Local Sport Grant Program (LSGP) 2026/27

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 $41 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 participation and support ongoing retention in sport by providing quality experiences to their members
• Reduce barriers and improve access to participation in sport
• Provide safe and inclusive opportunities for under‑represented groups, including females, multicultural people, people with disability, First Nations people and the LGBTQIA+ community to participate in sport
• Improve the financial sustainability and governance capability of community level sporting clubs
• Improve the quality, adaptability and environmental sustainability of sporting facilities in NSW

Applications must clearly demonstrate the need for the project and outline how the proposed outcomes will be achieved. Applications must show how the project will address one of the above Project 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.

For your application and project to be eligible for funding, the application and project must:

• be submitted through the online system SmartyGrants.
• be submitted by an eligible organisation
• be for a project located in NSW.
• be for an eligible sport listed in Appendix A
• include a declaration by the applicant organisation that if successful they will provide Public Liability Insurance with a minimum $5 million cover.

Eligible organisations that have outstanding reporting from previous Office of Sport grant programs may be deemed ineligible for funding.

To be eligible for funding, applicants must meet all of the following:

• be a not-for-profit grassroots sport club or sports association, whose primary focus is to organise regular sporting activities and deliver on-going sporting programs and/or develop member's skills or;
• be sporting club associated with licensed organisations provided the project directly benefits the sport, not the administration processes of the licensed club or upgrades of the licensed premises
• be affiliated with a State Sporting Organisation or State Sporting Organisation for people with Disability listed in Appendix A
• be one of the following incorporated entity types:
  • incorporated association registered with NSW Fair Trading
  • trust registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for profits Commission (ACNC)
  • non-distributing co-operative registered with NSW Fair Trading
  • Australian public company limited by guarantee
  • Indigenous corporation registered with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations

Ineligible applicants are any organisation types 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 affiliated with a State Sporting Organisation/State Sporting Organisation for Disability
• for-profit organisations
• PCYCs/YMCA/Scouts/Girl Guides/Surf Life Saving Clubs or Branches.
• parents and Citizens (P&C) Associations
• private enterprises (companies established under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), incorporated associations established under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW) or incorporated limited partnerships established under the Partnership Act 1892 (NSW)).
• Government departments and agencies, including Local Government Authorities operating under the Local Government Act 1993, and Local Government Committees.
• educational institutions including Schools, Universities, TAFE Colleges and childcare centres.
• NSW Institute of Sport, State Sporting Organisations, Australian Sports Commission (incorporating the Australian Institute of Sport), National Sporting Organisation and NSW Regional Academies of Sport.
• other community based or religious groups that are not affiliated with a State Sporting Organisation/State Sporting Organisation for Disability.
• 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 must be able to meet the following criteria:

• be delivered in NSW
• be completed by June 2028
• for a project/s that:
  • contributes to quality sporting experiences and/or;
  • improves access to sporting events by reducing barriers to participation and/or;
  • creates, upgrades or repairs sports facilities 

Examples of eligible project types and project components include: 

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., run a coach accreditation course.  
• Projects that improve a club’s capability and capacity to increase community presence and the ability to communicate with existing participants/members, e.g.,  upgrade or develop a new website for the club, or developing a club strategic plan to increase participation. 
• 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. 
• New programs that will increase the interest and skill level of players/participants within the community e.g., a series of 'come-and-try' days or engaging a specialist skills coach for a one off event.
• Purchase of new equipment or uniforms required for training and/or playing sport or technology directly related to delivering the sport e.g., sport related equipment, microphones, speakers, video technology and/or umpire technology to assist the delivery and development of your sport. 

Improve access to sporting events by reducing barriers to participation 

• Events that promote participation in organisation sport, physical activity and competition e.g., a club could host a specific event/tournament within their community.  
• Events that primarily involve sporting competition or mass participation in an organised sport, e.g., an exhibition sporting match, all abilities gala day, regional or state championships. 
• Regional clubs host a sporting event that attracts tourists and visitors. 
• Subsidised event registration for teams to attend a one-off competition within NSW.

• Subsidised transport travel costs to assist teams to travel from rural/remote areas to participate in competition located more than 100km from their home ground.
• Subsidised travel cost (inclusive of transport and accommodation) for specialist coaches to travel to rural/remote areas. 

Create, upgrade or repair sports facilities 

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

Ineligible project types and project components include:

• Operational costs e.g., staff or coach wages for existing programs, regular venue hire and administration costs that relate to the running of the applicant organisation
• Office equipment (e.g., office furniture, television, computers, iPads, printers, photocopiers etc.)
• Yearly subscriptions and memberships (Subscription costs for video technology are eligible for first year only).
• Subsidised registrations for players, for regular and on-going (weekly, monthly) competitions
• Accommodation, food/catering and travel (except where specified as eligible above for regional travel)
• Appearance fees, gifts, prize money, trophies/medals and trophy cabinets
• Retrospective funding g., projects that have already commenced and/or purchases completed prior to application submission
• Events that are scheduled prior to January 2027
• Functions such as presentation days, annual general meetings and celebrations
• Entertainment
• Medical equipment (e.g., defibrillators, first aid kits)
• 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)
• Purchase or rental of land or premises
• Purchase of vehicles that require registration
• 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 activities and events conducted for schools
• 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