Anzac Day Proceeds Fund

The program guidelines include further information about the objectives of the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund, eligibility and assessment criteria and activities that can and cannot be funded.

Download the program guidelines before you apply:

Projects must demonstrate direct welfare to veterans and/or their dependants to improve the wellbeing of veterans and their families in impactful ways.

Funding priorities

We will prioritise projects that supports the veteran community by funding a range of wellbeing-related activities and projects that:

• target veterans who are women, First Nations, LGBTIQA+ and/or from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) and veterans with disability
• veterans who have experienced negative impact of service to their mental health
• focus on post-1990 Australian Defence Force operations
• can be sustained beyond grant funding
• create and expand collaborative partnerships.

Available funding in 2025-26

Organisations can submit more than one application. Please note the following:

• for state-wide organisations that deliver welfare or wellbeing services, or that support veterans across Victoria, the total value of all Anzac Day Proceeds Fund applications in this round must not exceed $150,000 (excluding GST).
• for sub-branches or regional organisations that deliver services or support veterans in a specific area or region (not state-wide), the total value of all Anzac Day Proceeds Fund applications in this round may not exceed $50,000 (excluding GST).
• previously funded applicants are not guaranteed to receive funding in this or future grant rounds. They are not guaranteed to receive the same amount of funding.
• you may be offered a smaller funding amount than applied for and we may ask for a revised project plan and budget.

Activity period

This grant round supports activities that take place from 1 January to 31 December 2026.

Please note:

• you need to complete your project within 12 months of the project approval date
• you cannot apply for funding if your project starts before 1 January 2026.
  

To be eligible to apply for funding through the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund:

• Your application must be submitted by an eligible organisation. (Refer to the ‘Organisation eligibility’ section.)
• Your organisation must not have outstanding reports from previous or current grants funded via the department
• You must be seeking funding for an eligible activity. (Refer to the ‘Eligible activities and costs’ section).

Organisation eligibility

To be eligible for this program, your organisation must have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN).

If you do not have an ABN, you must provide written advice from the Australian Taxation Office that no withholding tax is required from the grant payment.

Your organisation must also be:

• a company incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 and registered as not-for-profit through the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), or
• an organisation incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012, Corporations Act 2001(Cth) or equivalent state legislation.

If your organisation is unincorporated, you can arrange for an incorporated organisation to act as an auspice on your behalf. Refer to the ‘Auspice arrangements’ section.

Alternatively, unincorporated organisations are eligible if they are:

• a government entity, for example a local council
• a social enterprise with a clearly stated purpose or mission that specifically relates to the welfare and wellbeing of veterans. Social enterprises must attach their constitution with their application.

Social enterprises are defined as:

• having an economic, social, cultural or environmental mission consistent with a public or community benefit
• derive a substantial portion of their income from trade
• reinvesting the majority of their profit/surplus in the fulfilment of their mission (at least 50 per cent).

In addition to all of the above, to be eligible, your organisation must:

• demonstrate that its principal objective is to provide welfare or wellbeing services or supports to the ex-service community in Victoria
• be financially solvent
• be based in Australia (funded projects must be delivered in Victoria).

Ineligible organisations

Organisations that cannot apply include:

• state and federal government departments
• individuals and sole traders
• public companies limited by shares – unless the foundational document can prove not-for-profit status
• commercial enterprises
• registered:
  • public and private primary and secondary schools
  • pre-schools
  • TAFE institutes
  • universities. They can, however, act as an auspice for an unincorporated community group
• organisations that have failed to comply with the terms and conditions of previously awarded grants from any departmental grant program
• groups whose projects are the responsibility of another Victorian government department
• hospitals and health service organisations.

From 1 January 2025, organisations that are not registered for GST can use grant funds to cover the cost of GST from goods and services bought with the department’s grant funds.

More information, including what this means for your grant application, is available from the Grants Gateway.

Examples of projects we might fund include:

• direct welfare services, programs or assistance that is targeted to the veteran community
• welfare for those in the ex-service community who are socially or live in an isolated area. For example, the cost of providing access to activities
• health and wellbeing programs and activities for veterans or their families
• education and school expenses for veterans’ dependants, for example:
  • school uniforms
  • books
  • excursions
• operating costs for providing welfare, for example the costs of providing transport for:
  • shopping
  • social activities
  • welfare needs
• communication projects by electronic distribution methods only
• equipment related projects that directly link to the support and metal wellbeing for veterans and their families. Specific project or program may include:
  • camping and recreational equipment
  • uniforms for veteran sports competitions
  • instruments
  • coffee machines.

Ineligible activities and costs

Ineligible projects include:

• buying vehicles, for example:
  • cars
  • buses
• activities and projects located outside Victoria
• capital works on buildings
• branded material
• commemoration and education activities
• heating and utility costs
• community education programs
• ongoing staffing, administrative, advertising, office or equipment costs (for example: IT equipment or white goods)
• postage and printing, including newsletters, flyers, pamphlets.

Also, the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund does not support activities that:

• are funded primarily under another state, federal, local government program
• are within the responsibility of another state, federal, local government program
• have already started or been completed, including any activities undertaken before notification of the application outcome
• are private sector projects undertaken because of a Victorian Government contract.

Please note:

• If you are unsure about whether a cost could be supported under the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund, please contact the Veterans Grants team before submitting your application. Refer to the ‘More information and help’ section.
• You may be offered a smaller funding amount than you applied for. We may ask for a revised project plan and budget.

You need to submit the following mandatory documents with your application:

• evidence that your organisation’s principal objective is to provide welfare or wellbeing services or supports to the ex-service community, for example:
  • Patriotic Fund Registration
  • Articles of Association
• annual statement. Please provide your organisation’s financial information for a 12-month period. We need this to make sure your organisation is viable and financially responsible. If you are:
  • an incorporated association, submit your most recent Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) annual statement
  • a registered charity, submit your most recent Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) annual information statement
  • a social enterprise, submit your organisation’s profit and loss figures for the previous financial or calendar year. This must have been sighted and reviewed by 2 committee members or audited by an accountant.

If you are unable to attach your financial statement as submitted to either ACNC or CAV, you must attach:

• the financial report that was tabled at your organisation’s most recent annual general meeting. This document must show that the financial report was sighted and reviewed by 2 committee members.

Other mandatory documents include:

• evidence that any project income from other sources is approved and available before submitting your application
• auspice applications must provide a letter of support from the auspice organisation
• letters of support from other organisations, agencies or partners involved in your project.

Please note:

• You can attach documents to your online application. Check carefully to make sure all attachments have been uploaded before you submit your application.
• If you have trouble uploading documents online, you can email them to the Veterans Grants team veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au. Make sure you include your application number with the email. You must submit all documents before the due date.
• You do not need to provide letters of support from government officials or representatives. For example, your local Member of Parliament or councillor. We do not consider these in the assessment process.

If your organisation is not incorporated or does not have an ABN, you may consider partnering with another organisation that meets these eligibility criteria who will accept legal responsibility for the grant. This is known as an auspice arrangement.

If the application is successful, your organisation will deliver the activity, but the auspice organisation will be responsible for:

• signing the grant funding agreement with the department
• ensuring the legal and financial requirements of the grant and funding agreement are met
• receiving and distributing grant funds under the funding agreement
• ensuring all project activities are completed
• submitting reports and financial acquittals on behalf of your organisation.

If you want to propose an auspice arrangement the application must include:

• a letter of support from the auspice organisation. This is a mandatory document for all applications with auspice arrangements.
• a memorandum of understanding outlining roles and responsibilities between the 2 organisations

Please note:

• The auspice organisation must formally agree to support your application before you submit.
• The department may decide to communicate with the auspice organisation (instead of, or in addition to, the grant recipient). It may do this in relation to any aspect of the funding agreement.

All applications to the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund undergo the following assessment process:

• Eligibility assessment – all applications undergo an eligibility assessment against the eligibility criteria. The eligibility assessment determines whether the application should proceed to the merit assessment stage.
• Merit assessment – eligible applications are assessed against the assessment criteria, based on responses you provide on the application form.
• Assessment panel – all applications are reviewed by a panel, which includes representatives from the Victorian Veterans Council.
• Ministerial approval – the Minister for Veterans makes the final decision based on the recommendations from the assessment panel.
• Application outcome – all applicants are notified of the outcome of their application by email.

All decisions are final. This includes decisions about any aspect of the:

• funding application
• eligibility or assessment process, including:
  • any decision to offer or award a grant under the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund
  • any decision to withdraw the offer or cancel the grant funding agreement.

Merit assessment

Eligible applications are assessed on merit. We use the assessment criteria below.

We ask the questions ‘what, why, how and who’ to determine the benefits to veterans and the wider Victorian community.

• What is the project?
  • Describe the welfare or wellbeing benefit provided to the ex-service community.
• Why is there a need for the project?
  • Who will benefit from your project? Include estimated numbers, locations and the type of welfare/wellbeing assistance you will provide.
  • Is your project addressing a priority cohort? If so, which?
  • Is your project providing assistance for utility bills? If so, include the number of recipients and the dollar value.
• How will you manage the project?
  • Will staff or volunteers manage the project?
  • Do you have the capacity to complete the project in 12 months?
  • What level of priority will you attribute to this project compared to other organisational needs?
  • Have you applied for other funding that may impact the project’s success?
• How have you planned the project and what steps will you take to deliver it?
  • When do you expect the project to start?
  • How will the project be delivered?
  • Describe any changes to the demographic of those requesting welfare or who you are providing wellbeing activities for.
  • Provide details of any changes to the number and type of welfare or wellbeing requests in the past two years.
• Who do you need to work with to deliver the project?
  • Do you need to consult with others for this project?
  • Where relevant, list any other organisations or agencies that will work with you on the project and attach support letters.

• Register or log in to the Grants Gateway to complete an application.
• Application must be completed by a person authorised to submit on behalf of the applicant organisation.
• You can save your application and finish it later.
• Submit all mandatory and supporting documents with the application.
• Submit the application by the due date and time.
• Applicants receive acknowledgement of submission via email.
• Note the application number for reference when contacting us about your application.

We will give you written notification of the outcome of your application.

If you are successful, we will tell you about any specific conditions attached to the grant. We will publish details of your project, including the name, description and grant amount, on the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund website.

If you are unsuccessful, you may ask us for feedback about your application.

Conditions of funding

Funding agreements

If successful, you must enter a legally binding Victorian Common Funding Agreement (VCFA) with the department. You must enter into this agreement by the milestone date set in the Activity Deliverables and Payments Table of your VCFA. If you do not accept the agreement during this time, the grant may be withdrawn.

The VCFA outlines:

• the grant’s terms and conditions, including use of funds
• key deliverables and due dates
• reporting requirements.

If you need to request a variation to the VCFA or ask for a reporting extension, email the Veterans Grants team veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au.

Payment of grant funds and reporting requirements

If you are successful in receiving funding, your organisation will need to submit a final report and financial acquittal. You may also need to provide progress reports for complex or high-value projects.

Milestone payments are made via electronic funds transfer (EFT) once deliverables are met, in line with the VCFA.

You must use all funds during the activity period, as outlined in the VCFA. You must return any unspent funds to the department.

Goods and services tax (GST)

• GST is paid if the grant is funding a good or service, and if the recipient organisation is registered for GST.
• GST is not paid if the recipient organisation is not registered for GST.
• GST is not paid if the recipient organisation is a government entity (e.g., school, local council).
• GST is not paid if the grant is not funding a good and/or service.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) considers grants and sponsorships as taxable income. The ATO can help with information on tax, including GST. Call 13 28 66 or visit the ATO.

Funding acknowledgement

Successful applicants must acknowledge that funding for the project came from the Victorian Government and the Victorian Veterans Council (VVC).

The VCFA sets out guidelines around promotion. These include a requirement that all activities must acknowledge support from Victorian Government and VVC. You must include the appropriate logos on any activity-related:

• publications and websites
• media releases and promotional materials
• project hardware
• formal event invitations.

You must formally invite the Victorian Government and the VVC to attend any official events related to the project. For example, a project launch or exhibition. We will send you the acknowledgement requirements if your project is funded.

Legal responsibilities

If you apply for a grant, you must make sure the project activity follows relevant:

• legislation
• regulations
• by-laws
• codes.

It must also meet the requirements of any of the following authorities:

• Commonwealth
• state
• territory
• local.

It is your responsibility to know the laws and protocols that regulate your work.

To learn more about the Anzac Day Proceeds Fund, or for help with your application or grant reporting, you can:

Contact us

• Phone the Grants information hotline on 1300 366 356.
• Email the Veterans Grants team veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au with your query. You can also request a call back (during business hours).

If you need an interpreter: Please email the Veterans Grants team veteransgrants@dffh.vic.gov.au to request a call back, advising us of your preferred language.

If you need help with communication, contact us through the National Relay Service (NRS). For more information:

• visit National Relay Service(opens in a new window) to choose your preferred access point, or
• call the NRS Helpdesk on 1800 555 660.

Access online grant resources

Visit the Applying and reporting veterans grants website for resources on:

• how to write a grant application
• how to access the department’s Grants Gateway
• common grants words and terms
• in-kind contributions
• auspice arrangements and how to know if you need one.

Subscribe to our newsletter

For updates on upcoming grant rounds, subscribe to the Veterans Grants email newsletter.