Local Sport Grant Program (LSGP) 2025

It is important that applicants work through the form in sequence, including the eligibility requirements. Questions asked throughout the application are based on your responses provided in the initial sections of the application. 

Before you apply, please read the Program Guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all relevant requirements.

Incomplete (unsubmitted) applications will not be considered.

The Local Sport Grant Program aims to increase regular and on-going participation opportunities in sport in NSW. The Program was first established in 2015/16 with over $37 million in funding provided to sporting organisations since its inception. Through this Program the Office of Sport is working towards our goals to achieve:

• Sector Growth: Supporting the sector in adapting and growing sport and active recreation at all levels across NSW.  
• Facilities and Spaces: Enabling an inclusive and accessible network of facilities and places for sport and active recreation. 
• For all People: Facilitating increased opportunities for inclusion in sport and active recreation so every person in NSW can participate throughout their whole life. 

Funding of $50,000 is available per NSW electorate. Applicants must identify their ‘project location’ address to ensure the application is assessed in the correct electorate e.g., your training ground or where the project will take place. 

The grant amount requested must be a minimum of $2,000 and a maximum of $20,000. 

A single organisation may make multiple applications, however the maximum amount of funding that can be awarded to any one organisation is $20,000. 

If a single organisation makes two or more applications, they will be required to prioritise their projects in order of preference. 

The amount requested should reflect the scale of the project/s. 

Organisations may only receive NSW Government funding once for the same project or same component of a project from this program or any other NSW Government funded grant program. 

The key objectives of the Program align to the Office of Sport Strategic Plan with the specific objectives to: 

• increase regular and on-going participation in sport.   
• increase participation opportunities for unrepresented groups including women and girls, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people with disability, First Nations peoples and LGBTQIA+ people.   
• reduce barriers and improve access to participation in sport.   
• assist sport clubs to provide quality experiences to their members and meet community needs.   
• increase financial sustainability and improve facilities of community level sporting clubs.

Applications must clearly demonstrate an identified need for the project and articulate how the project outcomes will be achieved. Specifically, applications should demonstrate how the project will address at least one of the above objectives. 

The Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

• submission of this application does not guarantee funding will be granted for any project, and the Department expressly reserves its right to accept or reject this application at its discretion;
• it must bear the costs of preparing and submitting this application and the Department does not accept any liability for such costs, whether or not this application is ultimately accepted or rejected; and
• it has read the Funding Guidelines for the Program and has fully informed itself of the relevant program requirements.

By submitting this application form, the Applicant acknowledges and agrees that:

• if this project application is successful, the relevant details of the project will be made public, including details such as the names of the organisation (Applicant) and any partnering organisation (state government agency or non-government organisation), project title, project description, location, anticipated time for completion and amount awarded;
• the Department will use reasonable endeavours to ensure that any information received in or in respect of this application which is clearly marked ‘Commercial-in-confidence’ or ‘Confidential’ is treated as confidential, however, such documents will remain subject to the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW) (GIPA Act); and
• in some circumstances the Department may release information contained in this application form and other relevant information in relation to this application in response to a request lodged under the GIPA Act or otherwise as required or permitted by law.

To be eligible for funding you must be:

• An incorporated, not-for-profit grassroots sport club or association whose primary focus is to:
  • organise sporting activities and;
  • deliver on-going sporting programs and/or;
  • develop member’s skills
• Aligned with a recognised sport listed in Appendix A (see Program Guidelines Appendix A for full list of eligible sports)

Sporting clubs associated with licensed organisations can apply provided the project directly benefits the sport, not the administration processes of the licenced club or upgrades of the licensed premises.

Sports organisations or clubs associated with a school, church or university can apply providing they are a not-for-profit club incorporated in their own right.

Eligible applicants with an ABN must ensure that the incorporation details and ABN details are for the same organisation.

To be considered eligible, the project must be submitted through the Office of Sport SmartyGrants website.

You are not eligible for funding if your organisation type is not listed in the ‘Eligible Applicants’ section, and include (but are not limited to):

• Individuals, groups of individuals and unincorporated organisations.
• Incorporated not-for-profit organisations that are not associated with a sport listed at Appendix A.
• Clubs whose activities are considered to be of a recreational nature e.g., e-sports/online, remote/radio-controlled activities, fishing.
• State Sporting Organisations.
• National Sporting Organisations.
• Regional Academies of Sport.
• For profit, commercial organisations.
• Organisations limited by shares.
• Government departments and agencies.
• Educational institutions including schools and their Parents and Citizens (P&C’s), Universities, TAFE, Colleges and childcare centres.
• Local Government Authorities operating under the Local Government Act, 1993.
• Local Government Committees.
• PCYCs/YMCA/Scouts/Girl Guides/Surf Life Saving Clubs or Branches.
• Organisations named: (i) by the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sexual Abuse on its list of institutions that have not joined or signified their intent not to join the Scheme; or (ii) in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that has not yet joined the National Redress Scheme. 

Eligible projects include but are not limited to: 

Projects that contribute to quality sporting experiences 

• Training programs that will lead to volunteer coaches, officials and club administrators gaining required education and accreditation, e.g., a club could apply for funds to allow it to run a coach accreditation course. 
• Facilitation of programs that will increase the interest and skill level of players/participants within the community (this could for example include a series of ‘come-and-try’ days or engaging a specialist coach for a one-off/limited session/event). 
• Projects that improve a club’s community presence and their ability to communicate with existing participants/members , e.g.,  upgrade or develop a new website for the club. 
• Promotional materials and/or items that are related to promoting your programs or club to increase registrations, e,g., flyers and/or online promotions, development of a communication plan or paid advertising. 

• Requests for the cost of equipment required for training and/or playing sport or technology directly related to delivering the sport e.g., microphones, speakers, video technology and/or umpire technology to assist the delivery and development of your sport. 

Administration costs: The grant cannot be used for ongoing and annual operational costs e.g., staff/coach wages and administration costs that relate to the running of the club/organisation including yearly subscriptions/memberships and venue hire.

Improve access to sporting events by reducing barriers to participation 

• Events that promote participation in sport and physical activity and provide a focal point for community building and engagement, e.g., a club could host a specific event/tournament within their community. An event must be conducted on a specified day or consecutive days at a specified location. 
• Events that primarily involve sporting competition or mass participation in an organised sport, e.g., an exhibition sporting match, hosting a gala day, regional or state championships. 
• Regional clubs host a sporting event that attracts tourists and visitors to the region. 

• Subsidise event registration for teams to attend a one-off competition within NSW.  
• Subsidised travel costs to assist teams to travel from rural/ remote areas to participate in competition located more than 100km from their home ground or subsidised travel for specialist coaches to travel to rural/remote areas. 

Travel projects: Travel interstate will only be considered for clubs close to state borders where access to competition is not available within a reasonable distance in NSW, e.g., hire of a bus for weekly competition at away ground games.

Event projects: An event does not include regular on-going weekly/monthly sporting competition/activities. The event date must be included in the application. Events are not to be scheduled prior to March 2026.

Create, upgrade or repair sports facilities 

• Enhance existing facilities, e.g., upgrades to create universally designed amenities, canteens, installation of watering systems, solar panels, safety netting, lighting, installed electronic scoreboards or upgrade of playing surfaces.
• Provide ancillary facilities at established facilities, e.g., fixed or non-fixed sun protection shelters, goals or goal posts, grandstands.
• Buying or upgrading non-fixed equipment, that is directly related to the delivery of the sport, e.g., line markers and non-fixed scoreboards.

Projects in this category must have Development Approval (DA) consent from the relevant Council, or can demonstrate that such approval is not required, and have evidence of landowner’s consent.

Projects or project components ineligible to receive funding include:

• Ongoing and annual operational costs e.g., staff/coach wages and administration costs that relate to the running of the club/organisation including yearly subscriptions/memberships and venue hire.
• Subsidised registrations for players, for regular and on-going (weekly, monthly) competitions.
• Accommodation, food/catering and travel (except where specified as eligible above).
• Appearance fees, prize money and trophies/medals, trophy cabinets.
• Functions such as presentation days, AGMs and celebrations.
• Entertainment.
• Medical equipment (e.g., defibrillators, first aid).
• Private or commercial ventures.
• Events that are organised for the primary purpose of fundraising, including charity fundraising events.
• Individual scholarships/sponsorships.
• Insurance of any type (player, public liability, general liability, etc).
• Retrospective funding e.g., projects that have already commenced and/or purchases completed prior to application submission.
• Events that are scheduled prior to March 2026.
• Purchase or rental of land or premises; vehicles; office equipment (e.g., office furniture, television, computers, iPads, printers, photocopiers etc.).
• Costs associated with preparing and submitting the funding application.
• Costs associated with feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases and masterplans.
• Projects not based in NSW.
• Subsidy for school sporting activities and events.
• Projects already funded by the NSW Government for the same project or same component of a project.

Criterion 1: Strategic justification (30%)  

Criterion 2: Scope and deliverables (25%) 

Criterion 3: Value for money (25%)  

Criterion 4: Project deliverability and applicant capability (20%) 

The key objectives of the Program align to the Office of Sport Strategic Plan 2024-2028 

You can find the guidelines here: Program Guidelines

Applicants must address at least one of the program objectives.

• It has been prepared by and is being submitted by an eligible applicant
• Applicants will notify the Department if grant funding is secured from another source