Looking for grants for social enterprises?
Social enterprises across Australia are driving real change - blending purpose with business to create positive social, environmental, and community impact.
Whether you're a newly established social enterprise with a big idea, a growing organisation seeking to expand your reach, or a community group using business models to support vulnerable or underserved people, finding the right funding can be a game-changer.
Below are current grant opportunities available to social enterprises and purpose-led organisations across Australia. These represent just a small selection of the grants currently available through The Grants Hub's Grants Directory.
Provider: Global Sisters
Amount: $10,000
Applications close: 30 November 2026
Location: National
Supports women with a well-developed idea for a new purpose-led business or social enterprise who need seed funding to develop, test, or validate it. In 2026, Global Sisters is awarding 10 scholarships — one each month from February to November — as part of their 10th anniversary celebration of backing women's economic empowerment.
What's included:
Eligibility highlights:
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Provider: SilverChef
Amount: $5,000 (75:25 mix of equipment and cash)
Applications close: 30 June 2026
Location: National
Provides grants to eligible community groups who use hospitality or food services to support disadvantaged or under-served members of their local community. Four grants of $5,000 are awarded each quarter, and unsuccessful applications are automatically reconsidered in subsequent funding rounds.
Eligible organisations:
Grant breakdown:
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Provider: The Sponge Impact Fund
Amount: Up to $10,000 (in-kind matched contribution)
Applications close: Rolling — always open until fund is fully allocated
Location: National
Matches your spending on branding or marketing services dollar-for-dollar with an equal in-kind contribution — doubling your investment up to a maximum of $10,000 in services. Designed to support impactful organisations where budgets are constrained, this grant is open to a wide range of applicants including social enterprises and not-for-profits.
Eligible branding and marketing services include:
Note: This grant requires a co-contribution. For every dollar you invest in services through The Sponge, they match it in kind — so $5,000 becomes $10,000 in total branding support.
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Provider: My Giving Circle
Amount: Unspecified
Applications close: Rolling
Location: National and International
Helps charities and not-for-profit organisations access grants, grow their supporter base, raise their profile, and generate donations. My Giving Circle is a social enterprise distributing $1,500,000 to charities this year through a community-powered voting model. Registration is free for organisations.
What your organisation can access:
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Provider: NAB Foundation
Amount: Up to $25,000
Next round opens: 17 August 2026
Applications close: 14 September 2026
Location: National
Funds local, community-led projects that help communities withstand and recover from natural disasters. NAB awards $1.2 million in Community Grants each year, with an additional $200,000 available as Impact Grants for projects with significant potential — providing a further $25,000 to recipients to maximise their community impact.
Focus areas:
Eligibility highlights:
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Provider: Common Ground
Amount: Unspecified (over $30,000 in total accommodation and venue value per year)
Next round is expected to open 1 July 2026
Location: National
Offers fee reduction grants for accommodation and venue hire at Common Ground's facility in Seymour, Victoria, so that smaller not-for-profit organisations can bring their team together for focused planning sessions, annual meetings, or small conferences. Commonground has been supporting social justice, environmental, disadvantaged, and community groups since 1984.
Available grants:
Who can apply:
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Funders supporting social enterprises want to see how your organisation creates measurable social, environmental, or community benefit alongside financial sustainability. Be specific about who benefits, how many people are reached, and what changes as a direct result of your work.
Unlike traditional grants for charities, social enterprise funding often requires evidence that your business model is sustainable. Show that your revenue streams support long-term operations, and be clear about how grant funds help you move toward greater financial independence.
Social enterprises operate at the intersection of purpose and profit. Strengthen your application by clearly demonstrating both your social mission and your commercial approach — show funders how these two elements reinforce each other rather than compete.
Ensure your budget accurately reflects all project costs and clearly shows how grant funds will be used alongside your own co-investment or earned revenue. Funders appreciate transparent costings that demonstrate professional planning and a genuine understanding of what delivery requires.
Many social enterprise grant programs prioritise organisations with deep connections to the communities they serve. Demonstrate that your work is informed by lived experience, genuine community consultation, and a clear understanding of the problem you're solving.
Outline how your initiative will continue after the grant period ends. Social enterprise funders are particularly interested in organisations building toward long-term sustainability — whether through earned revenue, further investment, or the scaling of a proven model.
Remember that many community, innovation, and sector-specific grants also welcome social enterprise applications, even when not explicitly targeted. Our Grants Directory contains hundreds of opportunities that could help fund your work across various sectors and focus areas.
When searching for grants, consider looking beyond social enterprise-specific funding to include:
Visit The Grants Hub today to access our complete Grants Directory and take your social enterprise to the next level. Our directory is updated daily with new opportunities, and you can filter by location, sector, funding amount, and application deadlines to find the perfect match for your organisation.
Whether you're launching a new purpose-led venture, scaling an existing social enterprise, seeking branding support to grow your impact, or building the capacity to better serve your community, there are funding options available to support your goals. The key is knowing where to look and how to present your case effectively.
Need help with your application? Explore our Grant Resources for tips, templates, and guidance on creating compelling applications.