The Social Enterprise Development Grants program will provide grants for approved projects to support newly established or early stage Queensland social enterprises to build capability and capacity, and increase business resilience and confidence.
Funding of between $5,000 and $25,000 (excluding GST) may be provided for eligible applicants to purchase equipment and resources, or access business services, to support a solid business foundation for the social enterprise.
In 2022-23, $600,000 will be made available for the Social Enterprise Development Grants program. Funding of between $5,000 and $25,000 (excluding GST) may be provided for eligible applicants to purchase equipment and resources, or access business services, to build a solid business foundation for the social enterprise. Eligible applicants are only able to submit one application per social enterprise operation i.e. only one application will be accepted for consideration from an individual ABN.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants must be one of the following:
1. a newly established or early stage social enterprise which meets the program definition of a social enterprise and has only operated for a period of 18 months or less in Queensland; or
2. an experienced organisation (i.e. has operated for a minimum period of three years in Queensland) that directly operates a newly established or early stage social enterprise as defined above.
The organisation must operate the social enterprise within its business/organisational structure i.e. under its Australian Business Number (ABN) and not as a separate business entity
The Social Enterprise Development Grants program applies the following nationally agreed definition of a social enterprise (as per ‘Finding Australia’s Social Enterprise Sector 2016’).
Social enterprises are businesses that are:
• led by an economic, social, cultural or environmental mission consistent with a public or community benefit
• trade commercially to fulfil their mission and derive a substantial portion of their income from trade, and
• reinvest the majority of their profit/surplus in the fulfilment of their mission.
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Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this grant, the applicant must:
• have a current ABN
• not be insolvent or have owners/directors that are an undischarged bankrupt
• have an operating business address in Queensland and will undertake the project activities in Queensland
• be able to show the social enterprise to be assisted by the grant funding has operated for a period of 18 months or less in Queensland at the time of application
• be able to evidence the social enterprise to be assisted by the grant funding meets the program definition of a genuine social enterprise. Note: the applicant will be required to provide documented evidence in the form of a letter signed by a member of either CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, or the Institute of Public Accountants, or an Impact Statement (see Frequently Asked Questions for information to be supplied) - be able to show the social enterprise to be assisted by the grant funding has a mission aligned to Queensland Government priorities
such as supporting jobs, investing in skills, growing regions, safeguarding health, protecting the environment.
Note: if the applicant ABN is an experienced organisation, in addition to meeting all the above criteria – the organisation must have operated in Queensland for a minimum period of three years at the time of application
Who Cannot Apply
The following are not eligible to apply:
• social enterprises and organisations that do not have an operating business address in Queensland
• social enterprises that have operated for longer than 18 months
• social enterprises and organisations (i.e. ABN) that have previously received grant funding under any of the following recent DESBT social enterprise grant programs: Community Social Enterprise Development Grants, Social Enterprise Growth Grants, or Sector Development Grants
• organisations operating a social enterprise that have operated for less than three years
• Commonwealth, State and Local Government departments, agencies or public bodies
• industry bodies and associations
Program Funding
The Social Enterprise Development Grants program will fund activities and/or expenditure integral to achieving the project outcomes, including:
• production equipment (e.g. catering, manufacturing)
• digital equipment and systems (e.g. point of sale, 3D printers)
• consumables, resources or materials (e.g. stock/inventory) specific to a business development opportunity
• training or coaching programs to develop business skills and knowledge (e.g. corporate governance, financial management, social impact measurement, investment readiness)
• business and strategic planning (e.g. legal, accounting or financial advice/planning and industry advisors)
• marketing strategies including branding and market research (content or implementation costs/activities are permitted but not advertising costs)
• website development or upgrades
• prototyping activity (minimum viable product,
market testing, pilot)
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Funds cannot be used for:
• purchase of significant assets (e.g. buildings or vehicles)
• staff salaries/wages
• overseas and interstate travel
• remuneration of executive officers
• utilities (e.g. gas, water, electricity costs)
• rent and other ongoing business costs
• services delivered in-kind
• retrospective payments for expenses incurred or for work undertaken, prior to funding approval
• any other recurrent costs such as established positions or core business functions within the social enterprise and organisation if applicable
• fees for any activities or equipment provided by related parties (such as companies with common shareholdings or directorship with the applicant, and employees or immediate family of the applicant)
• direct-selling businesses (where the sale of goods or services from another business are made in the customer’s home, work or other meeting place through methods such as party plans and network marketing).
Funding must have a direct link to increasing the business viability, resilience and sustainability of the social enterprise.
Applications will open at 9am on 27 May 2022 and close at 5pm on 30 June 2022.
Applications, including all supporting documentation, must be submitted using the online application form (link below)
Successful applicants will be determined following a merit based assessment process.
If you have further questions, email programdesign@desbt.qld.gov.au.
