NSW Football Legacy Fund

About the Fund 

The NSW Football Legacy Fund (‘the Fund’) is an initiative established by the NSW Government, Football NSW (FNSW) and Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) as a result of NSW hosting FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in Sydney in July 2023.

The Fund aims to improve football facilities and support infrastructure, increase participation opportunities, and improve female player pathways. 

The Fund will support football at all levels through the construction or upgrade of community facilities, participation initiatives, leadership and development programs.

The NSW Football Legacy Fund has two separate funding streams:

• Infrastructure - A total of $2,500,000 (Ex GST) is available in Round 1 for infrastructure projects. The Fund can be used for upgrading existing or constructing new football facilities that demonstrate inclusive and accessible design, maximise community participation and demonstrate provision of accessible program content.
• Participation - A total of $650,000 (Ex GST) is available in Round 1 for participation projects. The Fund can be used to support increased football participation and leadership programs. Priority will be given to projects that demonstrate how the project will contribute to greater gender equity in football or the applicant organisation.

Each stream has its own guidelines that define the eligibility, assessment criteria and key dates.

Important dates

• Applications open - Monday 5 September 
• Applications close - 1.00pm Friday 14 October
• Outcomes advised - December 2022 onwards
• Projects commence - From 1 January 2023
• Projects must be completed within:
  • Infrastructure stream - two years from notification
  • Participation stream - one year from notification

Key Objectives

Infrastructure stream

The key objectives of the Infrastructure stream of the Fund are to:

• Improve the quality and/or number of Football facilities in NSW
• Increase the utilisation of football facilities
• Support the equitable provision of, and access to, football facilities to grow participation for women and girls
• Improve the football experience for players, referees, coaches, administrators, and spectators

These objectives align with Football Australia’s (FA) Legacy ’23 strategy, contributing to FA’s aim of 50% female participation by 2027.

Participation stream

Funding availability

Infrastructure stream

A total of $2,500,000 (Ex GST) is available in Round 1 for infrastructure projects. If possible, funding availability will be split for projects delivered in regions managed by Football NSW (75%) and Northern NSW Football (25%). The final distribution of funds will vary depending on a number of factors including the subscription level and quality of applications.

The grant amount requested by an applicant must be a minimum of $25,000 and cannot exceed $150,000. All applications are required to provide a minimum 50% co-contribution of the total project (capital works) cost (e.g. if an applicant’s grant amount requested is $25,000, they should demonstrate at least a $25,000 co-contribution). Therefore, the minimum total project cost for the Infrastructure Stream is $50,000.

Co-contribution must be financial, and you cannot use another NSW Government grant as part of your contribution to this project. For example:

1. A lighting upgrade has a total project cost of $200,000. You may request grant funding of up to $100,000 and must demonstrate the remaining $100,000 has been secured from another organisation or source that is not a NSW Government agency.
2. A new amenities block has a total cost of $500,000. You may request $150,000 (the maximum allowed), you would need to demonstrate the remaining $350,000 has been secured.  

Applicants can submit up to three (3) applications in total for round 1 of the Fund. The applicant can advise of their project priority ranking in the application form. All projects will be assessed individually in line with the Guidelines.

Participation stream

A total of $650,000 (Ex GST) is available in Round 1 for participation projects. If possible, funding availability will be split for projects delivered in regions managed by Football NSW (75%) and Northern NSW Football (25%). The final distribution of funds will vary depending on a number of factors including the subscription level and quality of applications.

The grant amount requested by an applicant must be a minimum of $2,500 and cannot exceed $15,000. All applications are required to provide a minimum 25% co-contribution of the total project cost.

Co-contribution can be financial or in kind (such as field hire costs, volunteer coaching hours etc), however you cannot use another NSW Government grant as part of your contribution to this project. For example:

• Your female development program total cost is $10,000. You can apply for $7,500 in grant funding and you must contribute the remaining $2,500 to the project.

Eligible applicants

Infrastructure stream

Eligible applicants are:

• Incorporated, not for profit clubs, associations, zones or other deliverers in NSW that are affiliated, recognised and/or sanctioned by Football NSW and/or Northern NSW Football  
• Incorporated, not for profit organisations that provide football programs or services. (These organisations require a letter of support from Football NSW or Northern NSW Football) or
• NSW Local Councils

Participation stream

Eligible applicants are:

• Incorporated, not for profit clubs, associations, zones or other deliverers that are affiliated, recognised and/or sanctioned by Football NSW and/or Northern NSW Football.
• Incorporated, not for profit organisations that provide football programs or services. (These organisations require a letter of support from Football NSW or Northern NSW Football).

Ineligible applicants

Infrastructure stream

Participation stream

 

Eligible projects

Infrastructure stream

The Fund can be used for upgrading existing or constructing new football facilities that demonstrate inclusive and accessible design, maximise community participation and demonstrate provision of accessible program content.

Examples of eligible project types and project components include:

• New or upgraded synthetic or turf pitches, including improvements to pitch drainage, irrigation or resurfacing.
• Amenity buildings such as kiosks, club rooms, gender neutral change rooms, grandstands, seating, lighting, shade/shelter, or storage spaces that are universally designed.

Staged components of a larger facility development are eligible, providing the stage being applied for meets the fund eligibility criteria.

Acknowledging that many venues in NSW are used for multiple sports, facility development projects supported through the Fund must demonstrate the primary benefit is to football participants and stakeholders.

Projects must be on be on land within NSW. Applicants should submit a landowner consent form (DOCX, 174.72 KB) for the project on the land on which the facility is to be developed. For projects located on public land, a landowner consent form or signed letter of consent from the appropriate authorised delegate must be provided.

Participation stream

Ineligible projects

Infrastructure stream

The NSW Football Legacy Fund - Infrastructure will not fund the following projects or project components:

Ineligible projects or project components that cannot be included in the project scope at all:

• Facilities that are not primarily used for football activities
• On private land unless there is clear public benefit to the community’s interest in football and have documented consent from the landowner
• Purchase or lease of land/facility
• Costs associated with feasibility, design, or development stages including feasibility studies, business cases and masterplans
• Costs associated with preparing and submitting the application for funding under this program.
• Items that do not meet relevant Australian standards
• General maintenance or repair of normal wear and tear of facilities, e.g. painting, running costs and minor repairs to existing facilities
• Repair of facilities where the damage can be covered by insurance
• General administration or operating expenses such as rent or wages for administrative and/or executive staff
• Related to buying or upgrading non-fixed equipment (e.g. lawn mowers, portable scoreboards, portable goalposts, footballs, cones, computers, office goods, clothing and footwear)
• Retrospective funding, where projects have commenced construction or are completed prior to the execution of a funding agreement
• Projects that have already been funded by the NSW Government
• For the building or upgrade of licensed areas and gaming areas
• Project administration costs, such as project management, administration staffing
• Ancillary infrastructure e.g. car park, access road
• Any project costs incurred prior to the submission of your application (ie investigation, design and approval costs).  Note: Costs incurred after your application has been submitted but before the grant has been determined are at your own risk.  There is no guarantee your request for funding will be approved.

Participation stream

Application process

Step 1: Check your eligibility

• See Eligible Applicants section of these Guidelines to see which organisations can apply for funding.
• If you are a club or an association/zone, ensure you are recognised by Football NSW or Northern NSW Football (or have a letter of support) and your organisation is incorporated. You can check your status on the NSW Fair Trading or ASIC websites.
• If you are not eligible, you can partner with an eligible organisation, although they will need to be the applicant organisation and submit the application.

Step 2: Understand the requirements

• Before you apply, please read these guidelines and related materials to make sure you understand all relevant requirements, including whether you are eligible to apply.
• You can find the relevant information on the Office of Sport’s website: NSW Football Legacy Fund

Step 3: Prepare your application

• Seek support for the project by forming partnerships with key stakeholders (Football NSW, Northern NSW Football, Councils, Football Clubs/Associations/Zones, landowners, other land/facility users etc).
• Gather your evidence including letters of support, funding commitments, development approvals, images/plans, participation data etc.
• For questions relating to the grants program or for specific assistance with the online system, email the Office of Sport Grants Unit at  grantsunit@sport.nsw.gov.au or call 13 13 02 during standard office hours.

Step 4: Submit your application

• Applying for a grant is a simple process using the SmartyGrants platform
• The Office of Sport recommends that applicants familiarise themselves with the online application form ahead of preparing the application and plan to submit ahead of the closing date to reduce the risk of missing the deadline. 
• Complete your application by filling in each of the sections.
• Upload all required supporting documentation.
• Submit your application before the closing date and time.
• Projects must be submitted through the SmartyGrants website to be considered eligible.
• Successful submissions will be issued with a SmartyGrants system generated acknowledgement email containing a PDF copy of the application which will confirm the time the application was submitted.

Supporting documents

• Program Guidelines - Infrastructure stream (PDF, 1.1 MB)
• Program Guidelines - Participation stream (PDF, 1.05 MB)
• Funding Agreement Template - Infrastructure stream (PDF, 446.13 KB)
• Funding Agreement Template - Participation stream  (PDF, 189.9 KB)
• Landowner Consent Form (DOCX, 174.72 KB)
• Facility Usage Schedule  (XLSX, 33.47 KB)
• Statement of Support Form (PDF, 76.01 KB)

 

Information Session - Infrastructure Stream

 

Information Session - Participation Stream

Contact Us 

Contact us

Past Recipients

NSW Football Legacy Fund 2022-23 grant recipients