Veteran Community Grants Program - 2025 Round

Individuals and the following types of organisations are eligible to apply for funding:

• Ex-Service Organisations
• Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations
• NSW local councils operating under the Local Government Act 1993
• Incorporated organisations that are registered and approved as not-for-profit bodies by NSW Fair Trading
• Not-for profit companies limited by guarantee, registered in NSW (must have ACNC registration and/or DGR status)
• Indigenous Corporations (must be registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations)
• NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils
• Religious organisations operating in NSW
• NSW non-government organisations established under their own Act of Parliament
• NSW Government agencies, including government schools
• Educational institutions

In addition, to be eligible for funding applicants must:

• possess an Australian Business Number (ABN) or can provide written advice from the Australian Taxation Office that no withholding tax is required from the grant payment;
• be financially solvent;
• be based in Australia provided the project is of direct and substantial relevance to NSW; and
• have acquitted all previously awarded OVA grants.

Applications must align with and be submitted under one of the below category descriptions:

1. Local community historical research and education

Projects that help inform and educate the wider community about the service and sacrifice of local veterans and their families, including research towards online or print publications.

2. Preservation and display of memorabilia

Preservation and/or research materials, or display of war memorabilia, artefacts and/or research materials relevant to the local community.

3. Public commemorative events

Events that honour or mark military anniversaries and pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of NSW veterans. Please note, Anzac Day events are ineligible for funding.

4. Provide support to members of the NSW veteran community

Activities such as excursions, milestone reunions, and training and development to assist with the health and wellbeing of the veteran community.

Eligible expenditure for commemorations and events includes:

• Events to mark the creation of units, regiments, squadrons or ships, with priority given to those celebrating a significant milestone
• Significant NSW military anniversaries, with the exception of Anzac Day events and commemorations
• Audio and visual equipment hire not already owned by the organization, and their purchase (with the exception of schools, see Grant funds exclusions)
• Bands and musical accompaniments
• Wreaths (maximum of two wreaths, limited to $100 cost each) if integral to the project
• Projects commemorating individuals
• Printing (external only) of commemorative booklets/orders of service for events, other than Anzac Day
• Venue and equipment hire (external only). This includes items such as: rigging, generator hire, fencing, toilets, traffic management, hire equipment (marquees, chairs, tables staging), waste management and wet weather contingencies
• Catering, refreshments and associated catering equipment (limited to $300)

Eligible expenditure for educational projects includes:

• Educational materials that are an integral part of a project (this only includes materials that are being created for the project), digital materials are encouraged
• Interpretive / information signage
• School trips/community group visits or excursions to sites, locations or establishments of military significance

Eligible expenditure for heritage projects includes:

• Display cabinets for the display of wartime memorabilia
• Plaques, medallions or presentation items (small orders only)

Other eligible costs include:

• Freight (must be directly related to the project)
• Landscaping or gardening
• Lighting
• Marketing and advertising (e.g. advertising, promotional collateral, marketing activities, public relation, graphic design, associated printing costs)
• Publishing or editing costs (for first editions only)
• Research expenses (i.e. photocopying, the purchase of photographs, copies of records that are an integral part of the project). General administration expenses are not eligible.
• Salaries/wages for tradespeople, professionals, external suppliers and short-term personnel (with a valid ABN) who are essential to delivering the project
• Transport — bus/coach hire if reasonable and integral to the project

Applicants who have received funding from the VCGP and/or ACGP for three consecutive years will be ineligible for funding in the subsequent fourth year of the VCGP.

You cannot use an VCGP grant for projects or activities that:

• do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in these Program Guidelines
• have already started or have been finished
• are for capital works, including building work
• are of a commercial nature that is for profit
• go towards paying existing debt or budget deficits
• go towards paying permanent salaries/wages
• fund the same project twice (for example, two different organisations cannot apply for funds for the same program or activity)

Items or activities that funding cannot be used for include:

• Accommodation – domestic and international
• Additions to an existing memorial or plaque, or construction of a new memorial (the Commonwealth Government can assist)
• Administration costs (ongoing) of an organisation such as electricity, phone, taxis, printer cartridges, stationery and rent
• Anzac Day events and commemorations
• Applicant’s own venue or equipment hire
• Audio and visual equipment hire or purchase for schools (the school sector governing body, i.e. Department of Education, Association of Independent Schools NSW or Catholic Schools NSW, can assist)
• Auspicing fees
• Books and journal subscriptions
• Capital expenditure relating to the purchase or upgrade of fixed assets for ongoing use by the organisation. For example property, marquees, vehicles, or investments
• Capital works relating to the creation of an asset for ongoing use by the organisation. For example, infrastructure and buildings (except for wheelchair/disability access)
• Catering, refreshments and associated equipment over $300
• Commercial projects/projects for profit (all business profit such as the promotion of an organisation, brand or product)
• Conservation of war memorials (Community War Memorials Fund can provide support for this)
• Construction and repair of buildings including museums, memorial halls and sporting facilities
• Costs incurred in the preparation of the grant application or related documentation
• Council approval costs
• Donations
• Electrical works or equipment
• Entertainment not of a commemorative nature
• Electrical equipment purchases (i.e. computers, printers, cameras, mobile phones)
• Expenditure already incurred (e.g. project planning, purchasing of equipment or services, commission fees incurred for the development and/or design of the project, annual maintenance costs). This includes where an order has already been placed with a supplier
• Events to mark training or graduation
• Fireworks
• Flags or Flag poles (local MPs and the Commonwealth Government including the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) provide this support)
• Flowers (not wreaths)
• In-kind support
• Memorials - construction of new war memorials/cenotaphs
• Ongoing expenditure
• Preliminaries - includes any advice consultation, supervision management plans relating to the project that require completion before commencing the project
• Politically focused events or activities
• Projects undertaken outside of NSW or Australia
• Reimbursement for petty cash or other cash costs
• Restoration of graves
• Routine operations of the organisation (e.g. audit and accounting, consumables, bank charges, taxes, electricity, legal and license fees, office supplies, insurances, office rent, committee meeting expenses, postage)
• Salaries/wages for someone employed by the applicant on an ongoing basis (including internal marketing personnel, internal researchers and any related entitlements such as overtime)
• Scholarships
• Sponsorships or grants to third parties
• Translation of books/records into English
• Vehicles (purchase of)
• Volunteers (donations, or one-off payments to volunteers)

You cannot use a VCGP grant for projects or activities that:

• do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the Program Guidelines
• have already started or have been finished
• are for capital works, including building work
• are of a commercial nature that is for profit
• go towards paying existing debt or budget deficits
• go towards paying permanent salaries/wages
• fund the same project twice (for example, two different organisations cannot apply for funds for the same program or activity)