Volunteer Grants support the work of local community organisations by reducing barriers for volunteers and increasing participation in volunteering.

The 2025-26 Volunteer Grants program, delivered by the Australian Government through the Department of Social Services, supports community organisations that rely on volunteers by helping remove barriers to participation and promoting volunteering opportunities.

Grants between $1,000 and $5,000 are available to eligible not-for-profit organisations that depend on volunteers to deliver their work.

Volunteer Grants, funded by the Australian Government, provide practical support to strengthen volunteer-led activity in communities across Australia.

The 2025-26 Volunteer Grants will open for expressions of interest through Federal Members of Parliament (MPs).

Organisations should:

1. Read the Grant Opportunity Guidelines carefully

2. Contact their local Federal MP to understand how to submit an expression of interest

Organisations nominated by their MP will be invited by the Department of Social Services to complete a formal application in May 2026.

To be eligible to receive a grant, you must be a community organisation that has been nominated by your Federal MP via the EOI process, received an invitation to apply through GrantConnect, and:

• be a legal and eligible entity, or
• be an unincorporated association that agrees to the primary contact on your application entering into an agreement on behalf of unincorporated association.

• Phone: 1800 020 283
• Email: support@communitygrants.gov.au