Grants of $2,000 to $20,000 to help New South Wales grassroots sporting clubs increase participation, improve inclusion, strengthen capability and upgrade or repair sporting facilities.
On this page you will find
What is the Local Sport Grant Program?
The Local Sport Grant Program supports incorporated, not-for-profit grassroots sport clubs and associations whose primary focus is to organise sporting activities; deliver on-going sporting programs; and/or develop member’s skills.
The Program is open and competitive. All funded projects must be delivered in NSW and completed by June 2028.
Local Sport Grant Program level of support
- Minimum grant amount: $2,000
- Maximum grant amount: $20,000
- Maximum funding per organisation: $20,000 across all successful applications
- Funding available per NSW electorate: Up to $50,000
- Total funding available: Up to $4.65 million
Eligible organisations may submit multiple applications. However, the maximum total funding that can be awarded to one organisation is $20,000.
Organisations submitting more than one application must prioritise their proposed projects. This prioritisation may be considered when funding allocations are determined.
Applicants must provide the location where the project will be delivered, such as the club’s training ground or sporting facility. The application will be assessed within the NSW electorate covering that location.
Any unallocated funding from undersubscribed electorates will not be transferred to oversubscribed electorates and will instead be retained by the Office of Sport.
Co-contribution
- A financial co-contribution is not mandatory.
- Applicants or supporting organisations, including Local Government Authorities, may contribute financially to the project.
- Funding received from another NSW Government grant program cannot be used as a co-contribution toward a project funded through the Local Sport Grant Program.
- The value of in-kind support cannot be counted as a financial co-contribution.
Local Sport Grant Program important dates
- Applications close: 1:00 pm AEST, Monday, 24 August 2026
- Expected application outcomes: December 2026
- Funding agreement execution: Within two weeks of notification
- Project completion deadline: By June 2028
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Local Sport Grant Program objectives
The specific objectives of the Program are to:
- Increase regular participation and support ongoing retention in sport by enabling clubs to provide quality experiences to their members
- Reduce barriers and improve access to participation in sport
- Provide safe and inclusive opportunities for underrepresented groups, including females, multicultural people, people with disability, First Nations people and members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Improve the financial sustainability and governance capability of community-level sporting clubs
- Improve the quality, adaptability and environmental sustainability of sporting facilities in NSW
Projects and expenditure eligible for Local Sport Grant Program support
Eligible projects must:
- Be delivered in NSW
- Be completed by June 2028
- Relate to an eligible sport listed in Appendix A of the Program Guidelines
- Contribute to quality sporting experiences, improve access to sporting events by reducing barriers to participation, or create, upgrade or repair sporting facilities
Eligible projects may fall within the following categories.
1. Projects that contribute to quality sporting experiences
Examples include:
- Training programs that help volunteer coaches, officials and club administrators obtain required education or accreditation
- Projects that improve a club’s capability, community presence or communication with existing and potential participants
- Developing or upgrading a club website
- Developing a club strategic plan
- Promotional materials or activities designed to increase registrations
- Online promotions or the development of a communications plan
- New programs that increase the interest, participation or skill level of community members
- Come-and-try days
- Engaging a specialist skills coach for a one-off event
- Purchasing equipment or uniforms required to train or participate in the sport
- Purchasing technology directly related to delivering the sport, including microphones, speakers, video technology or umpire technology
Coach wages and venue hire may be eligible where they relate directly to a new program. They are not eligible as ongoing operational costs for existing programs.
Subscription costs for eligible video technology may be funded for the first year only.
2. Projects that improve access to sporting events by reducing barriers to participation
Examples include:
- Community sporting events or tournaments that promote participation in organised sport
- Exhibition sporting matches
- All-abilities gala days
- Regional or state championships
- Events hosted by regional clubs that attract visitors and tourists
- Subsidised event registration for teams attending a one-off competition within NSW
- Subsidised transport costs for teams travelling from rural or remote areas to a competition more than 100 kilometres from their home ground
- Transport and accommodation costs for an Australian-based specialist coach travelling to a rural or remote area
The proposed event date and location must be included in the application.
Events scheduled before January 2027 are ineligible.
Regular weekly or monthly sporting competitions and activities are not considered eligible one-off events.
Interstate travel will only be considered for clubs located close to a state border where access to suitable competition is not reasonably available within NSW.
3. Projects that create, upgrade or repair sporting facilities
Examples include:
- Universally designed amenities
- Accessibility upgrades
- Canteen upgrades
- Watering systems
- Solar panels
- Safety netting
- Lighting
- Installed electronic scoreboards
- Playing surface upgrades
- Sun protection shelters
- Goals or goal posts
- Grandstands
- Permanent equipment directly related to delivering the sport, including line markers and non-fixed scoreboards
Projects involving permanent infrastructure should provide:
- Landowner consent
- Development Approval, where required, or evidence that Development Approval is not required
Ineligible expenditure
Ineligible project types and project costs include:
- Staff or coach wages for existing programs
- Regular venue hire
- Ongoing administration and operational costs
- Office furniture, televisions, computers, iPads, printers, photocopiers and other office equipment
- Annual subscriptions and memberships, except for the first year of eligible video technology subscriptions
- Subsidised player registrations for regular weekly or monthly competitions
- Accommodation, food, catering and travel, except where specifically permitted for regional travel or specialist coach travel
- Appearance fees
- Gifts
- Prize money
- Trophies, medals and trophy cabinets
- Projects that have already started
- Purchases completed before the application is submitted
- Events scheduled before January 2027
- Presentation days
- Annual general meetings
- Celebrations and social functions
- Entertainment
- Medical equipment, including defibrillators and first aid kits
- Private or commercial ventures
- Fundraising events, including charity fundraising events
- Individual scholarships and sponsorships
- Insurance costs
- Purchase or rental of land or premises
- Vehicles that require registration
- Costs associated with preparing and submitting the application
- Feasibility studies
- Business cases
- Masterplans
- Design or development-stage costs
- Projects located outside NSW
- Activities or events conducted for schools
- Projects or project components already funded by the NSW Government
Applicants should not include ineligible costs in the project budget. Assessors may remove ineligible items from the requested funding amount at their discretion.
Other Local Sport Grant Program important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Local Sport Grant Program support
To be eligible, an applicant must be a not-for-profit grassroots sporting club or sports association whose primary focus is to:
- Organise regular sporting activities
- Deliver ongoing sporting programs
- Develop members’ sporting skills
A sporting club associated with a licensed organisation may also apply where the project directly benefits the sport rather than the administration of the licensed club or upgrades to the licensed premises.
Applicants must also:
- Be affiliated with a recognised State Sporting Organisation or State Sporting Organisation for people with Disability listed in Appendix A of the Program Guidelines
- Apply for a project involving an eligible sport listed in Appendix A
- Deliver the project in NSW
- Submit the application through SmartyGrants
- Declare that, if successful, the organisation will provide evidence of Public Liability Insurance with a minimum cover of $5 million
Eligible applicants must be one of the following incorporated entity types:
- An incorporated association registered with NSW Fair Trading
- A trust registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
- A non-distributing cooperative registered with NSW Fair Trading
- An Australian public company limited by guarantee
- An Indigenous corporation registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations
Organisations with outstanding reporting requirements from previous Office of Sport grant programs may be deemed ineligible.
Applicants that do not meet the eligibility requirements may be able to partner with an eligible organisation. The eligible organisation must act as the applicant and submit the application.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Individuals and groups of individuals
- Unincorporated organisations
- Incorporated not-for-profit organisations that are not affiliated with a recognised State Sporting Organisation or State Sporting Organisation for people with Disability
- For-profit organisations
- PCYCs
- YMCA organisations
- Scouts
- Girl Guides
- Surf Life Saving Clubs or Branches
- Parents and Citizens Associations
- Private enterprises
- Government departments and agencies
- Local Government Authorities
- Local Government Committees
- Schools
- Universities
- TAFE colleges
- Childcare centres
- The NSW Institute of Sport
- State Sporting Organisations
- The Australian Sports Commission
- The Australian Institute of Sport
- National Sporting Organisations
- NSW Regional Academies of Sport
- Community or religious organisations that are not affiliated with a recognised State Sporting Organisation or State Sporting Organisation for people with Disability
Organisations named by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse as having not joined or indicated an intention not to join the Scheme are also ineligible.
Local Sport Grant Program assessment criteria
Applications will first undergo an eligibility check before progressing to merit assessment.
Members of Parliament for the electorate in which the project is located, or their delegate, will assess eligible applications against the following criteria.
1. Strategic Justification — 30%
Applicants must explain how the project addresses at least one of the Program’s objectives:
- Increasing regular participation and supporting ongoing retention
- Reducing barriers and improving access to sport
- Providing safe and inclusive opportunities for underrepresented groups
- Improving club financial sustainability and governance capability
- Improving the quality, adaptability or environmental sustainability of sporting facilities
2. Project Scope and Deliverables — 25%
Applicants should:
- Clearly describe the project
- Identify the key deliverables and outputs
- Demonstrate that the project responds to an identifiable community need
3. Project Value for Money — 25%
Applicants should provide:
- A clear and itemised project budget
- Supporting cost evidence, including current quotes
- Evidence that the proposed costs are reasonable and directly related to the project
4. Project Deliverability and Applicant Capability — 20%
Applicants should:
- Provide a project plan identifying key milestones
- Include a realistic delivery timeline aligned with the grant timeframe
- Demonstrate experience delivering projects of a similar size or nature
- Explain how project risks will be managed
- For infrastructure projects, provide Development Approval or evidence that approval is not required
- For infrastructure projects, provide evidence of landowner consent
Only applications that meet the minimum assessment requirements will be recommended for funding.
The Office of Sport may apply a minimum score to one or more criteria.
The Minister for Sport will make the final funding decisions.
Applicants should also note that partial funding may be offered. The application will require applicants to identify and prioritise project components that could proceed if the full amount requested is not awarded.
How do I get the Local Sport Grant Program?
To increase their chances of success, applicants should clearly demonstrate:
- Strong alignment with the Program objectives, including how the project will increase participation and retention, reduce barriers, improve inclusion, strengthen club capability or improve sporting facilities.
- A clearly identified community need, supported by evidence such as consultation findings, member feedback, participation data, surveys or letters of support.
- A well-defined project scope, with clear activities, deliverables and measurable outcomes.
- A realistic project plan, including key milestones, responsibilities and a delivery timeline that allows the project to be completed by June 2028.
- Strong organisational capability, including relevant experience delivering similar projects and the ability to manage project risks.
- Value for money, supported by a clear, itemised budget and current quotes that match the proposed scope.
- Project readiness, including relevant approvals, landowner consent and Development Approval or exemption evidence for infrastructure projects.
- Evidence of consultation and collaboration, showing that the project has support from members, users, community partners or other stakeholders.
- A clear explanation of who will benefit, how many people are expected to participate and how the project will improve access or sporting experiences.
- The ability to proceed if partial funding is offered, with priority project components clearly identified.
- Complete and accurate supporting documentation, with all mandatory documents submitted through SmartyGrants before the closing deadline.
Only applications that satisfy the eligibility requirements and meet the minimum assessment standards will be considered for funding.
Information to prepare for the Local Sport Grant Program application
Applicants should prepare the following mandatory and supporting documentation.
1. Mandatory documentation
A. Project budget
Provide a clear, itemised project budget that matches the proposed scope of works and project deliverables.
B. Project cost evidence
Provide quotes that:
- Are no more than six months old
- Match the project scope and deliverables
- Are provided in Australian dollars
- Clearly identify the GST component
Providing more than one quote is highly desirable.
Applications without accurate supporting cost evidence may receive a lower assessment score.
C. Confirmation of financial co-contributions
Where a financial co-contribution is proposed, provide evidence confirming each source.
This may include:
- A letter from an authorised officer confirming the committed amount
- Current bank statements showing that the organisation holds the committed funds
- A funding letter or agreement where the contribution is being provided by another government department
D. Project plan
Provide a clear project plan identifying:
- Key milestones
- Forecast delivery dates
- The organisation’s ability to complete the project within the required timeframe
E. Public Liability Insurance
Successful applicants must provide a current certificate of currency demonstrating Public Liability Insurance cover of at least $5 million before entering into a funding agreement.
2. Highly desired supporting documentation
Applicants should also provide, where relevant:
- Landowner consent using the Office of Sport template
- Development Approval
- Written evidence that Development Approval is not required
- Evidence that a Development Application has been submitted
- Letters of support from organisations that will support or benefit from the project
- Evidence of community and end-user consultation
- Community consultation reports
- Meeting minutes
- Survey results
- Online feedback
- Photographs showing the existing condition of facilities or equipment
The quality and relevance of highly desired supporting documentation may strengthen the application.
Applying for the Local Sport Grant Program
Applications must be submitted online through the SmartyGrants platform.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Local Sport Grant Program resources
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