Impact Investment Readiness Program
Stage 1 Key Dates
Online information session: to be announced
Expression of Interest (EOI) opens: Monday 12 October 2026
EOI closes: Friday 30 October 2026, 3pm AEDT
Notification of outcomes for EOI and invitation to Stage 2: by 13 November 2026
Stage 2 Key Dates
Full Applications (invitation only): by Friday 20 November 2026
Notification of Stage 2 outcomes: December 2027
Program commences: 15 February 2027
Program ends: 15 May 2027
Contact
If you have a question about eligibility, or need help with your application, please email.
Social Enterprise Finance Australia (Sefa)
Find out more about Sefa, our delivery partner, here.
About the program
The Impact Investment Readiness Program is being delivered in partnership between Creative Australia and Social Enterprise Finance Australia (Sefa). It supports creative and cultural organisations to strengthen their foundations, build long-term sustainability and explore impact investment as a potential source of capital.
Arts organisations make a vital contribution to Australia’s cultural, social and economic life. Many, however, face challenges securing the capital needed to invest in growth and future sustainability. Impact investing offers an alternative pathway that seeks both measurable social, cultural or environmental impact and financial returns.
Through the program, organisations will strengthen their business capability, better understand and articulate their impact, use evidence to support decision-making, and build confidence in planning for their future.
Image: The Hum feat. artists of The Australian Ballet and artists of Australian Dance Theatre. Photo: Daniel Boud
Program overview
Why does impact investing readiness matter?
Investment readiness is more than accessing finance. Investment readiness means you can clearly articulate your impact in front of funders, have stronger business, governance and financial management in place and a clear plan to future proof your organisation.
What you will learn and apply
Through the program, participants will build practical knowledge, skills and tools to strengthen organisational sustainability, impact and readiness for future growth.
You will learn how to:
- articulate, measure and communicate the impact of your work through a theory of change and impact measurement framework
- identify opportunities for income stream diversification and what needs to be in place to make this happen
- strengthen business planning for organisational sustainability and growth
- develop a growth/sustainability strategy and implementation plan aligned with your mission and impact
- identify and assess future funding options best suited to you, including impact investment.
These skills can help organisations to:
- demonstrate impact to attract new partners, supporters, collaborators
- improve strategic planning and decision-making
- strengthen organisational sustainability and resilience
- prepare and pursue future growth opportunities.
While the program supports organisations to build investment readiness, the skills, tools and frameworks developed will benefit participants regardless of whether impact investment is ultimately the right pathway for their organisation.
What is involved
The Impact Investment Readiness Program is delivered online over 14 weeks and combines practical learning, expert guidance and peer engagement to help organisations learn and apply new skills directly to their work.
Participants will receive:
- self-paced online learning modules
- practical tools and templates
- online group sessions to exchange learnings with other peer organisations
- online individual coaching support to enhance application (Stream 1 participants only).
The program will support up to 20 organisations with allocation to two Streams (detailed in Program Pathways).
Participating organisations must nominate at least two representatives, ideally those within the organisation’s leadership to take part in the program.
Attend an information session about the program
Interested in finding out whether the Impact Investment Readiness Program is right for your organisation?
Join the upcoming online information session to learn more about the program, eligibility requirements, assessment process, stream pathways and requirements for participants. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from the program team.
Information session date: to be announced.
Can't attend the live session? A recording and additional resources will be made available following the webinar. You can also check out the frequently asked questions below.
Program pathways
To ensure organisations receive the support best suited to their current needs, successful applicants will be allocated to one of two program pathways; designed to provide different types of support based on an organisation's current stage of development.
Stream 1 is designed for organisations with established business foundations and a defined growth opportunity. Participants receive the core program together with individual coaching.
Stream 2 is designed for organisations who are curious about growth, and are currently improving business foundations. Participants receive the core program.
Program pathways at a glance
|
Stream 1 |
Stream 2 |
|
| Best suited to | Organisations ready to apply learning to identified growth opportunities | Organisations strengthening foundations for future growth |
| Support | Core program plus individual coaching | Core program |
| Focus | Growth planning and implementation, and linking this to future funding ask | Early planning of growth and strengthening capabilities to enable growth and/or sustainability |
| Typical characteristics |
|
|
| Outcome | Accelerated growth readiness, compelling implementation plan for growth/sustainability and articulated justifiable funding ask | Clearer future growth/sustainability plan and enhanced skills to progress with this |
Time commitment
Stream 1 and Stream 2 have different levels of time commitment required.
- Stream 1: Approximately 4 to 5 hours per week, including core program, coaching and implementation activities across 14 weeks.
- Stream 2: Approximately 3 to 4 hours per week, including core program across 8 weeks (as Stream 2 exits program early without coaching).
Self-paced learning modules can take up to 1 hour per week, with group sessions up to 2 hours in duration. Coaching sessions for Stream 1 participants are generally 60 minutes and scheduled throughout the program.
Time between sessions is built in so participants can reflect and apply their learning to their organisation.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Australian organisations working in the creative industries who are carrying out business in Australia and have their central management and control in Australia; which includes both for-profit and not-for-profit organisations.
This includes organisations for whom the primary purpose is: Design, Environmental Heritage, Libraries and Archives, Literature and Print Media, Museums, Music Composition and Publishing, Other Cultural Goods Manufacturing and Sales, Performing Arts, Supporting Activities (arts education, arts administration, service organisations etc.), Visual Arts and Crafts, and Fashion.
Who can’t apply
We do not accept applications from:
- individuals
- organisations based outside of Australia
- organisations for whom the primary purpose is outside of the creative industries
- organisations that operate exclusively within broadcasting, electronic or digital media
- groups that are not legally constituted
- organisations that have an overdue report for a Creative Australia grant
- organisations that owe money to Creative Australia.
What makes a strong applicant
We are looking for organisations that demonstrate:
- a genuine appetite for strengthening their long-term sustainability
- active leadership participation and support
- capacity and commitment to engage fully in the core program and activities
- a willingness to test new ideas and ways of working
- openness to learning, feedback and organisational change.
This program is designed for organisations that are ready to reflect on their current practices, apply new learning and invest time in strengthening their future sustainability and impact.
How we assess applications
Applications will be assessed based on an organisation's current stage readiness to engage with the program, and potential to benefit from the support offered.
We will consider a range of factors including:
- impact and evidence to date
- leadership and governance structure
- financial and operational management and systems
- established business model and at least 12 months of operations in place
- growth readiness
- revenue sources beyond grants alone.
Organisations must be able to nominate at least two participants to actively engage in the program.
Application process and key dates
Applications for the Impact Investment Readiness Program are assessed over two stages in late 2026. Stage one involves Expressions of Interest (EOI) with shortlisted organisations progressing to Stage two which requires submission of a full application.
Stage One: EOI
The EOI is designed to help us understand your organisation, your goals and whether the program is a suitable fit for your current stage of development. The EOI will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
EOIs will be assessed on a rolling basis. We encourage organisations to submit their EOI as early as possible rather than waiting until the closing date.
Stage Two: Full application
Organisations shortlisted through the EOI process will be invited to submit a full application and other supporting documentation related to impact, financials, governance or operations.
The information will help us to gain a deeper understanding of your organisation, including its impact, leadership and governance mechanisms, financial management, business model, business operations and future ambitions. The information will also help us to determine Stream allocation for your organisation to provide the greatest benefit from the program. The full application will take approximately 1 hour to complete.
A discussion with the assessment team may also form part of the second stage.
| Investment Readiness Program Timeline | Date |
| EOI open | Monday 12 October 2026 |
| EOI close | Friday 30 October 2026 |
| Invitation to full application | Rolling basis until week commencing Monday 9 November 2026 |
| Full applications close | Friday 20 November 2026 |
| Notification of outcomes | Week commencing 14 December 2026 |
| Program commences | 15 February 2027 |
| Program duration | 14 weeks |
| Program concludes | 15 May 2027 |
| Pitch week | Week commencing 10 May 2027 |
Confidentiality and the assessment process
We recognise that organisations may need to share commercially sensitive information with Creative Australia and Sefa as part of the application process.
All information provided will be treated confidentially and used only to assess eligibility, suitability for the program and, for successful applicants, stream allocation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be actively seeking impact investment to participate?
No.
The Impact Investment Readiness Program is designed to help creative and cultural organisations strengthen their impact, sustainability, business and growth planning. While some participants may be exploring future financing opportunities, organisations do not need to be actively seeking impact investment to benefit from the program.
What is impact investment?
Impact investment is finance provided with the aim of achieving positive social or environmental impacts alongside financial returns. The intention is to create a positive change for people and/or the planet as a result of the investment, alongside generating financial gains.
Impact investment is not a grant or a donation. The investor provides the money to help an organisation reach its business and impact goals with the expectation that those funds will be repaid alongside positive impact being generated. Many organisations that raise impact investment also receive grant funding, where there is no such expectation of a financial return.
The program helps organisations understand these concepts and assess whether impact investment might be appropriate for their future goals and circumstances.
How many organisations will participate?
Up to 20 organisations will be selected to participate in the 2027 Impact Investment Readiness Program. Two people from each organisation, ideally in leadership positions will participate in the program.
Up to 10 organisations will be allocated to Stream 1 and the remaining 10 organisation allocated to Stream 2 based on their current stage of development.
Is participation free?
Yes.
If your organisation is selected, there are not costs associated for either Stream 1 or 2. Program participants are however committed to dedicate time and capacity for the program per time commitment.
Does completing the program guarantee access to financing or funding?
No.
Participation in the program does not guarantee access to financing or funding. Organisations may determine through the program that impact investment is not the right option for their circumstances, and this is also a valuable outcome.
How much time should participants expect to commit?
Participants should expect to commit time across the 14-week program to engage with online learning, online group sessions and coaching (if in Stream 1). We estimate 4-5 hours a week for Stream 1 and 3-4-hours hours a week required for Stream 2 plus any additional time individuals need to grasp and develop their skill further. If allocated to Stream 2, participants can exit after week 8 and choose to participate in and observe the pitch session by Stream 1 in week 14.
Discover more
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Sydney Modern Tank in the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Credit: Brett Boardman.
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