A song from the heart: how Delta Therapy Dogs is using Funding Centre to keep the joy going

"I was recently lucky enough to accompany one of our teams on a visit to a high-dependency dementia ward to witness first-hand the amazing work they do," Tracey says. "One of the more special moments came when one resident, who is mostly non-verbal, burst into beautiful song when she saw the dog. The nurse explained that the resident had been a professional classical singer when she was young. It's truly amazing how even the smallest interactions with our wonderful Delta Therapy Dogs can spark incredible moments of joy."

Moments like these are only possible because of the volunteers, dogs and funding that keep Delta Therapy Dogs' programs running, and Funding Centre has been a key part of how the organisation finds that funding for well over a decade.

A monthly habit that pays off

"We search Funding Centre for grant opportunities at least once a month," Tracey explains. "It is our main source for finding new funding opportunities."

That consistency has translated into results. In the last 12 months, Delta Therapy Dogs applied for more than 70 grants, with around a quarter of those applications successful so far.

It's a track record worth celebrating given the broader pressures facing the sector. The ACNC's latest Australian Charities Report points to only modest growth in charity numbers and revenue, with the sector's rising expenses continuing to dampen the effect of that growth. Against that backdrop, Delta Therapy Dogs' disciplined, month-in-month-out approach to grantseeking is exactly the kind of consistency that helps grassroots organisations stay resilient.

What's behind the success

Tracey is quick to point to the people and dogs behind the scenes. "I think much of our success can simply be attributed to our amazing volunteers and dogs - their work often speaks for itself," she says. "However, we take care to make sure our applications provide qualitative and quantitative examples of the success of our programs, and that we explain our programs and budgets accurately and succinctly."

Her advice for other grassroots organisations

Delta Therapy Dogs often seeks funding for the same core programs year after year, which brings its own challenge: staying fresh.

"We generally apply for funding for the same programs each year," Tracey says. "Coming up with ways to present those programs with a fresh spin and up-to-date results is key to being noticed."

The start of a new financial year is a natural trigger point for that refresh. With a new set of annual outcomes, updated volunteer numbers, and a fresh budget to work with, July offers grassroots organisations a clean opportunity to update their pitch - rather than reaching for last year's application and simply changing the date. It's also a timely moment to revisit which funders are opening new rounds, and to build a grant calendar for the months ahead rather than applying reactively.

It's a simple but valuable reminder for any grassroots organisation navigating repeat applications, funders want to see momentum, not just repetition.

Get involved

Delta Therapy Dogs relies on the generosity of the community to keep bringing moments of connection and comfort to people in aged care, hospitals, schools and beyond. There are several ways to support their work, including donations, regular giving, fundraising and volunteering.

Visit Delta Therapy Dogs to find out more.