About the Grants Program
The purpose of the Energy Consumers Australia Grants Program is to support not-for-profit organisations to pursue quality advocacy initiatives that will advance the interests of household and small business consumers in the National Electricity Market.
Our Program supports projects aimed at building greater capability, expertise, and coalitions for advocacy on consumer energy issues.
We work with residential and small business advocacy groups to ensure that the unique interests and circumstances of residential and small businesses consumers are reflected in the grants program.
Applying for a grant
Step 1: Determine what type of grant you want to apply for
We offer a range of grants and scholarships to suit a variety of project needs. Familiarise yourself with the different types of grants to determine what would best suit the issue you're addressing.
Learn more about our available grants
Step 2: Read our Grant Guidelines
We have developed a series of Grant Guidelines to assist you in developing your application.
They include key information, including eligibility criteria, to help inform your project.
Guidelines: Influence and Collaboration Grants (PDF, 467.21KB)
Guidelines: Gill Owen Scholarship (PDF, 114.00KB)
Guidelines: Kelvin Trimper Scholarship
You may also want to read our Three-Year Plan to discover more about Energy Consumers Australia's priorities and see if there is potential alignment.
Step 3: Chat with Energy Consumers Australia
Our staff are happy to chat with you about a potential project topic or advocacy issue that you are wanting to address through a grant. We can help make sure the project is eligible and aligned with our priorities.
Step 4: Submit your application
Applications for our Influence and Collaboration Grants occur in a two-stage process. Applications for Participation Grants and Gill Owen and Kelvin Trimper Scholarships are conducted in one stage.
Influence and Collaboration Grants
Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)
The first stage is to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) application form for your project idea. The form is available through the online grant platform SmartyGrants.
The form will ask for details regarding what problem you’re trying to solve, project methodology, intended project deliverables, and how the outcomes will benefit consumers.
All submitted EOIs are reviewed against selection criteria and shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full application based on their EOIs.
Stage 2: Submission of a full application
Shortlisted applicants are formally invited to submit a full application through SmartyGrants. This stage is more competitive and will require further details of the project to determine which applications offer high-quality, well-planned projects.
Access application forms for available grants
By accessing this system, you are leaving the ECA website and being transferred to the Smarty Grants website. Smarty Grants manages all grant applications on behalf of ECA.
When can I submit a grant?
Influence and Collaboration Grants
We have two grant rounds per year for our Influence and Collaboration Grants:
- Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the first round open in June and close in July, with successful applicants invited to progress to the second stage.
- EOIs for the second round open in December and close in February, with successful applicants invited to progress to the second stage.
Apply for an Influence or Collaboration Grant
Participation Grants
Participation Grants are open all year round.
Apply for a Participation Grant
Scholarships
Gill Owen and Kelvin Trimper Scholarships open in September each year.
Have questions?
If you have questions or need clarification about the application process, please email us.
