The Perpetual 2026 IMPACT Philanthropy Application Program (IPAP) officially opens on Monday 27 October 2025 – and closes Friday 5 December 2025.
If your organisation is considering applying this year – the team at Strategic Grants have some tips to help.
The focus of IPAP is largely on organisational leadership, strategy, capability and outcomes – consider how you can demonstrate you are an effective and impactful organisation, and provide evidence to back it up.
At a recent presentation attended by SG staff, Perpetual said “We consider the application from the point of view of a building inspector, and make sure the applicant has strong foundations. We aren’t there to tell organisations what furnishings, and interior design to have, but are doing due diligence around the foundations”. A great analogy to keep in mind.
We encourage organisations considering applying to take the next steps:
1. If you could not attend the Perpetual 2026 IPAP Information Webinar hosted by FIA (9th October 2025) – we encourage you to watch the video with relevant information. It will be published on the Perpetual IPAP website on 11th October. https://www.perpetual.com.au/fundingopportunities
2. Become familiar with the new grants management platform, Grant Toolbox. Further information is available on the IPAP webpage.
3. The 2026 IPAP Guidelines, FAQs and Sample Application form (2025 version) are available on the IPAP webpage. Be sure to read each document to confirm your organisation is eligible, your intended project/s align with the guidelines, and you have sufficient information to prepare a robust application.
4. Like all grant opportunities, this one may not be right for your organisation. Before you commit time and resources, ensure your organisation can demonstrate and evidence it’s capabilities and competencies. The IPAP round is competitive; of the 2,028 applications (1,100 organisations) received in the 2025 round – 17% were successful.
Your check list to prepare a strong Perpetual IPAP submission
1. Check that your mission statement across your communications (website, social media, published documents etc) and your IPAP application.
2. KPI questions are typically not well answered. Key Performance Indicators need to be specific. If you’re struggling to formulate KPIs – think SMART:
Effectiveness KPIs
How well is your organisation tracking against its Mission? (Effectiveness) This question relates to whether your organisation is achieving its mission, and strategic priorities.
Typically outcomes related, ensure you have clearly defined metrics and targets captured by qualitative AND quantitative data. They may include:
- Increased participation, awareness, etc.
- Changes in behaviour, understanding and attitudes
- Improvements in conditions
- Systemic changes.
Tip: Demonstrate year on year data to show incremental tracking.
Efficiency KPIs
How well is your organisation using its resources such as staff, finances, etc.? (Efficiency)
Efficiencies generally relate to the quantifiable measures that may include:
- Growth/reductions in income and expenses
- Diversification/growth of revenue streams
- Staff retention
- Number of occasions of service delivery to target group/cause
- Other operating efficiencies include clear policy and processes across all areas of the business, etc.
Tip: Demonstrate year on year data to show incremental tracking.
How are you performing against your KPIs?
You are required to give EVIDENCE of how your organisation is performing against the KPIs provided via data and evaluation results. E.g. figures, percentage growth or decline, details of progress, any qualitative results and feedback, etc.
Perpetual do not assess the performance – only that your organisation is tracking the performance. If performance has diminished in any area, you should give a brief explanation as to why. You’ll need both qualitative and quantitative data and evidence to demonstrate performance.
3. External challenges are specific to those issues affecting your sector; demonstrating that your organisation recognise trends, threats or systemic issues that may impact your organisation delivering on it’s mission. For example, policy changes, sectoral impacts.
Tip: Do not include the challenge of revenue or lack thereof – Perpetual understand this is a sector wide challenge.
4. Organisational Risks – All organisations face risks; Perpetual wants to know that your organisation has identified the risks to your organisation’s operations and longevity and what plans you have in place to reduce the impact of these risks. You must highlight at least three risks and mitigation strategies in your answer.
Tip: Refer to your organisations Risk Register.
Project Risks – Likewise, all projects have risks. Perpetual wants to know that you understand what might go wrong and there is a contingency plan in place. A minimum of 3 project risks and mitigation strategies are needed.
5. The project you are requesting funds for should align with the strategic priorities you’ve outlined for the next 12 months (earlier in the application).
6. In the Project Description, ensure you include the need and rationale for the project by providing evidence that demonstrates why it’s necessary. This might be statistics (reference your sources), ABS data, or your organisation’s evaluation data.
7. Reminder: Outcomes and outputs are often confused in grant applications and this can impede a successful outcome. Remember:
- Outputs are the direct deliverables i.e. activities run, instances of program delivery, purchases of equipment, capital works, etc.
- Outcomes are the changes or benefits that happen as a result of those outputs.
The project outcomes are the changes that will occur through the delivery of the activities and project outputs.
The outcomes question is the only assessed question in the project section of the application– read this question carefully and ensure you answer proficiently including providing details of your framework and tool/s for outcomes measurement.
8.Timing – Make sure your project does not start before the Perpetual grant distribution date (30 June 2026).
9. Budget – The amount being requested should correlate exactly with the figures within your budget provided later in the form. Ensure figures are based on real quotes and exact wage rates. Rounded figures of $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 etc. give the unfavourable impression your figures are based on estimates rather than accurate project budget costings.
As with all grant budgets, income and expenditure columns must be equal.
Blogs and resources to assist with IPAP application questions:
- Perpetual’s IPAP Assessment Guidance section on the IPAP webpage – provides invaluable advice on how to address assessable questions.
- Perpetual’s ‘A decade of philanthropy’ report provides some useful insights into IPAP distribution trends which may help you decide the project https://www.perpetual.com.au/insights/insights-from-decade-philanthropy/
- SG Blog, Gender Lens question – Applying a gender lens to grant applications (and why we should).
- SG Blog, Outcomes Vs Outputs – The ins and outs of outcomes and outputs: getting it right in your grant applications
If you would like support in preparing your 2026 IPAP application, reach out to the team at Strategic Grants.