Strengthening Social Cohesion Community Grants

Closeup shot of a diverse group of people high fiving together

Three individual grants of up to $50,000 (inclusive of GST) are available for 3 not-for-profit organisations to lead innovative community projects that strengthen social cohesion, increase democratic resilience, and improve trust in our democratic institutions.

On this page

Key information

  • Status: Closed
  • Grant amount: Three individual grants of up to $50,000
  • Application opened: 1 August 2023
  • Application closed: 28 August 2023, 12:00 pm

Program objective

Natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic uncertainty have tested the resilience of our communities, given rise to mis- and disinformation, extremist views, and conspiracy theories. In turn, this has contributed to a loss of trust in our democratic institutions.

The NSW Government recognises the potentially divisive impact of hate, fear, and division on its communities. It seeks to improve social cohesion and prevent violent extremism. Socially cohesive communities are more resilient to, and recover more quickly from, shocks and stresses, whether a pandemic, a flood, or an act of violent extremism, or extremist hate.

The Premier’s Department is looking to fund 3 not-for-profit organisations a maximum of $50,000 (including GST) each, to lead innovative community projects that address and challenge the:

  1. proliferation of racist ideas, attitudes, and worldviews
  2. promotion of hateful and extremist ideologies and vilification of vulnerable population groups
  3. promotion of conspiracy theories.

Partnership projects and projects that demonstrate strong collaborative relationships are encouraged. 

The funding of this grant is a one-off payment, with the project needing to be completed by November 2024.

This program is administered by Premier's Department.

Eligibility

Who can apply

This grant is only available for not-for-profit organisations based in NSW that have an Australian Business Number (ABN).

Applicants should demonstrate their not-for-profit status by being one of the following:

  • incorporated non-government organisations (not-for-profit)
  • registered associations under an Act of Parliament
  • registered cooperatives under an Act of Parliament
  • a company limited by guarantee
  • a company limited by shares (non-profit distributing)
  • a community-based organisation registered or established under an Act, that is not-for-profit
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) or
  • a Local Aboriginal Land Council under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW).

Who can’t apply

The following organisations are not eligible to apply for funding under this program:

  • individuals and sole traders
  • local councils
  • state and federal government departments and associated entities
  • for profit organisations and commercial enterprises.

Further exclusions

Organisations cannot apply for this grant if they have National Redress Scheme sanctions. The National Redress Scheme has been created in response to recommendations by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The scheme includes sanctions against those organisations who have been named and failed to join the National Redress Scheme. If your organisation has redress sanctions, then you cannot apply for grant funds.

Additionally, you cannot apply for grant funds if your organisation:

  1. is subject to a winding up order or has an appointed administrator
  2. has a pending/ongoing legal case
  3. is bankrupt
  4. does not demonstrate a commitment to social cohesion in practise.

The Premier’s Department may seek confirmation or clarification regarding a project’s activities and funds sought as part of this program before the grant is awarded.

Types of projects funded under this grant

These can include projects that:

  • raise awareness of, and resilience to, hateful, intolerant, and extremist views and messaging
  • foster critical thinking in youth
  • empower young people to be champions for community harmony
  • improve digital literacy to identify, critically assess, and be resilient to online hate and disinformation
  • improve understanding of civics education that strengthens commitment to democratic principles
  • increase the resilience of individuals to the dangers of hate, extremism, and intolerance
  • provide mentoring for young men, that improves attitudes towards women, democracy, and minorities
  • empower women to challenge and report hate, intolerance, and extremism
  • promote harmony between communities impacted by overseas events
  • improve confidence to identify and report hate
  • increase ability of youth to identify, deconstruct, and challenge hateful narratives
  • improve connectedness between diverse communities and or community organisations working collectively to challenge extremism, and promote tolerance.

This list is not exhaustive and merely illustrative.

Project outcomes

The project must achieve the following 4 outcomes:

  • Participants/beneficiaries have new insights into understanding challenges to social cohesion and the importance of societal resilience.
  • Participants/beneficiaries have improved understanding of different approaches for addressing efforts to undermine social cohesion.
  • Participants/beneficiaries are motivated to act as a change actor in their efforts to strengthen social cohesion.
  • Participants/beneficiaries are engaged from diverse communities.

Costs not funded under this grant

This grant program does not provide funding for applications:

  • seeking ongoing or recurrent funding for programs
  • directly from individuals seeking individual personal payments.

Types of costs that funding cannot be used for:

  • supplementing, increasing, or continuing ongoing service delivery that is the core business of the organisation
  • an organisation’s operating costs including office rent and administration costs
  • reimbursement of expenses already incurred
  • covering existing debts or budget deficits of the organisation
  • party political activities
  • purchase of TVs, alcohol, tobacco products, gaming services, computer software, entertainment streaming
  • capital works and equipment purchases (for example, purchase of phones, computer hardware, laptops, tablets, routers, modems, webcams, entertainment systems, etc. will not be funded)
  • commercial or fundraising activities
  • celebration of national or independence days, with the exception of key Australian days including ANZAC DAY, Australia Day, Clean Up Australia Day and NAIDOC week
  • cash prizes or gifts
  • religious festivals, rituals, religious events, or religious promotion, except multi-faith events which involve people from more than one religion
  • from for-profit organisations and/or commercial enterprises
  • seeking funding for an existing project.

Most recent recipients

All recipients (3)

What your application needs to include

Download the grant guidelines (PDF 191.46KB) to see all the sections that need to be addressed in the applications portal.

 

1

Address the eligibility criteria

This grant is only available for not-for-profit organisations based in NSW that have an Australian Business Number (ABN).

Applicants should demonstrate their not-for-profit status by being one of the following:

  • incorporated non-government organisations (not-for-profit)
  • registered Associations under an Act of Parliament
  • registered cooperatives under an Act of Parliament
  • a company limited by Guarantee
  • a company limited by shares (non-profit distributing)
  • a community-based organisation registered or established under an Act that is not-for-profit
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) or
  • a Local Aboriginal Land Council under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW).
2

Address the program objectives

This grant is for not-for-profit organisations to lead innovative community projects that address and challenge the:

  1. proliferation of racist ideas, attitudes, and worldviews, or the
  2. promotion of hateful and extremist ideologies and vilification of vulnerable population groups, or the
  3. promotion of conspiracy theories.
3

Address the assessment criteria

Each application will be considered on its merits, based on how well it meets the assessment criteria and how it is ranked against other applications. Assessments are conducted by an independent assessment panel.

Each application is assessed against the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrates how the proposal addresses at least one of the program objectives. 
  2. Demonstrates a commitment to social cohesion and multiculturalism. 
  3. Demonstrates why the applicant organisation is especially equipped to carry out the project. 
  4. Demonstrates that the applicant can deliver the project on time and in budget.
  5. Demonstrates the cultural capacity to engage people from diverse groups. 
  6. Demonstrates strong collaborative relationships and has a track record of working with other organisations. 
  7. Demonstrates how provision of the grant would be consistent with the principle of value for money. This involves considering the costs and benefits of the grant. 
4

Start the application

Follow the three steps below to complete your application:

  1. download the application form below
  2. complete the application form and save it as a PDF or word doc
  3. email the completed form to connectedcommunities@premiersdepartment.nsw.gov.au with “Proposal: Strengthening Social Cohesion Community Grants” in the subject header.

Note:

Applications must be submitted no later than 12pm (midday), 28 August 2023. We cannot accept any late applications. 

Download the application form (DOCX 595.04KB)

After the application is submitted

Successful applications will be decided by: Director, Connected Communities

Assessment of applications

Applications will be reviewed by a panel convened by the Premier’s Department. The panel is made up of representatives from other NSW government agencies with subject matter expertise in community grants, community programs, and social cohesion.

Panel members will be screened for actual and/or potential conflict of interest before participating in the assessment of applications. Any identified conflicts will result in a panel member being unable to assess that proposal with which there is an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

Applications will be first reviewed against the eligibility criteria.

In reviewing eligible applications, the panel will also consider whether the applicant demonstrates a clear project management approach, showing it can deliver the project by November 2024.

After its review, the panel will jointly make recommendations to the Director, Connected Communities, on the 3 proposals it considers should be awarded the grants.

The Director is the decision-maker for this grant and will make a decision on the grant, having regard to the recommendations of the panel. The Director’s decision is final in all matters, including:

  1. the grant approval
  2. the grant funding to be awarded
  3. any conditions attached to the offer of grant funding.

Applicants will be advised in November 2023 of the outcome of their application in writing.

Notifying applicants

Successful applicants will be notified first and advised of any specific conditions attached to the grant.

Once the grant has been offered to the successful applicant and an agreement signed, we are obliged to publish the following minimal information for purposes of transparency and public accountability:

  1. the name of the grant or a description of the grant
  2. the number of grant recipients
  3. the total value of the grant opportunity
  4. the decision-maker.

Unsuccessful applicants will be then notified and provided the opportunity to review the outcome and discuss the application.

Support and contact

If you would like to discuss these requirements further, please email us and put “Social Cohesion Community Grants Enquiry” in the subject header.

Email: connectedcommunities@premiersdepartment.nsw.gov.au

Download as PDF Print this page
Top of page