Grants & Funding

There are a range of opportunities available for both athletes and organisations to access funding in Queensland.

Queensland Government

Queensland Government funding programs provide new and improved opportunities for people to participate in sport and active recreation.

For Children:

• FairPlay vouchers support families with up to $150 per child towards the cost of sport and recreation club membership fees. There are 2 Rounds per calendar year. There is a limit of 1 voucher per child per calendar year.
• The Emerging Athlete Pathways (EAP) program supports eligible young athletes, coaches and officials aged 10-18 years to progress on a development pathway by providing financial assistance to help alleviate the costs associated with attending state, national and international events. Note: Applicants are required to travel at least 125km (one-way) from their home to the event location.
  For eligibility information and a list of eligible events visit https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/emerging-athlete-pathways

For Clubs and Organisations:

• Register your organisation to accept FairPlay vouchers. Up to $150 can be used by eligible children to help pay for club membership, registration and/or participation fees for registered organisations
• Play Our Way
  The Play Our Way program Grant Opportunity is an open competitive opportunity that will provide funding of up to $200 million (inclusive of Government administration costs) over three years from 2024-25.
  This Grant Opportunity aims to address participation barriers through safe, inclusive and sustainable facilities and programs that support the enduring engagement of women and girls in sport and physical activity.
  ** Stream 1: Facilities
  **  Stream 2:  Participation and equipment
  Estimated Period of Release: January to June 2024

• Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program Level 1 provides up to $5,000 for eligible not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations to support the re-establishment of club operations following significant weather events – OPEN NOW
• Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant provides up to $20,000 for sport and active recreation organisations who have also applied for Level 1 Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program and the Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant (QRIDA).

Office of Liquor and Gaming

Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF)

The Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) is Queensland’s largest one-off community grants program and distributes approximately $60 million each year to not-for-profit community groups. The GCBF funding helps these groups to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities for Queensland communities.

The next installment of the GCBF is for Round 122, it is for $35,000 and closes on 30 November.

For further information on Round 122 of GCBF please go here:  https://www.justice.qld.gov.au/initiatives/community-grants

Future Opportunities – Queensland Government 

• Active Women & Girls Program
  The program is dedicated to encouraging greater participation across all facets of sport and active recreation, from playing to coaching and volunteering to umpiring and team management. Local or regional level Queensland not-for-profit sport or recreation organisations or not-for-profit community organisations can apply for $7500 funding, which can be used across a range of focus areas, such as volunteer training, resources, equipment or creating more participation opportunities for women and girls within clubs, communities and organisations. Applications closed

• Active Clubs provides funding of $2,500 to support volunteers and provide flexible and safe physical activity opportunities to increase sport and recreation participation. Round 4 of Active Clubs is now CLOSED and will provide $5 million (GST exclusive) to support projects of $2,500 (GST exclusive) to provide responsive assistance to clubs and organisations through Accelerate 2022-2025.
  Next funding round February 2025

• Minor Infrastructure Program provides funding for infrastructure projects that enhance community participation opportunities through the provision of spaces that are:
  • Safe – reduced exposure to health and safety risk
  • Quality- meeting standard required for community level participation
  • Efficient – more efficient use of the places and spaces (can be used by more people, cater for more activities, be used for longer hours)
  • Inclusive and accessible – enhancing usability of places and spaces and ensuring no one is excluded from participation

• • Projects must deliver new, upgraded or replacement infrastructure.
  • Project costs must not exceed an estimated total project cost of $1 million (GST exclusive).
  • Applications closed

Sport Australia 

Federal Government (Australian Sports Commission)

The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) is the Australian Government agency responsible for supporting and investing in sport. The ASC comprises; Sport Australia — responsible for driving the broader sport sector including participation, supporting activities linked to sport and sport industry growth, and the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) — leading our high-performance sport system.

The ASC provides opportunities for individuals and sporting organisations to receive funding through Sport Australia.

• Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-18 participating in state, national or international championships. If successful, applicants will receive $500-$750 towards the cost of attending their championships.
• Local Para Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 12-24 participating in state, national or international championships for athletes with a disability. If successful, applicants will receive $750-$1000 towards the cost of attending their championships.
• Women Leaders in Sport program empowering women in sport and helping to create a culture which values gender equity. This is through opportunities via Executive Programs, Leadership Workshops, Individual Grants and Organisational Grants.

There are other opportunities for individuals and sporting organisations to receive funding outlined at https://www.sportaus.gov.au/grants_and_funding

Australian Sports Foundation 

The ASF funds programs designed to increase healthy activity levels and grow participation in sport. Grants are distributed to support projects that improve access to sport for a range of people and communities.

The Australian Sports Foundation’s focus is on helping kids get active, breaking down the barriers of entry for women and girls, and on bringing more diversity to sport. We work towards an Australia where sport is accessible for all.

ASF Grant information is available here: https://asf.org.au/grants

Other Sport and Recreation funding sources

• Your local council may provide funding to support not-for-profit organisations