Expression of Interest

All grant requests over $50,000 require an Expression of Interest (EOI) Form to be completed via our online portal during the enquiry period.

Please note the following:

1. Each grant round has a dedicated online EOI Form, which is only accessible when the enquiry period for the relevant grant is open. Grants rounds close at 12pm lunchtime on the final day. Check Grant rounds for detail on the opening and closing dates.
2. Before you submit an EOI, please check your eligibility against the criteria listed below. As part of our standard due diligence process, only EOIs from organisations and projects that meet all our eligibility requirements will be accepted for consideration.

Please check the following before proceeding to complete the questionnaire:

1. Read all the information in the How We Grant section of our website to make sure you are eligible and that your project strongly aligns with our grants strategy and areas of interest. Requests for projects and activities that do not align with our strategy will not be considered for funding.
2. Read all the information in the Applying for a grant section, which includes sample application forms and budget templates.

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Commence the EOI process for Major Grants and Special Interest Grants by completing the questionnaire below. Please note that the EOI form is only accessible when the enquiry period is open.

Individuals are NOT eligible to apply.

Charity Status
Your organisation must be a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Check on the ACNC website if you are not sure.

Is your organisation a registered Charity?

If your organisation is NOT registered, you are ineligible for funding by HMSTrust. Do not proceed further.

Victorian Head Office

Your organisation must be based in Victoria for it to be eligible for HMSTrust funding.

Is your organisation either:

• a charity based in Victoria and operating solely within Victoria; or
• a charity operating both inside and outside Victoria, with its head office in Victoria?

If your answer to both of these questions is NO, you are ineligible for funding by HMSTrust. Do not proceed further.

Project Eligibility

HMSTrust can only fund Victorian projects.

Will your project be undertaken solely in Victoria for the benefit of Victoria?

If your answer is NO, you are ineligible for funding by HMSTrust. Do not proceed further.

Project Exclusions

Do any of the specified categories listed below apply to your project?

• Applications submitted by an auspice⁽¹⁾  organisation;
• Maintenance of an established program;
• Retrospective funding for projects that have already started or taken place;
• Deficit funding or organisations with a potentially negative equity position;
• General fundraising appeals;
• Infrastructure projects and service programs considered to be government responsibility at a Federal, State or Local Government level;
• Promotion of religion;
• School building projects, unless the project is used for wider community benefit; and
• Political organisations.

⁽¹⁾Auspicing refers to the practice of an ineligible organisation (one that it not a charity) applying to HMSTrust via an eligible organisation which acts as the auspice. Auspicing arrangements are excluded under HMSTrust’s guidelines. The organisation applying to HMSTrust must be the organisation that will run the project or program for which a grant is being sought.

If you answered YES to any of the above, you are ineligible for funding by HMSTrust. Do not proceed further.

Limitations

There are limitations on the number and frequency of grant applications that can be submitted by any one organisation:

• Only one application per organisation within any 12-month period
• Only one grant at a time (universities are excepted; see below for details);
• Existing grants need to be successfully acquitted at least three months before a new application is submitted (universities are excepted; see below for details)
• An applicant cannot reapply for a previously declined project except by invitation
• Previously funded pilot projects may be considered for further funding only by invitation following discussion with Grants staff
• Organisations that are a party (other than the lead applicant) to a collaborative partnership application may also apply for a grant in their own right.

University Limitations

There are limitations on the number and frequency of grant applications that can be submitted by any one University:

• Victorian universities may submit one application per grant round
• A university may have up to two active grants at the time of submitting a new application
• The application must be submitted via the university’s Advancement Office or equivalent

Have you read and understood all of the above specified limitations?

As part of our standard due diligence process, only EOIs from organisations for projects that meet ALL our eligibility requirements will be accepted for consideration.

If your organisation and project complies with our Eligibility requirements, you may proceed to the EOI form.  Note: The form is only accessible when the enquiry period for the relevant grant is open.