Applying for a SEDI First Nations Grant

Grant Information and Application Process

What will a SEDI First Nations Grant fund?

Grant funds are to be used to purchase business and capability services that will help your First Nations social enterprise grow its impact. These services are to be provided by a Capability Provider/s and must be completed within six months of a SEDI First Nations Grant being awarded.

The SEDI First Nations Grant application form includes a list of capability services that social enterprises can choose from. This list is flexible and may change as the SEDI First Nations Grants Team learns more about what First Nations social enterprises need. You can include other services not on the list if they will help grow your impact.

The types of services you select will depend on your enterprise’s needs, but could include:

• Social Impact Measurement Framework (required if not already in place)
• Business Plan development (required if not already in place)
• Governance and board development
• Cultural governance and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)
• Community and stakeholder engagement
• Indigenous procurement readiness
• Workforce development
• Organisational strategy
• Systems implementation
• IT/HR/finance/inventory/accounting
• Financial management and reporting
• Marketing strategy and materials
• Advice on social procurement strategies
• Investor or grant readiness support
• Introductions to impact investors or philanthropists
• Operations support to help you grow your impact
• Other capability services to help you grow your impact
• Internal costs necessary to purchase capability services (up to a maximum of 20% of total grant funding)

After receiving a SEDI First Nations Grant, it will be mandatory for your enterprise to develop the following two documents during the project timeline (if not already in place):

• An Impact Measurement Framework which Defines the intended impacts of the Enterprise’s activities;
• Defines the theory of change through which impact will be created; and
• Establishes valid and reliable indicators that will be used to measure and report on impact.

A Business Plan which Outlines the strategic objectives of the Enterprise;

• Defines the operational goals of the Enterprise;
• Draws out the Enterprise’s financial plans; and
• Includes a risk assessment and approach.

Note: Grant funding can be used to have your capability needs assessed by a Capability Provider after a grant has been awarded. The list of capability services, your chosen Capability Provider/s and allocated budget identified in your application can be changed, subject to approval by the SEDI First Nations Grants Team. Note: No extra grant funding will be provided.

What will not be funded by a SEDI First Nations Grant?

SEDI First Nations Grants fund specific capability services. Grant funds cannot be used for general expenses, including:

Property

Your enterprise must not acquire or lease assets with SEDI First Nations Grant funds. This includes:

• Purchasing property, buildings or land
• Renovating or improving physical spaces
• Acquiring vehicles or equipment including computer equipment

Operating costs not necessary for the purchase of capability services

• Salaries and wages for staff
• Rent or lease payments for offices or facility spaces
• General utilities and office supplies

Note: Grant funds can be used to pay for internal costs necessary to purchase capability services, up to a maximum of 20% of total grant funding.

Ineligible activities

• Activities or programs not directly related to the capability services funded by a SEDI First Nations Grant
• International travel costs not specifically approved by the SEDI First Nations Grants Team

Timeframe for growing your impact

Your enterprise needs to clearly explain your plans to grow your impact and the length of time it will take. Plans to grow your impact will go beyond the SEDI First Nations Grants timeline, so you should demonstrate a clear and practical link between your capability plans and the timeframe for creating and achieving that impact.

Link between Capability Plan and growing your impact

Your Capability Plan should directly contribute to your enterprise’s plans to grow your impact. Clearly describe what you plan to do, how you plan to grow your impact and what the expected outcome/s will be.

For example, the development of a social impact framework will define the intended impacts of your enterprise’s activities, your theory of change through which impact will be created, and establish valid and reliable indicators to measure progress.

Application process

There are five steps in applying for a SEDI First Nations Grant:

Step 1 Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI)

Complete the online EOI questionnaire to register your interest in applying for a SEDI First Nations Grant and assess your eligibility.

Step 2 Phone call with the SEDI First Nations Grants Team

Once your EOI is submitted, you will be invited to book a phone call with a SEDI First Nations Grants Team member to discuss your grant eligibility and for you to ask questions about the application process.

Step 3 Submit your grant application (upon invitation)

If your enterprise is deemed eligible, you will be invited to complete and submit an online grant application for assessment by the SEDI First Nations Grants Assessment Panel.

Step 4 Interview with the Assessment Panel (upon invitation)

Shortlisted grant applicants will be invited to participate in an interview with the Assessment Panel.

Step 5 Grant outcome

Applicants will be contacted after the interview to let them know the outcome of their application.

Expression of Interest (EOI)

First Nations social enterprises that believe they qualify for a SEDI First Nations Grant and have not previously applied must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI is used to assess your eligibility to apply for a grant.

Phone call (after submitting an EOI)

Once your EOI is successfully submitted, you will be prompted to book a phone call with a member of the SEDI First Nations Grants Team. The purpose of the call is to discuss your enterprise’s eligibility against the grant criteria and give you an opportunity to ask questions about the grant process.

Grant application

If your enterprise is deemed eligible, an online grant application form will be shared with you to complete and submit for assessment by the SEDI First Nations Grants Assessment Panel.

Interview with the Assessment Panel (shortlisted applicants only)

Grant applications are assessed by the SEDI First Nations Grants Assessment Panel. The Panel includes First Nations expertise and perspectives, so that your application is assessed by people who understand the context in which First Nations social enterprises operate.

Once applications have been assessed, shortlisted grant applicants will be invited to participate in an online interview with the Assessment Panel.

Grant outcome

Following the interview with the SEDI First Nations Assessment Panel, applicants will be contacted by the SEDI First Nations Grants Team to advise the outcome of their grant application.

Previous SEDI Grant recipients and applicants

First Nations social enterprises that have previously been awarded a SEDI Grant, or that submitted a grant application and were unsuccessful, do not need to submit a new Expression of Interest.

If you wish to reapply, email the SEDI First Nations Grants Team at SEDIGrants@impactinvestingaustralia.com with your organisation’s name and the name and email address of the person who will be completing the grant application. This can be the original applicant or someone new at your organisation.

Please note that the nominated person will need to have an existing Good Grants account or register for one before access to your previous grant application can be transferred to them. Once set up, they will be able to log in to the portal and update the grant application to reflect any changes to your enterprise and plans, before resubmitting.

Application timeframe

The SEDI First Nations Grant applications are considered on a rolling basis, so you are welcome to resubmit your grant application at any time. Your application will then be assessed at an upcoming SEDI First Nations Grants Assessment Panel meeting.

We anticipate the SEDI First Nations Grant applications will remain open through to early 2027.

Assessment criteria

Recommendations to award a grant are made by the SEDI First Nations Grants Assessment Panel. Panel decisions are informed by the assessment of the grant application and an interview with the applicant.

The Panel will consider a range of factors in determining whether to award a grant, including:

• Does the social enterprise meet the grant eligibility criteria? (See: Who can apply?)
• Will the capability services proposed (the Capability Plan) effectively and efficiently enable the enterprise to grow its impact?
• What is the likely additional impact of the enterprise’s plans on First Nations people, families and communities, compared to them not receiving the grant?
• Will the enterprise be able to manage the grant project (i.e. implementing the capability services) and associated finances?
• Will the grant assist in developing the First Nations social enterprise and social impact investing ecosystem?

More information

If you have questions at any stage, please contact the SEDI First Nations Grants Team:

Email: SEDIGrants@impactinvestingaustralia.com