Overview
The Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI) First Nations capability building Grants provide support for First Nations enterprises to strengthen their capability, expand their operations and increase their social and economic impact.
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and delivered by Impact Investing Australia in partnership with Malu Pty Ltd, SEDI First Nations Grants recognise the important role First Nations enterprises play in creating employment, building economic participation and delivering positive outcomes for communities.
Grants are valued at between $50,000 and $120,000 each. Grant funds are to be used to purchase capability services from Capability Providers and other businesses, such as financial services, evaluation and impact measurement, business consulting and legal advice. Up to 20% of grant funds can be used to cover internal costs that are necessary to purchase these services.
The grants support First Nations enterprises that are trading Indigenous owned or controlled enterprises across all states and territories that are delivering services to improve social and economic outcomes for First Nations communities and Australians in a range of social outcome areas, including: employment and education. View full list of the DSS outcome areas for the SEDI First Nations Grants.
Grant eligibility
An eligible SEDI First Nations Grant applicant:
Is an Indigenous community-controlled organisation: an organisation that is at least 51% Indigenous owned and controlled, incorporated and not-for-profit
or
Is an owned and operated Indigenous organisation: an organisation that is at least 51% Indigenous owned and controlled
or
‘Other’ Indigenous organisation: an organisation that is at least 50% Indigenous owned or controlled.
Note: If your organisation does not fit one of the above definitions, you are considered a non-Indigenous organisation and not eligible to apply for a SEDI First Nations Grant. You may be eligible for a SEDI grant. Learn more about the SEDI Grants program.
- Is a First Nations social enterprise defined as a trading Indigenous owned or controlled organisation with a social benefit. This may include, but is not limited to:
- Profit is utilised for its defined key purpose, that includes social, cultural, environmental or community benefit and change
- Invests efforts and resources into their purpose
- Creates employment and training opportunities for First Nations people
- Delivers products and services to meet community needs
- Profit re-distribution where some profits or revenue are re-invested into a community benefit
- Is owned and operated in Australia with beneficiaries who primarily reside in Australia.
- Has a business model that includes entrepreneurial or commercial trade activity. This may include an ‘entrepreneurial business’ or new revenue stream within an existing organisation, as long as it meets the trade revenue requirements (see description of trading revenue further below).
- Has progressed beyond the startup phase. This means you are already trading and are able to meet the annual trade revenue requirement. If your enterprise is a new revenue stream within an existing organisation, you must be able to show how the enterprise enables you to scale your impact in an approved outcome area and/or diversify your commercial revenue.
- Is seeking capability building support to scale impact in one or more of the approved outcome areas (see next point). Scale means to substantially increase the impact your enterprise delivers. This might mean increasing the number of beneficiaries your enterprise can reach (wide), or better supporting the needs of your enterprise’s existing beneficiaries (deep). Please read the Department of Social Services’ outcome areas for information on the approved outcome areas.
- Has a revenue that exceeds $50,000 and a trading revenue that exceeds $35,000 per year. Trading revenue is considered as income derived from the sale of goods or services to different customers in a repeatable way. Trading revenue does not include donations, philanthropic grants, gifts or short-term government grants. Government contracts awarded through competitive tenders or procurements can be considered as trade.
Notes
Guide to different forms of trading revenue:
- Government-funded service delivery contracts (where an enterprise is engaged to deliver a defined service in exchange for payment) may be considered as trade income. In these circumstances, the enterprise’s Capability Plan must explain how the grant will enable the enterprise to deliver significant additional impact into the community.
- Where trading revenue makes up less than 50% of all revenue, the enterprise’s Capability Plan must include activities that aim to substantially grow the trade element over time. This does not include winning more government contracts.
- Where a high proportion of trading revenue comes from a single customer, the enterprise’s Capability Plan must include steps to diversify its income base or clearly demonstrate how the grant will strengthen the enterprise’s overall resilience.
Learn more about how trading revenue applies to the SEDI First Nations Grants program.
- This is a competitive grants process. Meeting all the eligibility criteria is not a guarantee of being awarded a SEDI First Nations Grant.
- The grant value will not exceed total annual revenue (i.e. if your total revenue is $75,000, the maximum grant that can be awarded is $75,000).
Grant process
1. Submit an Expression of Interest
First Nations Enterprises that believe they qualify for a SEDI First Nations Grant (as outlined in the eligibility criteria above) must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). This involves answering an online questionnaire (link below).
2. Phone call (after submitting an EOI)
Once an EOI is successfully submitted, the SEDI First Nations Grant applicant will be prompted to book a phone call with a SEDI First Nations Team member from Impact Investing Australia (IIA) – the SEDI First Nations Grant administrator.
3. Invitation to submit a grant application (after phone call with IIA)
After a phone call with an IIA team member, and if the meets the eligibility criteria, they will then be invited to submit a grant application.
One application, two grant programs
We will assess your application for both the SEDI First Nations Grants program and the SEDI Grants program. If we determine that the other program is a better fit for your organisation, we will transfer your application. In some cases, this decision may be made after the review by the Assessment Panel.
This process helps make sure every First Nations enterprise is considered for the grant program that gives them the best chance of success.
You only need to submit one grant application.
An organisation can only receive one grant – either a SEDI First Nations Grant or a SEDI Grant.
Learn more about the SEDI Grants program.
Timeframe
The SEDI First Nations Grant applications are considered on a rolling basis, so you are welcome to submit 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.
Education and mentoring
Complementing the SEDI Grants and SEDI First Nations Grants is a whole-of-sector education and mentoring support system. This includes Understorey, an online tool to help social enterprises navigate the sector and to learn, exchange and contribute to a better future. Understorey brings together learning communities and leading practice resources. It is targeted at those in or interested in the social enterprise sector, aiming to feed curiosity, offer practical solutions, and inspire new possibilities for the future. Social Enterprise Australia is the steward and coordinator of Understorey.
SEDI Grants Scam Alert
The Department of Social Services (DSS) received reports of an email scam where a scammer, posing as a representative of DSS, emailed members of the public offering a $120,000 grant under the Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI) program. The scammer requested the victim’s contact details, and then sent a false ‘grant certificate’ to notify them they have been selected, which included a falsified signature of a senior department officer. To gain access to the payment, victims were told they needed to pay a $250 fee to unlock a debit card.
What to do if you are contacted by a scam attempt
DSS does not contact members of the public through social media or email to offer grant opportunities. Legitimate grants will never require the recipient to pay a fee to access the amounts, and debit cards are not used to disburse grant payments. If you are contacted by one of these scam attempts, do not provide any personal or financial information. You can report it to DSS via contact details on their website or contact: fraud@dss.gov.au.
Feedback
We value all forms of feedback (positive or negative). Read our feedback policy and find out how to contact us with feedback on Impact Investing Australia and our activities (including SEDI Grants and SEDI First Nations Grants).
Capability Providers
Capability Providers deliver capability building services that help First Nations social enterprises strengthen their operations, build capability and grow their impact.
Complete Business Solutions is an Indigenous-owned, controlled and managed company that helps businesses improve efficiency, compliance and growth by addressing common business pain points
Crenellate is a 100% Indigenous-owned consultancy helping First Nations organisations strengthen strategy, leadership, governance and operating capability as they grow
Esparq Ventures is an Indigenous-owned and led non-profit business supporting early-stage Indigenous social enterprises to scale their impact
First Nations Worthwhile Ventures empowers First Nations people and enterprises that generate positive impact for First Nation communities
Hale Tass Business Solutions is a First Nations and women-led business providing practical capability building support to small businesses strengthening financial management, business systems and operations to support sustainable growth
Malya Consultants is a 100% Aboriginal-owned advisory practice that supports First Nations enterprises to strengthen governance, strategy, organisational capability, cultural governance, impact measurement, operational systems and implementation readiness
Pilotage Consulting is an Indigenous-owned and led consultancy that helps organisations navigate complex systems through research and policy analysis. They also help individuals navigate careers through CV, application and interview support
Violet Co Legal & Consulting works with businesses and organisations wanting to make a positive impact with and for women and Indigenous peoples
White Gum Mediation and Law helps Traditional Owner corporations, government and industry structure land access, native title and cultural heritage agreements that deliver lasting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders economic development outcomes
If you are a First Nations Capability Provider and would like to be included on this list, please contact us at enquiries@impactinvestingaustralia.com with:
- a link to your website
- a brief overview of your organisation, including a short one-line description for publication on our website
Impact incubators and accelerators
Impact incubators and accelerators support social enterprises and purpose-driven startups to develop their business, strengthen capability and prepare for future impact investment.
A list of incubators and accelerators relevant to SEDI First Nations will be available soon.
Note: There are no ‘approved’ SEDI First Nations Grant Capability Providers. The Capability Providers listed have not been accredited by IIA. We recommend you conduct thorough research to determine the suitability of a Capability Provider for your needs. The cost of services is dependent on an organisation’s complexity, capability and what services are required. In procuring any services the First Nations social enterprise and the Capability Provider should ensure they have a common understanding of what work is involved, what will be delivered, how much time it will take and what the risks are (e.g. unknown information).
Growth Grants and Resilience Grants
The following organisations were awarded an Impact Investment Ready Growth Grant or a Resilience Grant between 2015 and 2023.
