ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program

The ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program offers eligible early stage social entrepreneurs and startups matched-funded grants between $10,000 – $30,000 to kick-start their impact journey.

For Canberra based social innovation and impact

The Mill House Ventures has partnered with the ACT Government to administer the Social Enterprise Grant Program and provide matched funding between $10,000 and $30,000. The program is a competitive grant program, targeted at start-up social enterprises to address the market gap in funding between pre-revenue (seed) grant programs and the philanthropic, sponsorship and venture capital funding opportunities available to a scaleup social enterprise.

APPLICATIONS FOR 2023/24 ARE CLOSED

Frequently Asked Questions

In order to be eligible to apply for funding you must:

  • Have an annual turnover of less than $2 million;
  • Be Canberra based;
  • Have an ABN (you will need this to enter a funding agreement); and
  • Agree to enter into a Funding Agreement with The Mill House Ventures
  1. Book a consult with one of the team at The Mill House Ventures for an information session to determine your eligibility and requirements
  2. After the Information Session if you are eligible you will be invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
  3. An independent panel of business experts will review your submitted EOI and if shortlisted, you will be contacted for further clarification and discussion on your application.
  4. The Mill House Ventures staff do not make any decisions regarding the selection of applicants. Panel members who may have a conflict of interest take no part in the decision-making process for that particular applicant.
  5. If successful you will be asked to enter into a Funding Agreement with The Mill House Ventures
  6. Congratulations; you’re ready to make an impact! The Mill House Ventures will work with you to determine achievable milestones.
  1. After signing the Funding Agreement, you will invoice us for the first 50% of the grant.
  2. Future grant payments are made on a reimbursement basis after meeting milestones. We will work with you to ensure reporting requirements are met.
  3. You will need to provide evidence of all paid expenditure eg. receipts, paid tax invoices and bank statements. In-kind time and commitment to the project should be recorded through timesheets.
  4. Milestone claims require an online written report of activities undertaken and outcomes achieved. You should also provide relevant evidence to demonstrate the completion of the milestone.

See the Grant Guidelines of this grant.

Please ensure sufficient time to submit before the deadline as late applications cannot be accepted (note that a draft cannot be saved on the application page).

If you missed out submitting before the close date or were unsuccessful, you will be able to reapply in the following round.

Applications open: Friday 8th December 2023 8:30am AEDT

Applications Close Friday 19th January 2024 5pm AEDT

Should you require an extension please submit a  request to The Mill House Ventures team a minimum of 5 days prior to the closing date through clinic@millhouseventures.com.au. 

  • Submitted full applications will be assessed by an independent panel of business experts from a variety of industries from the local innovation community.
  • The Mill House Ventures staff do not make any decisions regarding the selection of applicants. 
  • Panel members who may have a conflict of interest take no part in the decision-making process for that particular applicant.
  • All reasonable efforts are made to provide a fair process and we welcome feedback.

More Information

Applicants must familiarise themselves with the relevant funding guidelines and grant agreements.

Grants can only be made to Canberra based applicants who have a current ABN.

The Mill House Ventures administers the ACT Social Enterprise Grant Program on behalf of the ACT Government. All submissions are assessed by an independent panel of business experts who make the decisions based on the applications.

Social enterprise Grant Process map

Successful Recipients 2023/2024

For our 2023/2024 grant program we recieved 48 applications and were able to distribute the $340,000 between 14 amazing early stage Social Enterprises. These start ups are addressing a diverse range of issues including disability, culturally and linquistically diverse individuals, environment and disadvantage, and feature 11 female founders. See the successful recipients below!

Accessilife

Received $20,000

Accessilife is an online marketplace and directory that brings together accessible products and services in one central place. The project will support the development of a branding and marketing strategy as well as to upgrade and improve the website, building in e-commerce functionality.

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Catalyst Living Skills

Received $30,000

Catalyst Living Skills supports the development of core life skills for marginalised and disadvantaged people through equine assisted learning combined with creative, nature and farm-based activities. The project involves the development and deployment of impact assessment tools, training in financial management and bookkeeping and the design and creation of a nature play area.

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Endless Australia

Received $30,000

Endless Australia has identified an innovative way to close the loop on small plastic waste by repurposing millions of plastic bottle lids into premium recycled and recyclable plastic products for the adrenaline sports industry – starting with skateboard decks. The project will enable the development of a business and communications strategy, a website build, enable the piloting of prototypes, and support a launch event.

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Fundraise for Australia

Received $12,500

Fundraise for Australia identifies, recruits, trains and empowers new fundraisers to help secure resources for underserved communities and entrenched social issues. Funding for this free program enables fundraising training and recruitment support to the not for profit sector.

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GetAboutAble

Received $30,000

GetAboutAble is a leading Australian accessibility consultancy, supporting businesses as well as community and Government organisations to improve their access and inclusion. The project will support the renewed focus on B2B products by updating their brand and website to reflect their current service offerings.

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Her Kitchen Table

Received $30,000

Her Kitchen Table empowers CALD women who are facing barriers to accessing meaningful economic opportunities to overcome these barriers by turning their passion for cooking into a profession and strengthening CALD women’s connection to the ACT community. The project will enable the development of training programs to encourage and support participants own entrepreneurial progress and pathways.

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RecycleAbilities

Received $29,000

RecycleAbilities mission is to create customised, socially impactful employment opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities through improving the collection of Container Deposit Scheme containers from Canberra businesses. The project will enable a review of their legal structure, the development of a strategic marketing plan and the development of a comprehensive record of operating.

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See Me Please

Received $30,000

See Me Please primary social purpose is to improve accessibility in digital experiences for people with disabilities and improve the overall digital accessibility landscape while aiming to create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The opportunity is to develop a pilot with Canberra businesses on the development of digital components and video guides supporting the growth of the user testing platform.

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ShowGo

Received $28,585

ShowGO is an Audio Description service and App for theatre, dance, museums and film to enhance access and accessibility for individuals who are blind or who have low vision and increases inclusivity across all abilities. The project will enable a full App review and updates based on user feedback, build a B2C website and develop a Strategic Marketing Plan, a Financial Plan and a Business Plan.

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The Climate Factory

Received $29,915

The Climate Factory facilitates the creation of climate-cooling microforests in suburban locations promoting biodiversity and fostering community engagement in environmental initiatives. The project will develop a distinctive Microforest Collective brand, craft a comprehensive strategic marketing plan and develop a website.

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The Easy Read Toolbox

Received $10,000

The Easy Read Toolbox strives to create a more inclusive community through accessible communication for people with disabilities, while providing accessible, award wage employment for people with disabilities. The project will enable the engagement of specific professional services to improve business processes, deploy a learning management system and review the membership product.

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U Shape Us

Received $20,000

U Shape Us is seeking to transform disconnection into connection and increasing children’s sense of belonging through creativity. The project will support the development of strategic business and marketing plans and an evaluation framework for impact reporting.

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Warehouse Circus

Received $10,000

Warehouse Circus is dedicated to improving the mental and physical health of young people through the medium of social circus. The project will support the development of branding and marketing strategies to support growth opportunities.

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Womens Shed Canberra

Received $30,000

Womens Shed Canberra Inc. (WSC) is a space for women of all backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and ability to meet and to learn skills in building trades within a safe and supportive community. The project will support the development of a strategic marketing plan, upgrade and improve the website as well as provide website management training to enable ongoing updates to be managed internally.

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