2024-25 Supporting Women in Business Grants

Applicants must be a legally constituted Australian-based entity from one of the following categories: 

1. Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO).
2. Incorporated, not-for-profit organisations, including community organisations, industry associations, peak bodies and Chambers of Commerce 
3. Social enterprises

• Applicants must be willing to obtain appropriate public liability insurance (minimum of $10 million) if successful.
• Applications must provide a budget outlining proposed funding of eligible expenditure items and excluding non-eligible expenditure items (per section 2.3 in the guidelines). A minimum of 10 per cent funding from other sources (monetary or in-kind).
• An application must be made by a single organisation that will accept responsibility for the delivery of the project if the application is successful.
• Applicants must be based within NSW, unless they can demonstrate that the project will be run in and for the benefit of women in NSW and that the organisation meets all regulatory, business requirements.
• Projects must be delivered in the period between July 2025 – 30 June 2027.
• Applicants must apply for funding within the specified amounts of $150,000 to $250,000.

Projects must target and support one of the following focus communities:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
• carers
• young women living in, or who have lived in, out-of-home care
• lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer and/or asexual (LGBTIQA+) women
• older women
• women experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage
• women facing homelessness
• women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
• women in contact with the criminal justice system
• women living in regional, rural, remote and cross-border areas
• women with disability
• women with a mental illness
• women who have a history of, or are currently experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence
• women veterans (and the women partners of veterans and service members)
• young women (17-24 years)

SWIB will fund a variety of models and funding will vary according to the proposed model and corresponding extent of services to be provided, in response to focus communities’ needs.

Funding for projects will vary within the range of $150,000 - $250,000 depending on the project model, the number of participants to be supported, and the level and intensity of services and supports provided to participants.

Projects should provide a model delivering some or all the following components. A minimum of four service components is required. Supports can include, but are not limited to the following:

Accelerator programs

• Short term accelerator programs supporting female founders at any stage of their business through mentoring and access to finance.

Coaching and mentoring

• Tailored mentoring and support programs and business support to help participants start, run and grow their small business.

Small business training / workshops

• Provide online or in-person training workshops and support access to a range of relevant accredited training options to increase required business skills.

Advisory services including support with business planning

• One-to-one tailored business advisory sessions supporting participants with starting a micro / small business or operating an existing business.  Includes supporting participants to develop a business plan and reviewing viability.
• Advice on a range of other small business matters including (but not limited to) finance, operations, marketing and promotions, customer / client management, governance or administration.
• Support participants to develop procurement readiness in order to supply goods and services to government and other businesses, as relevant.
• Connect participants with NSW Government and other business support services, as relevant.

Support in developing business networks

• Support participants to link to relevant small business and industry networks and to build their networking skills for the purposes of business growth and increased access to finance.

Support in gaining access to finance, investment or start-up capital

• Support participants to understand the types of finance available and which is best suited to their needs. 
• Support participants to access finance.

The project should be started by 1 July 2025 and the project must be completed by 30 June 2027.

SWIB outcomes are detailed in the Project Logic. It is expected that SWIB projects will achieve a range of outcomes tailored to the specific needs and goals of the business owner.

Outcomes for participants will include:

• Increased access to resources and support in starting or growing a micro or small business.
• Increased networks, business skills and confidence in starting or growing a business.
• Access to finance, investment, or start-up capital to start or grow a business.
• Increased number or size of small businesses run by participants within 12 months.
• Higher business turnover, profit or employment.
• Increased customer or client base and / or business growth, expansion, capacity and output.
• Participants financial wellbeing and economic security are improved as a result of starting or growing a successful business.
• Businesses run by participants have greater presence in existing markets and/or access to extended, alternate, or larger markets.
• Increased number of women owned and led businesses registered to procure their services to the NSW Government via Buy NSW. Support will be provided to organisations regarding this outcome.

Funding will not be provided to:  

• Individuals or groups of individuals, including sole traders.
• Unincorporated organisations. 
• For profit commercial organisations and entities. 
• Sub-contractors – either for program management or for project delivery on behalf of non-eligible organisations. 
• NSW Government or Australian Government agencies or their entities (including public trusts). 
• Applicants requesting 100 percent project funding from Women NSW.
• Projects which already receive NSW or Commonwealth Government funding.
• Applicants with outstanding acquittal requirements with Women NSW.
• Applicants with an obligation under the NSW National Redress Scheme who have not joined the Scheme (further information outlined in section 2.3 of the guidelines).

Note: NSW Government schools, Local Health Districts and public hospitals are ineligible to apply, however, an associated incorporated not-for-profit body, such as a Parents and Citizens Association or hospital auxiliary will be eligible to apply for funding.

The application must include a minimum of ten percent income from other sources (cash or in-kind).

Requirements for Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisations

For the purpose of this grant, an eligible Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisation builds the strength and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people, and is:

• Incorporated under relevant legislation.
• Not-for-profit (see further requirements below).
• Controlled and operated by Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander people.
• Connected to the community or communities in which they deliver services.
• Governed by a majority Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander governing body.

Applicants will be required to provide documentation to support their ACCO status such as:

• An Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations certificate of registration.
• A constitution/rule book which shows the organisation requirements.
• Letters or surveys from other local Aboriginal organisations, groups or relevant community stakeholders or outcomes from community feedback.

Requirements for Not for Profits:

Eligible not-for-profit organisations must be registered and approved as a not-for-profit body with a current and up-to-date record in at least one of the following categories:  

1. Charities, trusts, and cooperatives that are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). 
2. Organisations with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. 
3. Organisations with Public Benevolent Institution 
4. Associations (registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 and with NSW Fair Trading). 
5. Non-distributing co-operatives registered under the Co-operatives National Law (NSW) and with NSW Fair Trading.
6. A Local Aboriginal Land Council under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) and registered with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council. 
7. Indigenous Corporations registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations. 

Requirement for Social Enterprises 

To be considered a social enterprise, an organisation must satisfy each of the criteria below:

• be established with a social, cultural or environmental purpose consistent with a public and/or community benefit.
• trade commercially to fulfil their purpose.
• derive a substantial portion of their income from trading commercially.
• reinvest the majority of their surplus in the fulfilment of their purpose.

Social Traders certification or People and Planet First global verification is required as evidence to demonstrate the social enterprise definition is met. Organisations will be required to indicate which certification or verification they will use at the Expression of Interest stage and provide the required evidence at the Full Grant Application stage.