The process
How it works
Tiny Sports acts as the incorporated entity that applies for government grants on behalf of grassroots clubs and coaches who cannot access that funding directly. This is the process from first contact to funded outcome.
Why this exists
Sole traders cannot apply. So we do.
Government grants for community sport are designed to help grassroots programs, but many of the coaches running those programs are ineligible to apply. If you operate as a sole trader, most state grant programs will not accept your application. You need to be an incorporated organisation.
Incorporating costs time and money, requires ongoing ASIC compliance, and often is not practical for a coach whose focus is their athletes rather than their paperwork. So the funding sits unused while the programs that need it most are locked out.
Tiny Sports is the incorporated entity. We apply. You deliver the program.
Step by step
From first contact to funded program
01
Tell us about your program
Get in touch and tell us about your club or coaching program. Who are your athletes? What do you need funding for? We ask a few simple questions to understand your situation.
No formal application at this stage, just a conversation. We work with coaches who run community programs as sole traders, small clubs without the administrative resources to apply independently, and programs serving athletes who face financial barriers to participation.
02
We assess your eligibility, free
We review the current grant landscape and identify which programs your situation is eligible for. We tell you what is available, the amounts, and what a realistic application looks like.
The assessment carries no obligation. We only proceed if there is a genuine funding opportunity that makes sense for your program, and we will say so plainly if we think an application is unlikely to succeed. Grant assessors are experienced readers and a weak application wastes everyone's time.
03
We write the application together
You know your program. We know how to frame it for a grant assessor. We draft the application, ask you for the specifics we need, and you review and sign off before anything is submitted.
The application is submitted in Tiny Sports' name, because Tiny Sports is the incorporated entity eligible to receive government funding. Your program is the partner that delivers the funded activity. Your program gets the funding, Tiny Sports handles the paperwork.
04
Tiny Sports submits and manages the process
We lodge the application, respond to assessor queries, and manage the process through to a decision. You do not need to deal with the grant body directly.
Government grant programs can take 6 to 12 weeks to assess. We track the status and keep you informed. If additional information is requested, we handle it. If the application is unsuccessful, we assess whether it is worth reapplying in the next round.
05
Funding approved, money reaches your program
Grant funds are paid into the Tiny Sports bank account, then disbursed to your program under a Partner Service Agreement for the approved activity.
The agreement specifies exactly what the funding is for, how it will be spent, and the timeline. Funds are only released for the approved purpose. This is a requirement of government grant programs and it protects both your program and Tiny Sports.
06
Acquittal, we handle the reporting
Most government grants require an acquittal report after the funded activity is complete. We prepare it from the receipts and outcomes you provide, and you review it before submission.
A strong acquittal builds our track record with the grant body and makes future applications stronger. It also provides the evidence base for case studies and impact reporting, which helps secure more funding for your program and others like it.
Eligibility
Who can apply
We work with coaches and clubs doing the right thing for their athletes who cannot access government funding directly.
- Independent coaches operating as sole traders
- Small community sports clubs with limited admin capacity
- Programs serving athletes facing financial barriers to participation
- Clubs without existing government grant relationships
- Programs in Victoria or Queensland, our current focus, expanding nationally
Out of scope
Who we cannot help yet
Government grants for community sport have specific criteria. Some situations fall outside what we can support.
- Professional or semi-professional sporting organisations
- Programs primarily focused on elite performance pathways
- Businesses seeking commercial grant funding
- Programs that have already applied for the same grant
Not sure whether your program is eligible? Get in touch and we will give you an honest answer.
Ready to find out what funding is available?
The eligibility check is free. Tell us about your program and we will let you know what grants exist and whether an application is worth pursuing.
