Bendigo Family & Financial Services
Program: Community
Empowering people to develop financial literacy and independence
Application Gateway
All applicants are required to talk to us before commencing an application. We take enquiries all year round.
The questionnaire below checks your eligibility to receive funding from HMSTrust and is the gateway to the online application form.
The online application form is only accessible when grant rounds are open. Grants rounds close at 12pm lunchtime on the final day.
Please note that applications for Round 3 Grants ($91,000-$200,000) require an access code in order to commence the online application form. The access code is provided by HMSTrust Grants staff following discussion about your project. The application form for this grants level will NOT open without this password. This is not the same password as your personal My Account password.
Please check the following before proceeding to complete the questionnaire:
- Read all the information in the Applying for a grant section, which includes sample application forms and budget templates.
- Check Grant rounds for detail on the opening and closing dates for applications.
- If your project fits to our areas of interest and funding criteria, please contact HMSTrust via an initial brief email enquiry to discuss your project. All applicants are required to talk to our Grants team before commencing an application. A team member will contact you once we have received your email enquiry.
Once you have confirmation from a member of our Grants team that your organisation is eligible for funding by HMSTrust and that your project meets the Trust’s funding criteria, you can commence the application process by completing the questionnaire below. You must provide an answer to all seven questions. (Please note, applicants for grants over $90,000 must also have been given an access code.)
Individuals are NOT eligible to apply.
1. Charity Status
Your organisation must be a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).
Is your organisation a registered Charity?
Please enter your organisation’s ABN (Australian Business Number) below to confirm you are registered with the ACNC as a Charity. Use the ABN Lookup if you are not sure of your ABN.
2. Victorian Head Office
Your organisation must be based in Victoria for it to be eligible for HMSTrust funding.
Is your organisation:
- 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 is No, you are ineligible for funding by HMSTrust.
3. 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.
4. Project Exclusions
Do any of the specified categories apply to your project?
HMSTrust will not consider funding projects that fall within any of the categories listed below:
- Applications submitted by an auspice 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;
- Conferences and seminars;
- Political organisations;
- School building projects, unless the project is used for wider community benefit; and
- Current administration costs.
5. 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
- 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.
My organisation complies with all of the limitations listed.
6. University Limitations
There are limitations on the number and frequency of grant applications that can be submitted by any one University:
View list of University Limitations
- 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?
7. Grant applications over $91,000 require an access code
If you wish to apply for a Round 3 Grant ($91,000-$200,000), you must contact us well in advance of the grants round to discuss your project. Only approved applicants will be given the required access code to the application form. Contact us here to initiate your enquiry.
I wish to apply for a grant over $91,000 and have been provided with an application access code.
- Charity Status
- Victorian Head Office
- Project Eligibility
- Project Exclusions
- Limitations
- University Limitations
- Grant applications over $91,000 require an access code
Unfortunately, your organisation is not eligible to apply for a grant. If you have any questions regarding your eligibility, contact Trust staff.
You are eligible for funding by HMSTrust.
Applications are now closed. Check Grant Dates for next Round details.
