is for social, cultural, environmental or community benefit and change.
- invests efforts and resources into their purpose.
- Employment: creates employment and training opportunities for First Nations people.
- delivers products and services to meet community needs.
- profit redistribution – reinvests some profits or revenue to community benefit.