4ST Partnership Fund
The 4ST Partnership Fund mobilises the social service sector to co-develop solutions that improve the quality of life of service users. It offers two funding tracks: Seed funding for turning innovative ideas into working prototypes, and Grow funding for scaling proven solutions to reach more users. Grow track projects also receive a separate evaluation budget and must adopt NCSS Service Standards and the Sector Evaluation Framework.
Eligibility Criteria
- 01
Seed: SSAs, social enterprises, or ground-up groups collaborating with another entity. Non-charities must declare the project is not-for-profit and serves local communities
- 02
Grow: Lead applicant must be an NCSS member with IPC status, collaborating with another entity or individual
- 03
Non-NCSS members including social enterprises and ground-up groups can apply as co-applicants
- 04
Organisations without charity status must declare the project is not-for-profit
How to Apply
1. Check eligibility for Seed or Grow track 2. Stage 1: Submit a brief concept note outlining your project idea 3. If shortlisted, Stage 2: Submit the full application form with further details 4. Seed deliverables: articulate proof of concept, refine value proposition, share learnings with the wider sector 5. Grow deliverables: adopt NCSS Service Standards, achieve Sector Evaluation Framework outcomes, submit evaluation research reports, and complete OHFSS assessment
Claims and Disbursement
Claims submitted based on project deliverables. Grow track requires evaluation research reports and OHFSS assessment completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
A fund that supports social service projects through two tracks: Seed funding (up to $50k for prototyping) and Grow funding (up to $400k/year for scaling proven solutions), with a separate evaluation budget.
Seed is for turning an innovative idea into a working prototype and testing feasibility (up to 1 year, $50k). Grow is for further developing, validating, or scaling a proven solution to reach more users (up to 3 years, $400k/year plus $80k evaluation budget).
Yes. For Seed, social enterprises can apply directly. For Grow, they can apply as co-applicants alongside an NCSS member with IPC status.