Run My Way Grant Program NSW 2026: Up to $100,000 Funding

Running clubs, coaching programs, and event organisers across New South Wales now have access to a dedicated grant designed to make running safer and more inclusive for women, girls, and gender diverse people. The Run My Way Grant Program offers funding from $5,000 to $100,000, and applications are open now.

This guide walks through exactly what the program funds, who can apply, what the money can and cannot be spent on, and how to put together a strong application before the closing date.

What Is the Run My Way Grant Program?

The Run My Way Grant Program is a New South Wales Government initiative, administered through Transport for NSW in collaboration with the NSW Office of Sport. It exists to increase women, girls, and gender diverse people’s active and meaningful participation in running, by funding practical safety and inclusion focused projects delivered by running organisations across the state.

The program recognises that safety concerns are one of the most significant barriers stopping women and gender diverse people from running, particularly outdoors and at certain times of day. Rather than funding general sport participation broadly, this program is specifically targeted at initiatives that make running feel and actually be safer, alongside broader inclusion and leadership development within the running community.

Key Dates

Applications opened on 11 August 2026 and close at 1:00pm on 14 September 2026. This is a fixed time cutoff, not just a date, so plan to submit well ahead of the deadline rather than in the final hour.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Grants range from $5,000 to $100,000 per project. This is a genuinely wide range, meaning both smaller running clubs looking to fund a modest local safety initiative and larger organisations planning a substantial, multi-site program can apply at a scale that matches their capacity and ambition.

Because the funding range is so broad, it is worth being realistic about where your project genuinely sits. A small local running group with a single safety initiative should apply for an amount that matches the actual scope of that project, rather than stretching a modest idea to justify a larger grant request. Reviewers are likely to assess whether the requested amount is proportionate to the proposed activities.

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility is built around organisations where running is a primary activity, not just a secondary or occasional one. Based on the official program guidelines, eligible applicant types include:

Incorporated associations. Formally incorporated running clubs and community running organisations.

ASIC-registered companies. Businesses registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission that operate in the running space.

Not-for-profit organisations. NFPs whose work centres on running, athletics, or related community participation.

Sole traders. Individual running coaches or event organisers operating as sole traders, provided they hold a valid ABN.

All eligible applicant types need a valid ABN or Incorporation Number and an established operational presence in NSW. Critically, running needs to be a primary activity of your organisation, meaning running clubs, coaching programs, athletics clubs, and event organisers are the clear target audience, not sporting bodies where running is only a minor, secondary part of a broader offering.

Who Does NOT Qualify

The program guidelines specifically exclude the following from applying:

• Informal, unincorporated groups without a valid ABN or Incorporation Number
• Individuals applying in a personal capacity (as opposed to a sole trader with a genuine running-related business)
• Schools and universities
• Government agencies
• Organisations listed on the National Redress Scheme list
• Sports bodies where running is only a secondary activity within a broader sporting offering, rather than a primary focus

If your organisation runs a broader multi-sport program and running is just one small part of what you offer, it is worth checking directly with Transport for NSW whether your specific running-focused project would still be considered eligible, since the “primary activity” requirement is central to this program’s eligibility criteria.

What Can the Funding Be Used For?

The program funds a genuinely practical range of safety and inclusion focused activities, including:

Women, girls, and gender-diverse focused runs and safety initiatives. Dedicated running programs or events designed specifically with the safety and comfort of women, girls, and gender diverse participants in mind.

Route planning and visibility strategies. Work to identify, assess, and promote safer, more visible running routes for participants.

Buddy systems. Programs that pair runners together for safety and companionship, particularly for those who might otherwise avoid running alone.

Digital safety tools. Technology-based solutions that help runners feel and stay safer, such as safety apps, tracking tools, or communication systems.

Male allyship programs. Initiatives that engage men and boys in actively supporting safer, more inclusive running environments for women and gender diverse participants.

Leadership development. Programs that build leadership capability within the running community, particularly among underrepresented groups.

Delivery-related capital items. Practical equipment tied directly to delivering the funded activities, such as safety devices, temporary lighting for events, and training equipment.

What the Funding Cannot Be Used For

Equally important is understanding what falls outside the scope of this grant. The following are explicitly excluded:

• Permanent lighting infrastructure (temporary event lighting is eligible, but permanent installations are not)
• Retrospective funding for activities that have already occurred
• Wages unrelated to the funded project
• Alcohol
• Prize money
• Land purchases
• Feasibility studies
• General operating costs not tied to the specific funded project

If your project idea leans heavily on any of these excluded categories, it is worth reworking your proposal to focus on the eligible activities described above before applying.

How Competitive Will This Round Be?

Given the wide funding range ($5,000 to $100,000) and the genuinely broad range of eligible applicant types across the whole of NSW, this program is likely to attract a significant number of applications from running clubs, coaching businesses, and event organisers of many different sizes. Smaller, well targeted applications with a clear, specific safety or inclusion outcome are likely to be assessed on their own merits rather than competing directly against much larger applications, since the program appears designed to fund a genuine mix of grant sizes.

Applications that clearly connect their proposed activities to the program’s core goal, increasing safe, meaningful participation in running for women, girls, and gender diverse people, are likely to be the most competitive, rather than applications that treat the grant as general running club funding.

What to Prepare Before You Apply

To put together a strong application, gather the following:

Your ABN or Incorporation Number, along with evidence of your established NSW operational presence.

Evidence that running is a primary activity of your organisation, not a minor or secondary offering.

A clear description of your target participants, specifically how your project will support women, girls, and gender diverse people’s running participation and safety.

A detailed project plan covering exactly which eligible activities (safety initiatives, route planning, buddy systems, digital tools, allyship programs, leadership development, or delivery equipment) your funding request will cover.

A budget that clearly separates eligible from ineligible costs, ensuring you have not accidentally built in excluded items like permanent lighting infrastructure or general operating costs.

Evidence of community need or demand, where possible, such as feedback from your existing running community about safety concerns or barriers to participation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying without running as a primary activity. If running is only a small part of what your organisation does, be prepared to clearly justify why your specific project still fits the program’s eligibility criteria, or consider whether this is genuinely the right grant for your organisation.

Requesting funding for excluded costs. Double check your budget against the explicit exclusions list, particularly permanent infrastructure, wages unrelated to the project, and general operating costs.

Being vague about the safety or inclusion outcome. Because this program has a specific focus (safety and participation for women, girls, and gender diverse runners), a generic running club funding request is less likely to succeed than a proposal clearly tied to that core purpose.

Requesting a grant size that does not match your project’s actual scope. Whether you are applying for $5,000 or $100,000, make sure your budget genuinely reflects the scale of the activities described in your application.

Leaving your application to the last minute. With a fixed 1:00pm closing time on 14 September 2026, submit with time to spare rather than risking last minute technical issues.

Why Running Safety Programs Like This Matter

Running is one of the most accessible forms of physical activity available, requiring little equipment and no facility bookings. Yet safety concerns, particularly around running alone, running in low light, or running in unfamiliar or poorly lit areas, remain one of the most consistently reported barriers stopping women, girls, and gender diverse people from participating as freely as they might like.

The Run My Way Grant Program is a direct, practical response to that gap. Rather than funding broad participation campaigns alone, it backs concrete safety measures, buddy systems, visibility strategies, digital safety tools, and community-driven allyship work, alongside leadership development that helps build a stronger, more representative running community over time. For running clubs and organisers already thinking about how to make their programs more welcoming and safer, this grant offers a genuine opportunity to turn that thinking into a funded, delivered project.

Related Funding Options

If your organisation does not fit this specific program, or if you are running a broader community sport or NFP focused organisation in New South Wales, Grants Assist’s guide to NSW small business grants covers a wider range of funding currently available to businesses and organisations across the state.

If you are still working out which grants your organisation might be eligible for, the Grants Assist eligibility assessment tool is a useful self-service way to narrow down your options before committing time to a full application.

Final Thoughts

The Run My Way Grant Program is a genuinely practical opportunity for NSW running clubs, coaching businesses, and event organisers to fund real safety and inclusion improvements for their community. With a wide funding range from $5,000 to $100,000 and a clear, specific focus, this program rewards applicants who can show exactly how their project will make running safer and more accessible for women, girls, and gender diverse participants.

If running is a primary activity of your organisation and you have a genuine safety or inclusion focused project in mind, this is well worth applying for before the 1:00pm, 14 September 2026 closing time.

Want to keep exploring your options? Grants Assist’s online portal gives you access to detailed, regularly updated information on grants and assistance programs across Australia. Explore the Grants Assist portal to browse more programs like this one, or call us on 1300-005-999 to speak with one of our advisors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much funding can I get through the Run My Way Grant Program?

Grants range from $5,000 to $100,000 per project, depending on the scale of your proposed activities.

When does the Run My Way Grant Program close?

Applications opened 11 August 2026 and close at 1:00pm on 14 September 2026.

Can individuals apply?

Not in a personal capacity, but sole traders operating a running-related business with a valid ABN can apply.

What kinds of organisations are eligible?

Incorporated associations, ASIC-registered companies, not-for-profit organisations, and sole traders where running is a primary activity and the organisation has an established NSW operational presence.

Can I use the funding for permanent lighting or general running club costs?

No, permanent lighting infrastructure and general operating costs are explicitly excluded. The funding is intended for specific safety and inclusion focused activities and related delivery equipment, such as temporary event lighting, safety devices, and training equipment.

Is this program only for women’s running events?

The program’s core purpose is increasing safe, meaningful running participation for women, girls, and gender diverse people, which can include dedicated events for these groups as well as broader initiatives like safety tools, buddy systems, and male allyship programs that support this goal.