Frequently Asked Questions

My organisation is based in India, can I apply?

The lead applicant will need to have an ABN and be located in Australia. If you are an organisation in India wanting to apply, we would encourage you to find a suitable Australian partner.  

I am a current or past recipient of a Maitri Grant; can I apply in this round?

Yes. Past Maitri grantees are eligible to apply.  

Can my organisation apply multiple times in this grant opportunity?

Yes, you are welcome to submit more than one application should you have multiple ideas for consideration. 

Does my application have to include a connection to India? 

Yes. This grant opportunity aims to develop, promote, and strengthen understanding and engagement between Australia and India. Applications which do not demonstrate value to the Australia-India relationship will be ruled out as ineligible.  

How much detail do I need to include in the project details? 

Applications have a finite number of words to respond to the questions. Please ensure you prioritise the most important information first to adequately demonstrate the purpose of your proposal. In addition to the Key Selection Criteria prompts, the assessors will need to understand:  

  • A brief description of the activity.  

  • The expected outputs that will be delivered (exhibitions, trade show, performance, policy paper, etc).  

  • The primary location of where the activity will take place.  

  • Who will be included in the grant (performers, singers, artists, DJs, etc).  

  • The audience of the activity.  

How much funding can be requested from the Centre?

The level of funding requested under the Centre’s grants can range between AUD 50,000 and AUD 2,000,000. 

 

The Centre is unable to provide funding for any taxation purposes, including GST. Any taxation requirements are the responsibility of the applicant(s) and cannot be paid for with grant funding from the Centre. It is recommended applicants seek legal and/or financial advice including on eligibility for tax exemptions, before applying.  

 

Per eligibility requirements, the grant funding will need to be paid into an account within an Australian financial institution.

What is the period of funding?

Proposals may be funded for up to a maximum of three years.  

Will I get the whole grant amount I apply for? 

Not necessarily. The Centre reserves the right to determine how much funding to provide. An overall value for relevant money assessment based on the activities included in any grant agreement with you will inform the Centre’s decision.  

Not all expenditure in your application may be eligible for grant funding.  The Centre makes the final decision on what is eligible expenditure and may give additional guidance if required. All expenditure must incur between the start and end date of your grant agreement for it to be eligible. 

Are there any ineligible costs?

The Centre is unable to fund:  

  • ongoing salaries or wages  

  • capital expenditure/works, including construction works to property, the purchase of land and vehicles   

  • the covering of retrospective costs   

  • purchase of equipment (e.g., technical equipment, musical instruments, computers, videos)  

  • activities which are already commercially viable in their own right  

  • activities that provide direct commercial advantage to the applicant (e.g., promotion of own business)  

  • costs incurred in the preparation of a grant application or related documentation   

  • subsidy of general ongoing administration of an organisation such as electricity, phone and rent   

  • study tours or activities undertaken by schools where travel by a significant number of students is the principal element of the proposal, or  

  • completed projects.  

What supporting documents do I need to provide to support my application?  

Everything you need to provide is in the application form itself.  

There is some flexibility in what additional supporting documents you may choose to provide and there is space to upload relevant documents on the application form where required. Please note, excessive attachments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed to support your application.       

How will I be notified of outcomes?

Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified to the primary email listed on the SmartyGrants application. Please check your email’s inbox and spam folders to access the notification. 

Do you have any tips when preparing an application?

Yes, we do. We recognise putting together a proposal takes time and effort. Before submitting, ensure you’re answering the who, what, when, where why, and how of your project:  

  • Who will be involved in delivering the project and who will benefit from it?  

  • What specific issue are you addressing and what are your objectives? 

  • When will the project be delivered and what are the key milestones? 

  • Where will the project take place, and what geographical areas or communities will it impact? 

  • Why is your project important and why should we fund it? 

  • How will the project be carried out and how will the funding be used?  

 

In addition to the above, we encourage applicants to strengthen their applications by:   

  1. Tailoring your application by clearly explaining how your proposal contributes to our goals and mission.  

  2. Being clear and direct in your responses. Applications which are concise and straightforward make it easier for us to assess the project’s potential impact. So don’t focus too heavily on the technical details. Look at the Centre’s website to see how we describe similar grants with limited space.   

  3. Quantify the outcomes where possible to help illustrate the potential reach of the project. e.g. the number and length of workshops, events, research papers. 

  4. Applications with anticipated audience numbers are viewed favourably (though make sure these are evidenced-based).  

  5. A well organised, transparent budget is essential to show how the funding will be spent. Feel free to put this into an excel document if you’d prefer.   

  6. Strong applications are well-written, error-free, and explained in simple language. So, make sure to proofread before submitting.   

  7. Finally, to ensure fairness and smooth processing make sure to submit early as late applications will not be accepted.