2023 - 24 Investing in Women Program

Applicants must be a legally constituted Australian-based entity. This includes:

• Incorporated not-for-profit organisations, including community organisations.  
• Industry bodies and the private sector working in partnership with the community or government on projects directly supporting women and girls. 
• Local councils and shires, including regional organisations of councils and consortia of councils. 
• Social enterprises, defined as a business that trades primarily for a defined social purpose consistent with a public and/or community benefit. 

Requirements for Not for Profits: 

Your organisation must be listed on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Register with a current record to be considered eligible.  

Not-for-profit bodies are organisations that are registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) or Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC). They can include: 

• charities, trusts, and cooperatives that are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) 
• organisations with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) or Public Benevolent Institution status 
• not-for-profit companies limited by guarantee and registered in NSW (these must have ACNC registration and or DGR status) 
• associations (registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 and with NSW Fair Trading) 
• Local Aboriginal Land Councils 
• religious organisations 
• organisations established under an Act of Parliament. 

Projects must involve high-quality activity, engagement, and participation with one of the following focus communities of Women NSW.  

More than one focus community can participate in the project, but applications must nominate one focus community to be targeted. These include: 

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls 
• Women and girls from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities 
• Women and girls with disability
• Women and girls with a mental illness
• Women and girls living in regional, rural and remote areas
• Women and girls experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage 
• Women and girls who have a history of, or are currently experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence
• Women and girls facing homelessness 
• Carers 
• Older women
• Young women
• Women veterans
• Women and girls in contact with the criminal justice system
• Girls and young women living in or who have lived in out of home care 
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer and/or asexual (LGBTIQA+) women and girls

The Investing in Women Funding Program seeks to fund innovative projects that focus in particular on pillars 2 and 3 of the NSW Women’s Strategy (2023 – 2026). 

Pillar 2: Health and wellbeing

Projects should contribute to promoting and supporting a holistic approach to women’s health and wellbeing. For example, projects that:  

• Promote safe relationships, safe communities
• Promote understanding and awareness of women’s and girls’ health needs
• Provide services and support for women’s and girls’ physical and mental health
• Secure housing, preventing homelessness

Pillar 3: Participation and empowerment

Projects should contribute to supporting women’s engagement through social networks and access to information. For example, projects that:  

• Challenge gendered norms, roles, and expectations
• Create leaders in community and work
• Uplift focus communities
• Rebuild connections and engage with community

Consideration will also be given to competitive projects that align with Pillar 1:

Pillar 1: Economic opportunity and advancement

Projects should contribute to improving women’s economic opportunities and advancement and support diverse and flexible employment opportunities for women and girls in NSW. For example, projects that:  

• Increase women’s opportunities in the workplace
• Focus on transitions between careers and life stages
• Provide pathways into work, careers, and leadership
• Support financial security, capability, and wellbeing throughout life stages, including retirement

Multi-year funding option

For the first time, funding is available for projects that roll over multiple years to support growth and sustainability. Organisations that have demonstrated a strong track record in delivery and outcomes are eligible to apply for multi-year funding. 

Project dates: Projects must be complete by the following dates:

• Up to 12-month projects: within 12 months from the start date or receiving grant monies (latest end date being June 2025)
• Multi-year projects: up to three years from the start date or receiving grant monies (latest end date being June 2027)

The project should be started by 1 July 2024 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2027.

The project contributes to improved health and wellbeing, greater participation and empowerment and/or economic advancement of women and girls. The project will strengthen the role, status and contribution of women and girls in our communities. 

Funding will not be provided to: 

• individuals or groups of individuals, including sole traders. 
• unincorporated organisations. 
• for-profit commercial organisations and their entities. 
• NSW Government or Australian Government agencies and their entities (including public trusts). 

• Applicants cannot apply for 100 per cent of funding from Women NSW
• Projects located outside of NSW
  • Funding can only be used for expenses directly related to the delivery of the project in NSW.  Applicants must clearly outline proposed expenditure in the application and explain how the project will demonstrate value for money. 
• Business capital or start-up funding, including prizes and awards 
• Capital works
  • The purchase of, or costs of repair, extension, or renovation to, buildings or any form of capital works.
• Permanent wages and salaries
  • Funds must not be used to pay a staff member a salary or wages (in part or in full) that they would normally be paid.
• Permanent equipment purchases
  • Such as computers, phones or iPads or other items not specific to the project.
• Operating costs or recurrent expenses
  • Insurance, leases, bills (mobile phone, electricity), consumables (office supplies, fuel, supplies of food, spare parts) and disposables.
• Retrospective costs 
  • Funds will not be provided for events that have already taken place or costs incurred prior to the project starting. 
• Gambling / Alcohol
  • Events that encourage gambling such as bingo, or the consumption of alcohol. 
• Activities which require participants to pay more than a nominal amount to attend
  • Any fee or cost to project participants should consider the resulting benefits for each individual and their capacity to pay.
• Fundraising 
  • Events designed specifically for the purpose of fundraising for charities or for the organisation. This includes prizes, competitions and awards.  
• Internal staff/ organisational development
  • Funds cannot be used to provide staff training, such as leadership training.    
• Conferences
  • Funds must not be used to organise/hold a conference, or to pay for an individual or group to attend a conference.
  • This does not include structured, time-limited courses, with practical and clear outcomes for project participants, such as a training program or educational course. 
• Non-essential costs 
  • Costs that are not essential or not related to the proposed core activity. 
• Overseas travel costs
  • Such as the cost of travelling overseas to attend a conference.  
• Events/projects that are run solely for commercial purposes to the benefit of the delivery partner
  • Projects must directly benefit program participants. 
• Research 
• NSW Government / Statutory Authority projects 
  • Projects and activities coordinated by NSW Government Departments and Statutory Authorities.

If an organisation is based outside NSW, they are ineligible to apply unless they can demonstrate that the project will be run in and for the benefit of women and/or girls in NSW and that the organisation meets all regulatory, business requirements. 

Projects which address “Signposts for the Future” in Pillars 2 and 3 of the NSW Women’s Strategy are the types of projects likely to attract multi-year funding. Projects which address Pillar 1 of the Strategy or other innovative programs will also be considered for multi-year funding. These include:

Pillar 2: Health and wellbeing 

• Increasing knowledge and awareness of, and clinical support for, women’s reproductive health, including reviewing research and exploring ways to improve experiences in education settings and the workplace.
• Projects developing telehealth to improve the reach and responsiveness of medical care.
• Developing a program for women and girls in correctional and youth justice centres with a focus on trauma, women and girls as parents, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, and the transition from correctional centres to life in the community.
• Improving access to early intervention, mental health and wellbeing support for girls.
• Projects addressing the needs of women and girls at risk of housing insecurity and homelessness.

Pillar 3: Participation and Empowerment 

• Implementing programs that foster leadership in younger women and create pathways to leadership positions in public and private organisations.
• Advocating for meaningful engagement with focus communities across all relevant areas of government, including in policy development and program design and implementation.
• Engaging the government and community to build opportunities for women in focus communities to be leaders and to promote positive representations of women in these communities.
• Projects to increase women's and girls' participation in sport or encouraging girls to be physically active through sport from adolescence into adulthood.
• Encouraging community sports organisations to ensure all sports are inclusive and safe.

Application budgets must include a minimum of 10 per cent of the total project cost from other sources of income. This can be financial income or in-kind.