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Community Sector Banking Grants open May 2

Recognising the crucial role that not-for-profits play in addressing homelessness, Community Sector Banking has announced their 2016 Social investment Grants Program will focus on reducing homelessness, offering not-for-profits the opportunity to apply for grants totalling $200,000.

The Social Investment Grants Program is funded by Community Sector Banking and contributions from Social Investment Deposit Account holders. The program shows the power that everyday banking can have on the community.
“This program highlights our commitment to improving social outcomes, and shows that everyday banking can have a tremendously positive effect on the community” says Amanda Watt, Community Sector Banking’s Head of Marketing, Communications and act.
 
Community Sector Banking invites not-for-profits to apply for a total grant pool of $200,000 across three categories:
 
  • Category one: 5 x $20,000 grants available.
  • Category two: 1 x $50,000 grant available.
  • Category three: A total of $50,000 available, to be match funded on letsact.com.au. Applications across category three are accepted between $20,000 and $50,000. Applicants may apply for one, two or three categories.
Grant applications will open on 2 May 2016 and close at 5pm, 30 May 2016. Applications will be accepted online, for further information visit communitysectorbanking.com.au/grants.

Watt says that “The program is focused on not-for-profits who can demonstrate innovative solutions in tackling the issue of homelessness.”

On any given night in Australia, 1 in 200 people will experience homelessness. While the cost of sleeping rough to the economy can be as much as $27,000 for an individual per year, the impact on this person experiencing homelessness can be harder to quantify.

Homelessness makes accessing training and educational opportunities difficult, leaving people exposed to long term unemployment and severe health issues. It also excludes people from participating in social, recreational and economic opportunities within their communities. The cycle of homelessness can be impossible to break without support and intervention.

“As the not-for-profit banking specialists, we are eager to see the real impact that this year’s Social Investment Grants Program will deliver” says Watt. Community Sector Banking is Australia’s not-for-profit banking specialists, helping over 11,000 not-for-profits create real impact. For more information about Community Sector Banking and their Social Investment Grants Program, including eligibility and criteria, visit communitysectorbanking.com.au/grants