Innovation and impact grants (building connections) challenge

About these grants

The Innovation and impact grants (building connections) challenge is an open call for innovative proposals from not-for-profit organisations that address the question:

How might we support men and boys to build respectful, positive and gender-equal relationships and reject rigid and restrictive stereotypes of what it means to be a man?

Key information

A grant amount of up to $200,000, comprising:

Seed funding (up to $40,000)

Pilot funding (up to $120,000)

Evaluation funding (up to $40,000)

Key dates

Applications open: 25 September 2025

Information session: 8 October 2025, 1pm AEDT (online). Potential applicants can register for the information session here.

Final date for questions: 8 October 2025, 5.00pm AEDT

Applications close: 7 November 2025, 5:00 pm AEDT

Who can apply

To be eligible to apply for the grant program you must:

have an Australian Business Number (ABN)

have an account with an Australian financial institution

be a legal entity with the capacity to enter into a legally binding agreement or contract

be a not for profit organisation, registered with the Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission.

Project timeline

The project should be started by late January 2026 and the evaluation completed by end of July 2027.

Funding available

Successful applicants will be eligible to receive:

seed funding (up to a maximum of $40,000) to support participation in a design incubator with the Violence Prevention Innovation Lab

implementation funding (up to $120,000)

evaluation funding for successful applicants to manage their own evaluations (up to $40,000).

The Violence Prevention Innovation Lab is designed and led by Our Watch and funded by Minderoo Foundation.

How to apply

Step 1: Read the grant guidelines

Grant guidelines

Download Word document (1 mb)

Step 2: Complete the application form

Application form

Download Word document (995 kb)

Step 3: Send completed application forms to innovation.projects@ourwatch.org.au.

After the application is submitted

Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and compliance with guidelines.

All applicants will be formally notified on whether their application has been successful. It is an applicant’s responsibility to ensure all contact details are up to date.