The Social Justice Small Grants program is now closed.
⇒ Download the Application Form Social Justice Small Grants 2024
⇒ Download the CRITERIA for Social Justice Small Grants 2024
Applications closed 11 March 2024.
The Mercy Foundation’s Social Justice Small Grants Program provides seed funding to assist communities and organisations to build capacity that will help create structural change and bring about greater social justice in Australia.
Funding under this program ranges between $1,000 to $10,000 per organisation.
Safeguarding
All grant recipients are required to have a Safeguarding Policy. The Mercy Foundation will not enter a grant agreement or provide funding without the provision of a satisfactory Safeguarding Policy. More information about Safeguarding and a template for the policy is available from the ACNC website.
The Social Justice Small Grants program is only available to NOT FOR PROFIT organisations. This program does not fund individuals or for-profit organisations. If the applicant has no legal status, an agency that does have legal status (non profit) can be asked to auspice the project and hold any grant monies on behalf of the applicant. Click here for the definition of a not-for-profit organisation.
Priority will be given to small organisations and those groups that receive no other funding. The Social Justice Small Grants Program funds projects within Australia only.
We strongly recommend that you carefully read the downloadable application form that details all information about funding priorities for this year and all eligibility criteria. If you are unsure if you are eligible or would like to discuss your application please phone the Foundation on 02 9911 7390.
The Foundation will respond to small grant requests within 12 weeks of the closing date. The Foundation seeks to minimise paperwork and reporting mechanisms for this program.
Small grants will initially be assessed by the Foundation staff and final recommendations will be made by the Grants Sub-Committee of the Board of the Mercy Foundation.
The Social Justice Small Grants Program prioritises projects that tackle poverty and disadvantage in local communities across Australia.
Priority may also be given to projects that target disadvantaged women and/or women with children, regardless of the annual social justice focus.
Funding Terms
Organisations that are successful will be notified as soon as possible and 50% of the funding provided upon confirmation. The final 50% will be provided following a brief report on the outcomes of the project. If the organisation requires alternative funding arrangements, the payment of the funds should be discussed with Mercy Foundation staff and may be varied accordingly.
A Progress Report is due 6 months after project commencement. The Mercy Foundation will provide templates for the Progress Report and Final Report.
