Practical insights for stronger, more sustainable clubs
A note from Strive Sport's Director, Jen Szuster
Sporting Club Grants Round 1 outcomes are due this month, so plenty of committees are watching their inbox very closely right now. Whether your club ends up celebrating or quietly wondering what went wrong, this is the perfect moment to get ready for Round 2, expected to open in February. I've spoken with a lot of clubs about grants this year, and the ones that succeed aren't lucky. They're organised with clear governance, a plan people actually follow, and more than one person who knows where the paperwork lives. That last one matters more than ever, because our volunteers aren't running out of goodwill. They're running out of time. So this month is about getting organised and lightening the load, without taking over anyone's summer.
This month on the blog
Your Club's Grant Game Plan. What to Do Before the Next Round Opens The strongest grant applications are written months before the round opens. Key dates for Victoria and NSW, the five things funders are really looking for, and a simple month-by-month plan to get your club grant-ready by February. Read the grants game plan
Lighten the Load. How Your Club Can Make Volunteering in Sport Easier The ASC has just launched a new national volunteering plan, but no national plan will fill your Saturday roster. Four practical ways your committee can take work off volunteers' plates this season, plus five questions to ask at your next meeting. Read the volunteering article
One quick win
Start a grants folder at your next committee meeting Create one shared folder and put these six things in it: your incorporation certificate, latest financial statements, AGM minutes, committee list, bank details and your strategic plan (if you have one). Then give one person the job of keeping it current. Next February, instead of a frantic hunt through three people's inboxes, you'll be ready to go. Your treasurer might even smile.
Free for your club
Not sure where to start? Take the free Club Pulse Check. It's a quick, honest check-up for committees. Score your club across eight areas, from governance and finances to volunteers and communication, and see your two priority areas straight away. Tip: get each committee member to do it separately, then compare scores at your next meeting. The areas where you disagree are often where the best conversations start. Take the Club Pulse Check
While you're there, have a browse of the free resources on the website: articles, guides and practical tools for busy committees, all written for community sport. Explore the resources
Four Wednesdays in November
Our new webinar series is live. Four practical online sessions, back to back on Wednesday evenings, so your committee can get through the lot before the Christmas rush. And because funders look for exactly these things, every session doubles as grant prep.
Succession Planning, Wed 4 November | 7pm AEDT | Online. Build a handover process so your club doesn't run on the same three people forever.
What Good Governance Looks Like, Wed 11 November | 7pm AEDT | Online. Plain-English clarity on roles, compliance and the paperwork funders ask to see.
Meetings That Matter, Wed 18 November | 7pm AEDT | Online. Shorter agendas, clearer decisions, actions that actually happen. Your meeting might end... on time? (Gasp.)
Strategic Planning That Sticks, Wed 25 November | 7pm AEDT | Online. Leave with a plan people will follow rather than file, and a head start on your next application.
Pricing: $40 for a single session, $120 for all four, or $180 for a Club Access Pass covering up to five people from your committee for the whole series. If two or more of you are keen, the pass is the clear winner.
One invitation
Bring your committee along in November. The Club Access Pass covers your whole committee for all four sessions, and it's best value before session 1 on 4 November.
Victoria's priorities have shifted. This year's Sporting Club Grants are boosted by the Regional Community Sport Development Fund, with a focus that includes building the volunteer and paid workforce in regional sport, and participation for women and girls and First Peoples communities. If your project fits, say so clearly.
NSW clubs: Local Sport Grant Program outcomes are due in December, with grants from $2,000 to $20,000 per organisation.
Say thank you, properly. Nominations for the ASC's 2026 Sport Volunteer of the Year close this Sunday, 18 October. If someone at your club quietly holds it all together, nominate them. It takes a few minutes, and they'll remember it for years.
P.S. Before your next meeting, thank the person who always stacks the chairs. It costs nothing and it's how volunteers stay.
Here's to lighter loads, Jen Szuster Strive Sport Asking better questions. Building better clubs. www.strivesport.com.au
Strive Sport, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria 3141, Australia