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      Impact of Government grants

      Government grants have a significant impact on Australia’s welfare, particularly in moments of crisis. However, the urgency to swiftly allocate funds can result in higher fraud rates, rising admin costs and less-than-ideal outcomes for participants.

      In the context where both public expectations and scrutiny are high, the question emerges: how can governments balance speed with diligence – ensuring money gets into the hands of those who need it?

      Our latest report delves into the current state of grant management, unpacking the challenges and potential avenues for shaping a fresh approach.

      Download the report to read more.
       

      Download

      Modernising government grant management

      Achieving exceptional outcomes


      The government grants landscape

      • $95 billion was distributed through grants from the Commonwealth Government in Australia in FY24/25
      • 41% increase in federal grants funding from FY23/24
      • The Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre estimates between 3% to 5.95% of all grants is lost to reported and unreported fraud, corruption and payment error. Applied to 2025 figures, that could be as much as $5.7 billion
      • Typical admin costs run at between 3% and 10% of a program's budget


      Key questions for grants administrators

      • What level of confidence do you have that funding is going to the right recipients? 
      • Are your grant programs achieving the intended outcomes?
      • Does your admin cost percentage truly represent value for money?
      • How much of each program is wasted or lost to fraud?


      Improving grant management workflows and processes

      Grant programs are often set up quickly to aid urgent needs, but this can lead to rushed assessments and potential fraud. Connecting siloed operations, simplifying processes and addressing ageing technology can help administrators deliver an optimal experience.

      An opportunity exists to enhance both the government grant journey for recipients and the integrity of administrative practices. Standardising processes across functions can enhance recipient outcomes, cut costs and foster community trust.

      Overheads consume much of a grants program’s budget, impacting how much funding makes it to recipients – and often administrators don’t have a clear picture of cost to serve. Improving efficiencies by just 1 percent could result in an additional $950 million being available to eligible recipients.



      KPMG's powerful grant  management platform

      From program design and execution to closing and monitoring, KPMG Powered Grants offers an end-to-end solution. Combining our deep expertise with the latest tech, we help governments swiftly set up and manage grants without compromising program integrity.

      We help facilitate timely and targeted funding distribution, allowing administrators to focus on high-value tasks rather than repetitive manual work. Whether you need the complete platform or individual modules, we can make sure you’re optimised at each step of the journey.



      Download the report

      Modernising government grant management: Where speed meets diligence for exceptional recipient outcomes.

       

      Download

      Modernising government grant management

      Achieving exceptional outcomes


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      KPMG Powered Grants

      Modernising government grant management for greater transparency and trust.