2026/27 Investing in Women

To be eligible, applicants must:

• be a legally constituted Australian-based entity. This includes:
  • Incorporated not-for-profit organisations, including community organisations
  • Social enterprises, defined as a business that trades primarily for a defined social purpose consistent with a public and/or community benefit
  • Majority women-owned and managed small businesses
• have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
• have appropriate public liability insurance (minimum of $10 million).
• address the NSW National Redress Scheme sanctions (included in these guidelines).
• have an account with an Australian Authorised deposit-taking institution
• not have outstanding acquittals with Women NSW
• not be receiving or have received government assistance from another program for the proposed project or a similar project
• include an applicant contribution (cash or in-kind) of a minimum 10 percent of the total project cost (not 10 percent of the amount of funding sought)
• provide a budget for their project
• be a single organisation that will accept responsibility for the delivery of the project if the application is successful.

Projects must involve high-quality activity, engagement, and participation designed with and for one of the focus communities in the NSW Women’s Strategy 2023-2026:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls
• carers
• 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
• older women
• women and girls experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage
• women and girls facing homelessness
• women and girls from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
• women and girls in contact with the criminal justice system
• women and girls living in regional, rural, remote and cross-border areas
• women and girls with disability
• women and girls with a mental illness
• women and girls 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

Five key factors for successful projects are:

• The likely benefits of the project are obvious, valuable to the focus community and easily identifiable
• The project will deliver clear outcomes that align with Pillars 2 or 3 of the NSW Women's Strategy 2023 - 2026
• The project will be located in an area corresponding to the greatest need for the focus community
• A clear connection to, involvement with and outcome for one of the focus communities
• Evidence for the need for the project and the expertise of the applicant organisation to deliver the project is clearly demonstrated

The Assessment Panel may take into account a range of factors when recommending a list of eligible applications for grant funding. In addition to performance against the assessment criteria, the Panel may take into account:

• Ensuring an equitable geographical spread of activities across NSW
• Ensuring a balance of projects supporting metropolitan and regional NSW communities. ‘Regional NSW’ refers to all of the parts of NSW that sit outside the metropolitan areas of Greater Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong
• Ensuring an equitable spread of focus communities will be supported
• Ensuring an even spread of single- and multi-year projects

As other grants currently administered by Women NSW focus on Pillar 1: (Economic opportunity and advancement), priority may be given to projects targeting Pillars 2 (Health and Wellbeing) and 3 (Participation and Empowerment). However, competitive projects targeting Pillar 1 will also be considered.

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 December 2027)
• Multi-year projects: up to three years from the start date or receiving grant monies (latest end date being December 2029)

If changes must be made, Grant recipients must contact Women NSW in writing to seek approval prior to the date.

The project should be started by 1 January 2027 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2029.

Investing in Women grants aim to achieve the following outcomes, focusing on the three pillars that align with the NSW Women’s Strategy (2023 – 2026):1              

1.  Economic opportunity and advancement

• Increase in women’s labour force participation in NSW
• Increase in gender equality for taking leave to care for others in NSW
• Decrease in gender segregation in the NSW workforce
• Decrease in the gender pay gap in NSW
• Increase in women’s personal financial wellbeing in NSW
• Increased skills to enter the workforce
• Improved levels of work readiness and confidence
• Reduced financial stress
• Increase in number of women-owned/led businesses

2. Health and wellbeing

• Improved mental health and wellbeing
• Improved physical health
• Improved access to health services and information for [diverse] women
• Increase in actual and perceived safety for women in NSW
• Increase in women’s life satisfaction in NSW
• Increase in safe and stable housing for women in NSW

3.  Participation and empowerment

• Decrease in gender segregation in NSW education
• Increase in completion of education and training by girls and women in NSW
• Increase of [diverse] women in senior leadership in NSW
• Increase in women’s social connectedness in NSW
• Increased participation by women in sport in NSW
• Increased participation by women in creative industries in NSW
• Increased volunteering by women in NSW
• Increased consultation and co-design with diverse women in NSW

Grant funding can only be used for expenses directly related to the delivery of the project in NSW.  Applicants must clearly set out proposed expenditure in the full grant application and outline how the project will demonstrate value for money.

Some (non-exhaustive) examples include:

• Staff, contractors and consultants, where the costs are for direct project delivery only
• Evaluation activities
• Resource materials
• Equipment for participant use, transport and venue hire
• Publicity, communications and marketing activities and materials
• Catering costs, food and non-alcoholic beverages for community engagement activities
• Travel costs within NSW exclusively for the purpose of the project

You are not eligible if you are:

• An individual or group of individuals, including sole traders
• An unincorporated organisation
• Insolvent
• A sub-contractor – either for program management or for project delivery on behalf of non-eligible organisations
• A trust or trustee
• A partnership
• A federal, state, territory or local government agency or body (including public trusts and government business enterprises)
• Receiving or have received NSW or Commonwealth Government funding for the proposed project or a similar project
• A business not included under “Who is eligible to apply”
• Applicants requesting 100 percent of project funding from Women NSW
• Applicants with outstanding acquittal requirements with Women NSW
• NSW Government schools, Area Health Services and public hospitals. However, an associated incorporated not-for-profit body, such as a Parents and Citizens Association or hospital auxiliary is eligible
• Applicants with an obligation under the NSW National Redress Scheme who have not joined the Scheme

• Business capital or start-up funding.
• Purchase of, or cost of infrastructure, assets and/or capital equipment and works.
• Permanent equipment purchases (e.g. computers, phones or iPads or other items not specific to the project).
• Operating costs of the organisation or recurrent expenses (e.g. insurance, leases, bills, general office consumables and disposables).
• Permanent wages, salaries and on-costs for ongoing staff.
• Organisational development costs for internal staff (e.g. staff training, conferences, workshops, planning days).
• Conferences – you cannot use the fund to conferences and workshops, or to pay for an individual or group attend a conference. This does not include structured, time limited training sessions and workshops with practical and clear outcomes for project participants.
• Prizes, competition or awards (e.g. cash giveaways, lucky door prizes, raffle prizes).
• Interstate and/or overseas travel allowances or costs associated with membership of boards/councils.
• Costs associated with membership of boards/councils
• Retrospective costs (any money spent before a grant is approved).
• Fundraising for the purposes of fundraising for charities or for the organisation’s personal use.
• Political activities which promote or support a political party
• Projects that are run solely for commercial purposes to the benefit of the delivery partner but not the program participants.
• Projects and activities coordinated by NSW Government Departments and Statutory Authorities.
• Research projects, including those which are co-funded by State or Federal Governments and/or other organisations.
• Purchase of promotional/awareness raising merchandise that will be sold for profit.
• Activities which require participants to pay more than a nominal amount to attend.
• Fees associated with an auspice agreement.
• Existing debt or loan repayments.
• Events that encourage gambling (e.g. raffles, bingo) or the consumption of alcohol.
• Non-essential costs which are not related to the proposed core activity

The purpose of the Investing in Women Funding Program is to fund innovative projects that focus on the three pillars that align with the NSW Women’s Strategy (2023 – 2026).

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

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

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

An applicant contribution (cash or in-kind) of a minimum 10 percent of the total project cost (not 10 percent of the amount of funding sought) is required.

TOTAL PROJECT COST = Total Women NSW funding (over the entire length of the project) + your (10% minimum) contribution (financial or in-kind)