Ignite Pride Grants are to empower our community to do what it does best: support each other.

These grants are perfect for local or place-based organisations, groups or projects that work directly with LGBTQIA+ people and communities. We also welcome applications for projects or activities with state, territory or national focus or that address systemic issues or gaps.

Grants are between $5,000 and $20,000. The total pool will fund approximately 8-10 grant partners.

To be eligible for an Ignite Pride grant, applicants must:

• be an Australian charity registered with the ACNC (or auspiced by an Australian charity registered with the ACNC)

• be an organisation and/or project based in Australia for the benefit of LGBTQIA+ people in Australia

• be specifically working with and led by LGBTQIA+ people and communities

You do not need to be endorsed DGR1 to be eligible for an Ignite Pride grant.

All out grants are:

• Guided by our evidence base: Where are the Rainbow Resources?

• Underpinned by our Funding Principles, and

• Understood in the context of our Theory of Change.

This means we prioritise:

• Organisations or initiatives that are led by and/or substantially include those with lived experience of the relevant target population in design and decision making

• Activities which build the capacity of organisations or initiatives to be more effective beyond the lifetime of the grant

• Organisations and initiatives that face barriers to access other funding sources

• Organisations and initiatives that support underrepresented populations including but not limited to:

  • LGBTQIA+ Brotherboys and Sistergirls, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

  • Trans and gender diverse communities (including specific grant from Pride Foundation Australia to support organisations challenging discrimination and violence, and promoting human rights and justice in trans and gender diverse communities)

  • People with variations in sex characteristics, also known as intersex people

  • LGBTQIA+ people who face compounding disadvantage due to multiple marginalised identities —including people with disability, people of faith, people of colour and those who are ethnically or racially marginalised.

  • LGBTQIA+ people who are geographically isolated or whose access to community and services is limited by where they live, including those in rural, regional, and remote communities.

  • LGBTQIA+ people experiencing economic hardship—including those experiencing poverty, financial hardship, and housing insecurity or homelessness

  • LGBTQIA+ people who face social exclusion and/or systemic barriers in services and institutions—including young people, older people, sex workers, people in contact with or formerly involved in the justice system, forcibly displaced people or on temporary visa and those who are disconnected from traditional community or support networks.

What can you apply for?

Ignite Pride Grants are one-off grants between $5,000 and $20,000. We accept two types of applications:

1 · Projects or activities

Ignite Pride Grants can be used for specific activities, projects or programs. Eligible projects must:

• have a clear start and end date; OR

• have sufficient current or future funding to maintain continuity beyond an Ignite Pride grant (for ongoing programs).

2 · Operational expenses or core costs

We know that many LGBTQIA+ organisations struggle to source funding that cover the true operational costs for delivering projects, programs or services. Ignite Pride Grants can be used for organisational infrastructure and development including (but not limited to): - equipment and resources - professional development or training - professional fees or consultants - venue hire - salaries and wages - fundraising and development activities (including merchandise) - promotional materials or resources

What won’t we fund

• Retrospective activities

• Activities or programs where ongoing, sustainable funding is unlikely or unclear (for ongoing programs)

• Partisan and/or other non-charitable activities

• Promotion of political parties or lobby groups

• Mainstream (i.e. non LGBTQIA+ specific) organisations which could reasonably be expected to fund proposed activities from its own resources or other sources

• Medium or large LGBTQIA+ organisations that have access to sustainable funding streams and the organisational capacity to pursue them

• Applicants who are sole traders or private companies, even with an eligible auspicor, unless exceptional circumstances (e.g. the applicant is in the process of changing entity types)

While we recognise that no LGBTQIA+ organisation is truly well-funded, Ignite Pride is designed to direct funding toward smaller organisations and grassroots initiatives that face the greatest barriers to accessing funding elsewhere. For this reason, we are unlikely to fund mainstream (non-LGBTQIA+ specific) organisations that could reasonably fund proposed activities from their own resources or other sources, or medium and large LGBTQIA+ organisations that have access to sustainable funding streams—including those with established fundraising programs, significant reserves, or substantial grant income from multiple funders.

About the application process

Rainbow Giving Australia’s Ignite Pride grant round is conducted in two stages:

1 · Expression of Interest (EOI)

This is a short form to provide preliminary information about your application. EOI are then shortlisted based on eligibility and grant program alignment.

2 · Full Proposal

Shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a full application.

Timeline

• EOI open: 29 June

• EOI close: 3 August

• Shortlist notified: 7 September

• Full applications open: 18 September

• Full application close: 9 November

• Applicants notified: 4 December

About the assessment process

This grant round, Rainbow Giving Australia is piloting a new Community Assessment Panel (CAP) model for reviewing applications. We believe that funding decisions are stronger when they are informed by diverse community perspectives rather than made by a small group of people alone. The CAP brings together Rainbow Giving Australia Board members, representatives from funders contributing to the grant pool, and broader community members to assess applications collectively, helping to ensure the process is fair, transparent and reflective of the communities we serve.

All CAP members identify as LGBTQIA+ and bring a range of professional experience across areas including arts, grant making, fundraising, program delivery, community engagement, organisational development, leadership and advocacy.

As this is a pilot, we will be reviewing and refining the model after this grant round. We welcome feedback from applicants on their experience of the process.

Assessment Criteria

• Eligibility: Does the applicant and proposed use of funds qualify for RGA funding?

• Alignment: How strongly does the work align with the grant criteria?

• Capacity: Do the people doing the work have the expertise and/or lived experience to deliver the work effectively? Will the funding increase the capacity and/or capability of the organisation to be more effecting or sustainable?

• Strategy and impact:

  • (If applying for projects and activities): Is there a clear connection between the activities, outcomes and ultimate benefit to LGBTQIA+ communities?

  • (If applying for operational costs): Is there a clear connection between the operational needs being funded, the organisation's ability to deliver its work, and the ultimate benefit to LGBTQIA+ communities?

• Time and cost: Are the budget and timeframes appropriate? Do they have the capacity to deliver as planned?

Need help?

Please contact info@rainbowgiving.org.au if you have questions about the grant program or application process. If you need support submitting an application, don’t hesitate to get in touch!