Make a difference this giving season
We’ve handpicked some of our most-loved causes and organisations to help make your giving decisions easy this holiday season.
How to use this guide
- Select your area of interest or browse the full list
- Discover an organisation or cause you care about
- Make a grant request from your Australian Communities Foundation fund or donate directly.
Make a difference
this giving season
We’ve handpicked some of our most-loved causes and organisations to help make your giving decisions easy this holiday season.
How to use this guide
- Select your area of interest or browse the full list
- Discover an organisation or cause you care about
- Make a grant request from your Australian Communities Foundation fund or donate directly.
How to support these initiatives
If you have a fund at Australian Communities Foundation, the easiest way to request a grant is to log in to your Fund Portal, click the Grant Requests tab and search for the organisation under the ‘Search for other grantees’ header. If you would prefer to speak with a member of our team about your grant request, call us on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au
To make a direct donation to any of these initiatives, feel free to reach out to the organisation directly.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU GIVE
Don’t have a fund with us? Learn more about how we can help you get started with a smarter approach to giving.
Support Our Flagship Funds

Impact Fund
The Impact Fund is a movement of funders and changemakers working for a fairer and more sustainable Australia. Together, we support the boldest solutions to the biggest issues facing people across our country today.
Request a transfer from your fund using the instructions here

National Crisis Response Fund
The NCRF is a collective fund that focuses on filling gaps in existing crisis response. Join us in getting resources out to the communities who need them most.
Request a transfer from your fund using the instructions here

Impact Fund
The Impact Fund is a movement of funders and changemakers working for a fairer and more sustainable Australia. Together, we support the boldest solutions to the biggest issues facing people across our country today.
Request a transfer from your fund using the instructions here

National Crisis Response Fund
The NCRF is a collective fund that focuses on filling gaps in existing crisis response. Join us in getting resources out to the communities who need them most.
Request a transfer from your fund using the instructions here

Arts & Culture

Artist Relief Fund WA
Digital grocery cards for artists
WA
The Artist Relief Fund WA (ARFW) supports the people who entertain us when they need it the most. ARFW is offering digital grocery cards between now and Christmas to help performers and crew in temporary need continue to put food on the table. Read more

Common Ground
Amplifying First Nations voices and stories
National
Common Ground is a First Nations not-for-profit and collective of First Nations people changing systems through storytelling. The organisation facilitates opportunities for First Nations people to enter the storytelling space and thrive within it. Read more

Outer Urban Projects
Supporting emerging artists in Melbourne’s outer north
VIC
Outer Urban Projects collaborates with emerging artists and their communities in the outer northern suburbs of Melbourne. The organisation is on a mission to platform unheard voices, and to offer employment, training, and social and creative engagement for emerging artists and their communities in the outer north. Read more
Civic Engagement & Peacebuilding

Australian Democracy Network: Disinformation
Disinformation Masterclasses: Equipping campaigners with the tools to respond
National Impact Fund 2024 Partner
A healthy democracy needs an informed public, but the rise of disinformation puts this essential foundation at risk. As we approach the next federal election, this threat is more urgent than ever. The Australian Democracy Network has developed a training masterclass to equip campaigners and organisers with the tools they need to identify, assess and counter disinformation. Read more

Digital Rights Watch
Ensuring fairness, freedoms and fundamental rights in the digital world
National Shortlisted for the Impact Fund
Digital Rights Watch defends digital rights in Australia, ensuring fairness, freedoms and fundamental rights for all people who engage in the digital world. The organisation’s vision is for a digital world where all humanity can thrive, and where diversity and creativity flourish. Read more

PEN Australia
Protecting freedom of expression and defending writers around the globe at risk of being silenced
International
PEN Sydney has been protecting freedom of expression for more than 90 years. The organisation defends writers both in Australia and around the globe who are at risk of being silenced. The organisation’s work includes raising awareness about writers who are in prison and fighting censorship of the media, the internet and publishing. Read more

Reset Tech Australia
Advocating for policy to prevent harm to Australians in online environments
National
Reset Tech Australia specialises in research and policy on digital risks and online harms. The organisation advocates for policy to prevent harm to Australians in online environments – including harm to democracy and public debate. Read more

Think Forward
Centring intergenerational fairness in policymaking
National
Think Forward works to see intergenerational fairness and dialogue centred in Australian policymaking. The organisation is working to bring the voices of younger people into economic debate and build the case for a parliamentary inquiry into intergenerational fairness. Read more

Transparency International Australia
Tackling corruption by shining a light on illegal practices and unfair laws that weaken democracy
National
Transparency International Australia is the Australian national chapter of an international coalition against corruption, operating in over 100 countries. The organisation tackles corruption by shining a light on the illegal practices and unfair laws that weaken our democracy. Read more

Education, Training & Employment

Arise Foundation
Providing financial freedom to survivors of family violence
National
Arise Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on the empowerment of economic abuse survivors through financial freedom. Through customised programs, they work to build a community of resilient women on the path to sustainable financial independence. Read more

National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition
Mobilising First Nations youth to design their education
VIC Shortlisted for the Impact Fund
The National Indigenous Youth Education Coalition backs the voice and agency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and students. The organisation is committed to long-term, systemic change to ensure our learning systems are designed for self-determined futures, where young mob feel strong in who they are. Read more

Nullu Badi Ngudyubay Academy
Indigenous-led education in Central Queensland
QLD
The Nullu Badi Ngudyubay Academy (NBNA) will be an Indigenous Independent school in Central Queensland offering a unique educational experience for students from Year 7 – 13. The Academy’s vision is to create a culturally inspired, holistic learning environment that offers wraparound support and multi-generational engagement for students and their families. Read more

The Bread & Butter Project
Social enterprise bakery providing employment pathways for people seeking refuge and asylum
NSW
The Bread & Butter Project is Australia’s first social enterprise bakery, and since 2013, has invested 100% of profits into providing training and employment pathways for people seeking refuge and asylum, who aspire to become bakers. This program has been shown to have lasting intergenerational impact, and helps boost trainees’ prospects of successful resettlement and employment while building a strong sense of belonging. Read more

Environment, Conservation & Climate Change

Climate Justice Coalition
Building power for climate justice and uniting the movement
National Impact Fund 2024 Partner
Australia’s leading climate organisations are coming together to build a strong people-powered movement for climate action led by those most impacted by the climate crisis. As a united coalition, these organisations are working together to develop a strategy for COP31 (the 2026 UN climate summit, which Australia is likely to host) and launch publicly next year with 1,000 volunteers organising, mobilising and shifting the narrative in the lead-up to the election and COP31. Read more

For the Love of Wildlife
Combatting wildlife extinction and promoting ethical conservation
WA
For the Love of Wildlife has spearheaded several international campaigns to combat wildlife extinction and promote ethical conservation practices. The not-for-profit is currently seeking funds for the PanGaia Project – a large-scale rewilding initiative to restore outback Australia’s original savannah and revive its biodiversity. Read more

Happy Paws Happy Hearts
Connecting people experiencing social isolation through care for rescue animals
QLD, TAS + NSW
The Happy Paws Happy Hearts mission is to bring socially isolated people and rescue animals together to care for and train animals in care at local rescue shelters across Australia. Working hand in hand with RSPCA and other animal shelters, Happy Paws Happy Hearts provides a safe space and community for vulnerable people to come together and share a mutual love of animals, while learning new skills and giving back in a meaningful way. Read more

Maggie’s Rescue
Finding forever homes for companion animals
NSW
Maggie’s Rescue exists to create a world where no animal is in need of rescue. As a co-operative of volunteer foster carers and passionate animal advocates, the organisation works to find animals their forever homes through its Foster to Adopt Program. The co-operative also focuses on community education, desexing initiatives and advocacy for the introduction of new legislation to give greater protection to all animals. Read more

Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council
Protecting one of the world’s last great river systems in WA
WA
Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council is a First Nations-led organisation dedicated to protecting one of the world’s last great river systems. With the Fitzroy River under threat from unsustainable development, the Council’s work is crucial in ensuring the Martuwarra Fitzory River remains intact for future generations. Read more

Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance
Locking in ambitious federal election commitments for the Murray-Darling
VIC + SA
The Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance (the Alliance) is a collaboration of Conservation Councils from across the Basin joining forces to restore Australia’s largest river system back to health. The Alliance’s campaign has become the national voice advocating for Basin rivers and communities, and thanks to its work, for the first time in a decade the federal government has made a serious commitment to restore the rivers of the Murray-Darling. Read more

Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network
Building a movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people for climate justice
National Shortlisted for the Impact Fund
Seed is building a movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people for climate justice. The Network’s vision is for a just and sustainable future with strong cultures and communities, powered by renewable energy. Seed amplifies the voices of frontline communities most affected by climate change, recognising that they hold the knowledge and solutions for a climate-just future. Read more

First Nations Leadership

Common Threads
A new organisation and fund to harness the power of First Nations movements
National Impact Fund 2024 Partner
Common Threads is a new organisation that harnesses the power of emerging First Nations leadership and changemaking. Led by a First Nations team with expertise in movement building, Common Threads exists to support First Nations leaders to deliver policy wins that create a fairer, more sustainable future for all. Read more

Kimberley Aboriginal Womens Council
Aboriginal women and girls leading the charge for gender justice and equality across the Kimberley
WA
The Kimberley Aboriginal Women’s Council (KAWC) is a community-controlled organisation led by Aboriginal women and girls, dedicated to fostering environments where they can thrive and leading the charge for gender justice and equality across the Kimberley. Read more

Woor-Dungin
Partnerships for self-determination: Connecting First Nations leaders with supporters
VIC
Woor-Dungin is a not-for-profit organisation walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples toward self-determination. The organisation connects First Nations-led organisations with donors and pro bono supporters, and encourages the development of networks and skills. Read more

Health, Wellbeing & Medical Research

Health Justice Australia
Helping health, legal and social services work together to better support people with complex and intersecting needs
National
Health Justice Australia helps health, legal and social services work together to better support people with complex and intersecting needs. The organisations works to change how systems respond to complexity through evidence-based innovation and strategic advocacy. Read more

Rural Doctors Foundation
Rural doctors giving country people better health
National
Rural Doctors Foundation is a national rural health charity that exists to give those in rural and remote regions better access to lifesaving healthcare. Led by rural doctors and community members, the organisation works on projects that directly help rural and remote people improve the health of their communities. As well as farming communities, and regional townships, the organisation supports First Nations health and the vibrancy of Indigenous communities. Read more

Technology for Ageing and Disability SA
Assistive technology for people living with disabilities
SA
Technology for Ageing and Disability SA (TADSA) is at the forefront of innovation for independence for people living with disabilities. Using the power of Assistive Technology, TADSA enhances people’s lives by creating transformative solutions for inclusive development, fostering accessibility, participation and community engagement. Read more

Housing & Homelessness

A Place to Call Home
Co-creating a rental system that works for everyone
National Impact Fund 2024 Partner
A Place to Call Home is a new national campaign bringing together renters and some of Australia’s leading not-for-profits with expertise in housing. Anika Legal, Better Renting and the Consumer Policy Research Centre are working with renters to build a national roadmap for a rental system that works for everyone and offers renters safe, secure and affordable homes. Read more

Everybody’s Home Campaign
Campaigning for more social and affordable homes to fix Australia’s housing crisis
National Shortlisted for the Impact Fund
Everybody’s Home is a national campaign to fix the housing crisis. An Impact Fund Partner, the campaign was launched by a coalition of housing, homelessness and welfare organisations to achieve the change needed so everybody has a safe and decent place to live. The campaign is focused on advocating for more social and affordable housing and providing immediate relief for Australians in chronic rental stress. Read more

Wilya Janta
Promoting agency in the design and construction of housing in remote First Nations communities
NT Shortlisted for the Impact Fund
Seeking to re-invent the remote housing design and construction lifecycle, Wilya Janta puts the tenant at the centre of the design process with the core aim of building culturally appropriate homes. Wilya Janta is currently working with communities in Tennant Creek to build demonstration homes, with a view to engaging larger-scale housing initiatives and government funders, and replicating the consultative process to facilitate communities’ visions of affordable, well-designed housing. Read more

Individual & Family Services & Support

Multicultural Youth SA
Leadership, advocacy and direct support services for multicultural young people and families in SA
SA
Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc (MYSA) is a leading community-based, not-for-profit organisation that provides a diverse range of services and programs to support young people and young families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds living in South Australia. Read more

Orana House
Crisis accommodation for women and children in WA affected by family violence
WA
Orana House provides crisis accommodation and wraparound services to women and children in WA affected by family violence. The organisation is seeking funding for its Court Support service to accompany clients in court and help them navigate the stressful process of applying for restraining orders. Read more

Refugee Advice & Casework Service
Providing legal support to people who have fled persecution to find safety in Australia
National (based in NSW)
The Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) is a nonprofit providing essential legal support to people who have fled persecution to find certainty and safety in Australia. Applying for protection in Australia is a complex and arduous process. RACS lawyers provide trauma-informed legal support for people of all nationalities, religions and gender identities, and advocate for fairer and more humane asylum policies. Read more

Sisters Inside
Supporting criminalised women, girls, children and families
QLD
Sisters Inside is an independent community organisation based in Queensland, which advocates for the collective human rights of women and girls in prison, and their families, and provides services to address their individual needs. The organisation provides services in all women’s prisons in Queensland, and works with women, girls and their children post-release in the community. With an overarching goal of reducing the number of women in prison, the organisation also supports women to avoid going to prison in the first place, to apply for parole as soon as they are eligible, and to stay out of prison following release. Read more

StreetSmart Australia
Housing support for people facing systemic barriers
National (based in VIC)
StreetSmart takes action against homelessness by raising vital funds and awareness for small, ‘hard to reach’ grassroots homeless services and projects. StreetSmart’s end-of-year appeal is raising funds for people facing systemic barriers to housing, including people with companion animals, children and young people, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Read more

International Aid & Development

ActionAid Australia
A global movement of women standing together to claim their human rights and campaign against injustice
International
ActionAid Australia works across 70 countries and represents a global movement of women standing together to claim their human rights and campaign against injustice. ActionAid partners with local women’s organisations, who know exactly what changes their communities need – and support them to design and lead programs that will make those changes happen. The organisation focuses on three priority areas: climate justice, economic justice, and women’s rights in emergencies. Read more

Grass Skirts Project
Advancing gender justice in Papua New Guinea through sports
International (PNG)
Grass Skirt Project (GSP) pioneers social change in Papua New Guinea (PNG) by harnessing the unifying power of sports to address gender-based violence and promote equality. The organisation works to challenge societal norms, empower communities, and foster a culture of respect and equality, making strides towards a more inclusive and equitable PNG. Read more

Social Inclusion & Justice

Antipoverty Centre
People with direct experience of poverty and unemployment leading advocacy for better social policy
National
The Antipoverty Centre is a collective of activists, advocates and researchers with direct, contemporary experience of poverty and unemployment. The Centre’s mission is to shift how people speak about and respond to poverty and unemployment. The Centre works with other grassroots groups to ensure the voices and rights of people on the lowest incomes are at the centre of social policy development and discourse. Read more

Human Rights Law Centre
Strategic legal action and advocacy to support communities to eliminate inequality and injustice
National Shortlisted for the Impact Fund
The Human Rights Law Centre uses strategic legal action, policy solutions and advocacy to support people and communities to eliminate inequality and injustice and build a fairer, more compassionate Australia. The Centre’s vision is for an Australia where everyone is free to lead a decent, dignified life; where our laws, policies and institutions promote fairness and equality; and where people and communities have the power to address inequality and injustice, and ensure that governments always act in the public interest. Read more

Racial Justice Centre
Using the legal system to achieve racial justice
National
The Racial Justice Centre is Australia’s first community legal service for racial justice. Founded by lawyers with extensive legal expertise and experience of intersectional discrimination, the Centre exists to eliminate racism and racial injustice, using the legal system, education and reform. Read more

Trans Justice Project
Building a powerful trans-led movement for justice and equality
National
The Trans Justice Project (TJP) is the first, trans-led, national campaigning organisation. Its mission is to build a powerful, trans-led movement standing up for freedom, justice, and equality for all trans and gender diverse people. TJP works with communities, loved ones, and allies to bring about a future where all trans people are safe, celebrated, and free. Currently, TJP is focused on combatting anti-trans disinformation by helping network and coordinate the responses of broader civil society. Read more

Gift Ideas with Impact

Savvy Giving: A roadmap for contemporary philanthropy in Australia
Savvy Giving: A roadmap for contemporary philanthropy in Australia is the latest edition of the essential guide to contemporary giving in Australia. As a not-for-profit collaboration between Australian Communities Foundation and philanthropy expert Genevieve Timmons, Savvy Giving is a great ethical gift idea for the giving season. All proceeds from the sale of the book support ACF’s mission to activate giving for a fairer and more sustainable Australia.

Curated with Conscience: Ethical and sustainable Christmas hampers
Curated with Conscience offers hampers filled with goods from purpose-driven businesses. The organisation’s vision is to see these businesses thrive, normalise the practice of ethical procurement, and financially support social justice, humanitarian and environmental protection not-for-profits.

Supply Nation: First Nations businesses
Supply Nation’s Festive Season Catalogue features a selection of Certified Indigenous businesses offering diverse products and services. From apparel to children’s books, hampers and products infused with native ingredients, there is something for everyone.

Welcome Merchant: Refugee Powered Business Directory
Welcome Merchant features over 150 businesses in Australia that are owned by refugees and people seeking asylum. As a social enterprise, Welcome Merchant acts as a directory, making it easy for conscious shoppers to find unique gift hampers and products and cultural events operated by underrepresented entrepreneurs, all while making a meaningful social impact.

Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Shop: Feminist Maker’s Store
Each gift purchased from QVWC SHOP this festive season directly invests in Victorian women entrepreneurs and women-led small businesses.

Mettle: Gift boxes supporting women experiencing homelessness
Mettle is a national gift delivery service employing women who are experiencing homelessness due to domestic and family violence.

Asylum Seekers Centre: Gifts supporting people seeking asylum
The Asylum Seekers Centre provides practical and personal support for people in the Sydney community seeking asylum. Every purchase helps the Centre to continue to welcome, empower and support people seeking asylum.

The Big Issue: Gifts supporting people experiencing homelessness
The Big Issue supports and creates work opportunities for people experiencing homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage. Gift options include the Big Issue’s 2025 Calendar, magazines and subscriptions.
Have a question?
Contact us to discuss your end-of-year giving. Our team is here to help.
Make a difference this giving season
We’ve handpicked some of our most-loved causes and organisations to help make your giving decisions easy this holiday season.
How to use this guide
- Select your area of interest
- Discover an organisation or cause you care about
- Make a grant request from your Australian Communities Foundation fund or donate directly.
Make a difference
this giving season
We’ve handpicked some of our most-loved causes and organisations to help make your giving decisions easy this holiday season.
How to use this guide
- Select your area of interest
- Discover an organisation or cause you care about
- Make a grant request from your Australian Communities Foundation fund or donate directly.
How to support these projects
If you have a fund at Australian Communities Foundation, the easiest way to request a grant is to log in to your Fund Portal, click the Grant Requests tab and search for the organisation under the ‘Search for other grantees’ header. If you would prefer to speak with a member of our team about your grant request, call us on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au
To make a direct donation to any of these projects, please feel free to reach out to the organisation directly.
HOW WE CAN HELP YOU GIVE
Don’t have a fund with us? Learn more about how we can help you get started with a smarter approach to giving.

Peacebuilding & Anti-Racism
At this difficult time, we invite you to support peacebuilding and anti-racism initiatives that promote equity for a fairer society.

Conversations promoting peace with justice and non-violence for people and the planet
Sydney Peace Foundation
Sydney Peace Foundation showcases solutions that prove how peace with justice is possible and inspires people to create that reality in communities. Support the Foundation to champion local and global peacemakers who promote non-violent justice. Read more

Empowering voices through ethical storytelling
Our Race
Our Race is an anti-racism charity that delves into storytelling practices and empowers First Nations and refugee/migrant communities in Australia. The organisation is seeking support to help marginalised communities navigate complex power dynamics of story extraction to better advocate for creative control and ownership of their stories. Read more

Fighting disinformation and hate speech
Human Rights Law Centre
The Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) advocates for a fairer Australia through legal action and policy solutions. HRLC is advocating for reforms to prevent the spread of disinformation including laws that require digital platforms to be accountable for how disinformation is spreading. Read more

Arts & culture

Young Changemakers: Drama workshops for disadvantaged youth
St Martin’s Youth Arts Centre
St Martin Youth Arts Centre believes that nobody should be excluded from creativity and everyone should be able to express themselves. The Centre is seeking support to ensure the sustainability of its Young Changemakers program of free inclusive drama workshops. Read more

Edge Ensembles: Community Youth Theatre
Western Edge
In 2024, Western Edge artists will be developing their community youth theatre productions – known as ‘Edge Ensembles’ – right across Melbourne’s western suburbs, reaching some of Victoria’s most disadvantaged youth. Read more
Civic engagement & leadership

Privacy Now campaign
Digital Rights Watch
Digital Rights Watch’s mission is to ensure that Australians are equipped, empowered and enabled to uphold their digital rights. The organisation is seeking support for its Privacy Now campaign to build momentum for privacy reform. Read more

Protecting the right to protest in Australia
Australian Democracy Network
In the last 20 years, Australian parliaments have passed more than 12 laws that limit Australians’ right to protest. Australian Democracy Network is seeking support to continue protecting the right to protest as a cornerstone of any healthy democracy. Read more

Education, training & employment

Business Mentoring for First Nations entrepreneurs
Ngarrimili
Ngarrimili proudly presents Murran, a groundbreaking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business, Arts, Hospitality, and Retail Hub, strategically situated on Wadawurrung Country in Geelong’s central business district. The social enterprise is seeking support to provide targeted up-skilling and mentoring for First Nations entrepreneurs. Read more

Green gap year: a values-driven learning and employment program
CERES
Green Gap Year engages youth, people experiencing vulnerability in accessing employment, and people wanting a values-aligned for-purpose job or green career change. CERES is seeking support to help build skills, confidence, connection and wellbeing in young people to live, learn and earn for the Earth. Read more

Scholarships for aspiring students from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds
Deakin University
Deakin University is committed to providing enabling students from a refugee or asylum seeker background to access higher education. The University is seeking support to provide five new Sanctuary Scholarships. Read more

Environment, conservation & climate change

Victorian Nature Stewards Program
Victorian National Parks Association
Nature Stewards is an introductory environmental education program that connects curious people with their local and wider habitats as well as local environment volunteer groups. VNPA is seeking support to deliver the 10-week program – the only one of its kind in Australia. Read more

Fast, Fair and Forever: Building Federal political support to phase out fossil fuels
350 Australia
350 Australia is a grassroots network with a vision for a fairer world where we are all safe from the impacts of climate change. The network is seeking funding to build support for a plan to phase out fossil fuels that is fast, fair and forever. Read more

First Nations communities

First Nations economic justice
First Nations Futures
First Nations Futures is a First Nations-led funding platform providing unrestricted and ongoing funding for First Nations community-driven initiatives. The organisation is seeking supporters to co-invest in a future that meaningfully centres community-led solutions. Read more

Ngali: Empowering Young First Nations People
Indigenous Futures Foundation
Indigenous Futures Foundation is fostering a brighter future for First Nations young people. The organisation is seeking support for its Ngali program, built on the pillars of co-design and cultural engagement, to empower young First Nations people in Cherbourg, Queensland through education, social and employment opportunities. Read more

Small Seeds: Big Reads Program
Magabala Books
Magabala Books is Australia’s leading First Nations publishing house. The Aboriginal-owned and led organisation is seeking funding for its Small Seeds program, which supports early childhood literacy and ensures children across Australia have access to culturally relevant books they love. Read more

Health, wellbeing & medical research

Tackling the barriers to culturally appropriate healthcare
World Wellness Group
World Wellbeing Group run a social enterprise clinic in Brisbane dedicated to providing healthcare to marginalised migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum. The social enterprise is seeking funding for a Multicultural Peer Support Worker role that will be a source of cultural engagement and attendance support to patients. Read more

Social and emotional wellbeing space for First Nations health workforce
Weenthunga Health Network
Weenthunga is a First Nations-led organisation growing and nourishing the First Nations health workforce. The Network is seeking support to sustain and grow its Social and Emotional Wellbeing Space, which provides culturally safe, trauma-informed, healing-oriented, self-determined services to First Nations people working in health, wellbeing and healing roles. Read more

Housing & homelessness

Making a Home for Rough Sleepers
StreetSmart
StreetSmart supports people who are fleeing domestic violence, recovering from natural disasters, or moving into accommodation after experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. The organisation is seeking support to grow funds for emergency accommodation, ongoing tenancy, material items to set up the household, along with food and groceries. Read more

Renters Election 2025 Campaign
Better Renting
Better Renters is a community of renters working together for stable, affordable, and healthy homes. The community organisation is seeking support for a national advocacy campaign calling for action on housing affordability and the energy efficiency of rental homes. Read more

Individual & family services & support

Christmas Hamper Program
Foodbank NSW/ACT
Foodbank is supplying Christmas Hampers for families living in rural and regional areas of NSW/ACT facing food insecurity. With the program experiencing higher demand, Foodbank is seeking support to relieve financial burden and provide a sense of normality for more families during the holiday season. Read more

Community Food Pantry
Banksia Gardens Community Services
Banksia Gardens delivers programs and services to low-income residents in Melbourne’s north. The organisation is seeking support for its Community Food Pantry, which provides food relief for more than 200 residents every week. Read more

International aid & development

DisasterLink: Disaster response in high-risk countries
Give2Asia
Give2Asia partners with trusted local relief organisations within their network to enable funding to communities in high-risk countries. Support the DisasterLink Emergency Response Fund to enable partners to help communities rebuild and recover long after the immediate crisis is over. Read more

Reproductive health in Bangladesh
CARE Australia
CARE Australia supports women around the globe to save lives, defeat poverty and achieve social justice. The organisation is seeking funding to support Rohingya people in Bangladesh, focusing on 30,000 refugees, especially women and their families. Learn more

Safe Homes for Survivors
Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation
Blue Dragon helps kids in crisis throughout Vietnam. The organisation is seeking support to provide safe homes and stable incomes to survivors of human trafficking and their families. Learn more

Social inclusion & justice

Family and domestic violence support for refugee and migrant women
Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services
Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Services is seeking support for its EmpowerHer program, which provides culturally appropriate counselling/advocacy services for refugee and migrant women experiencing family and domestic violence. Read more

Yarning Ripples: Supporting First Nations strength in preventing sexual violence
Body Safety Australia
Body Safety Australia promote childhoods free from violence where children enjoy equitable and respectful relationships. The organisation is seeking funding to support their First Nations-led project team to spend three months facilitating rural and regional yarning consultations with First Nations communities. Read more

Gift ideas with impact

Support First Nations businesses
The Supply Nation Festive Season Catalogue 2023 features a selection of Certified Indigenous businesses that offer a variety of gifts. From skin care products, to gift hampers and cultural adventure tours, there is something for everyone.

Refugee-powered businesses
Welcome Merchant is a social enterprise acting as a directory for businesses led by refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, making it easy for conscious shoppers to find unique products and cultural events operated by underestimated entrepreneurs.

Calendars supporting women in prison
Each year Prison Network gifts every woman in prison in Victoria with a calendar. This year the organisation has collaborated with women in and out of prison to create their own. Proceeds from the calendars purchased will go towards the Prison Network’s in-prison programs for women.

Deadly Science x National Geographic Book Series
Deadly Science and Australian Geographic have published an eight-book series aimed at primary school readers. Each book covers engaging topics that will inspire primary-aged kids to ask questions, experiment and learn about how scientific principles impact the way we live.

Gift boxes supporting women experiencing homelessness
Mettle is a national gift delivery service employing women who are experiencing homelessness due to domestic and family violence.

Wine for a cause
Goodwill Wine sources quality wines across Australia and distributes profits to a charity of your choosing from a list of over 300 organisations.

Flowers that Empower
The Beautiful Bunch is a social enterprise offering training and employment to women from refugee backgrounds who are experiencing challenges to finding employment. Floral arrangements from bouquets to wreaths can be delivered across Melbourne or collected from their North Fitzroy studio.

Community cooking experiences
Free to Feed is a social enterprise that empowers people seeking asylum and refugees to overcome barriers to social and economic inclusion in Australia through training, employment shared food experiences. Gift a loved one a spot in the Free to Free kitchen this festive season.

Gifts supporting people seeking asylum
The Asylum Seekers Centre provides practical and personal support for people in the Sydney community seeking asylum. Every purchase helps the Centre to continue to welcome, empower and support people seeking asylum.

Support First Nations businesses
The Supply Nation Festive Season Catalogue 2023 features a selection of Certified Indigenous businesses that offer a variety of gifts. From skin care products, to gift hampers and cultural adventure tours, there is something for everyone.

Refugee-powered businesses
Welcome Merchant is a social enterprise acting as a directory for businesses led by refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, making it easy for conscious shoppers to find unique products and cultural events operated by underestimated entrepreneurs.

Calendars supporting women in prison
Each year Prison Network gifts every woman in prison in Victoria with a calendar. This year the organisation has collaborated with women in and out of prison to create their own. Proceeds from the calendars purchased will go towards the Prison Network’s in-prison programs for women.

Deadly Science x National Geographic Book Series
Deadly Science and Australian Geographic have published an eight-book series aimed at primary school readers. Each book covers engaging topics that will inspire primary-aged kids to ask questions, experiment and learn about how scientific principles impact the way we live.

Gift boxes supporting women experiencing homelessness
Mettle is a national gift delivery service employing women who are experiencing homelessness due to domestic and family violence.

Wine for a cause
Goodwill Wine sources quality wines across Australia and distributes profits to a charity of your choosing from a list of over 300 organisations.

Flowers that Empower
The Beautiful Bunch is a social enterprise offering training and employment to women from refugee backgrounds who are experiencing challenges to finding employment. Floral arrangements from bouquets to wreaths can be delivered across Melbourne or collected from their North Fitzroy studio.

Community cooking experiences
Free to Feed is a social enterprise that empowers people seeking asylum and refugees to overcome barriers to social and economic inclusion in Australia through training, employment shared food experiences. Gift a loved one a spot in the Free to Free kitchen this festive season.

Gifts supporting people seeking asylum
The Asylum Seekers Centre provides practical and personal support for people in the Sydney community seeking asylum. Every purchase helps the Centre to continue to welcome, empower and support people seeking asylum.

Looking for other giving ideas?
Support our flagship funds

Impact Fund
The Impact Fund is a movement of funders and changemakers working for a fairer and more sustainable Australia. Together, we support the boldest solutions to the biggest issues facing people across our country today.
Request a transfer from your fund using the instructions here

National Crisis Response Fund
The NCRF is a collective fund that focuses on filling gaps in existing crisis response. Join us in getting resources out to the communities who need them most.
Request a transfer from your fund using the instructions here

Impact Fund
The Impact Fund is a movement of funders and changemakers working for a fairer and more sustainable Australia. Together, we support the boldest solutions to the biggest issues facing people across our country today.
Request a transfer from your fund using the instructions here

National Crisis Response Fund
The NCRF is a collective fund that focuses on filling gaps in existing crisis response. Join us in getting resources out to the communities who need them most.
Request a transfer from your fund using the instructions here
Have a question?
Contact us to discuss your end-of-year giving. Our team is here to help.
In today’s fast-evolving philanthropic landscape, funders face the challenge of moving beyond traditional funding practices to maximise impact.
Philanthropy is no longer confined to a small group of high-net-worth individuals or established foundations and trusts. Now, many people have their fingerprints on effective giving, including people with large or moderate amounts to give. With this in mind, here are four tips from Savvy Giving author Genevieve Timmons to encourage focus and enhance the value of every philanthropic dollar.
Tip 1: Understand the contemporary philanthropy ecosystem
The first tip is to recognise and understand the evolving philanthropy ecosystem. Many people are actively engaged with the work of philanthropic giving and mobilising resources for a better world, and everyone has a role to play in securing impact from philanthropic dollars.
It’s important to recognise the people who take on roles as wealth distributors, value adders and value creators. This includes board members, staff and advisors of giving funds, membership networks, community and corporate leaders, policymakers and researchers, managers of technology platforms and information systems, and many more.
Most importantly, value creators such as not-for-profits and community leaders are pivotal in bringing money to life. They take forward the strategic intent of funders, connecting with the many causes and communities philanthropy is there to serve. Remember without the value creators, all we have is money.
Tip 2: Seek out peer alignment and collaboration
With the increase in dollars and new giving infrastructure, there are more ways for funders to share knowledge and form partnerships for greater efficiency and impact. Funders are now moving beyond working in silos and choosing their giving focus based on personal experience and known networks.
Countless players are bringing new partnership options to the table, offering ways to pool funds and collectively share knowledge. Large scale funders are inviting collaborations to achieve impact at scale; community foundations are offering a safe and informed pair of hands for donor-advised funds and geographic focus; specialist networks, giving circles and social entrepreneurs are leading out with sharpened focus on specific issues and targeted giving. All these players welcome peer engagement and shared vision on how and where philanthropic dollars flow.
Aligning with relevant partners who share your values helps maximise the reach and effectiveness of your giving. Other mutual benefits include support for practical management of giving, increased creativity in approaches and ideas, risk analysis and mitigation, and shared knowledge and learning that can be tailored to ensure best outcomes.
Take the chance to share knowledge and collaborate with others through initiatives like the ACF Impact Fund or Mannifera, and watch the value your granting can deliver.
Tip 3: Maintain an open mind and continual learning stance
A learning mindset is essential for effective giving and does not always require significant time or resources. Learn by sharing evidence, monitoring emerging trends, and engaging with specialist networks and the peak body Philanthropy Australia.
Leaning into new conversations and emerging ideas enriches your practice, and helps you apply contemporary thinking to your work. Information, data and stories are all readily accessible and willingly shared across the philanthropic ecosystem. Concepts such as Pay What It Takes, lived experience, self-determination, community-led, place-based, and systems change are all worth exploring to enhance your impact.
Learning involves both looking outward at the impact of the work you are funding, and inward at your practice and progress as a funder. Capturing insights from everyone involved and keeping an open mind will lead to continuous improvement – ‘we don’t know what we don’t know’. This commitment to learning is a perfect match with the pace of change in the philanthropic landscape – the best impact is assured with an open dashboard.
Tip 4: Find the right balance in funding partnerships
Funders are increasingly aware of how administrative demands and due diligence processes can drain resources unnecessarily. The final tip here is to take the lead in lightening the ‘funding burden’, which means ensuring the cost to potential partners seeking funds and reporting on grants is fair and appropriate.
Wherever possible, promote light-touch relationships as the ideal for everyone involved, which also lightens the load for funders. Practical ways to do this include offering untied funding, encouraging simple proposals, and designing grant agreements to meet compliance needs without being overly demanding.
When engaging with potential grant recipients and funding partners, proposals will ideally cover four critical components to shape a strong initiative:
- Values alignment: What is the vision for the world we are contributing to, and what are the values that underpin this work?
- Practical information: What are the relevant governance and compliance considerations, timeframes, budgets, operational requirements and fiduciary details?
- Creativity: How is the human face and social identity of the work brought to life?
- Commitment to learning: Where is evidence and past lessons built into the work, and how are learning loops built into the work going forward?
A final word on risk and compliance from Georgia Mathews, philanthropy consultant and former ACF Director of Philanthropy, as quoted in Savvy Giving: “The longer I am in the space the more evident it is that we need to unlearn some of our long-held beliefs around the question of risk…… Ask yourself if the organisation is eligible to receive funds from my entity? Have I taken steps to ensure I’ve paid the funds into the correct account, and confirm they have been received? If the answer is yes, from a compliance standpoint, you’re good. Philanthropic grants are gifts, and any other conditions we place upon them are a choice.”
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Philanthropy today is about more than just giving away money – it’s about being an active participant in creating positive change. By understanding the contemporary landscape, seeking collaborations, committing to learning, and finding the right balance in funding partnerships, you can make sure your philanthropic dollars have the greatest possible impact. These four savvy tips will help you give more thoughtfully so you can make a lasting impact on the causes that matter to you.
Learn more about Savvy Giving and order your copy here: savvy-giving.com
Australian Communities Foundation receives funding proposals from a wide range of organisations through our Granting Opportunties platform. See below for this month’s granting recommendations from our Grants Team.
Are you an ACF Fundholder? Make a grant request from your Fund by contacting our Philanthropy Team on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au.

Securing Support for Australia’s Kinship Care Families Through Education and Advocacy
Kinship Alliance Australia (Auspiced by Grandcarers SA)
Nationwide
Kinship Alliance Australia aims to support kinship carers – providers of family-based care within the child’s extended family and friendship network – by providing information, raising awareness, and advocating for policy changes that address the unmet needs of all kinship carers and the children in their care. With this project, its ultimate goal is to establish a National Kinship Care Organisation to sustain advocacy to improve the life circumstances of all kinship care families.
What we like about this initiative
Kinship carers are currently not afforded access to government support for the essential care they provide to children. Kinship Alliance Australia is seeking funding to resource the extensive advocacy and community education it is undertaking to address the inequality experienced by kinship carers.
Read more

Theatre Access Program for regional youth
Monkey Baa Theatre
Regional, Nationwide
Monkey Baa is an Australian theatre company empowering young people to shape their lives through creative experiences. The Theatre Access Program ensures equitable access to creative theatre experiences and the associated outcomes for young people experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.
What we like about this initiative
Arts programs are typically under-resourced in regional and rural areas but provide critical opportunities for youth social, emotional, and creative development. This program from Monkey Baa Theatre contributes to addressing this gap in arts access for regional youth. Read more

100 Project to enhance the skills and wellbeing of First Nations youth
Queensland Youth Connections Indigenous Corporation
Regional, Queensland
This Indigenous-led project is a strategic initiative designed to positively impact the lives of young Indigenous individuals, providing them with the skills, support, and connections needed for long-term success and wellbeing. The project’s training approach prioritises cultural safety by incorporating Indigenous perspectives, traditional knowledge, and community values, ensuring cultural sensitivity and respect for a safe learning experience.
What we like about this initiative
The 100 Project is a community-based initiative designed to empower First Nations Youth in Far North Queensland by providing them with the skills, support, and connections to step into adulthood with agency and self-determination. Read more

Public Policy Editor to Provide Better Information that Supports Greater Civic Engagement
The Conversation
ACT/Nationwide
The Conversation aims to scale the impact of its journalism by hiring a Canberra-based Public Policy Editor, who can engage closely with public service and politicians and follow discussions about policies and key issues in Parliament House. The editor would identify opportunities where The Conversation can work with academics to share research and expertise with policymakers and a wider audience, encouraging a more engaged and discerning citizenry.
What we like about this initiative
Public interest journalism is vital to a healthy democracy. The Conversation is seeking funding for a Canberra-based Public Policy Editor to follow policymaking and discussions of key issues. Read more

Safeguarding the mighty Martuwarra-Fitzroy River
Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council
Regional, WA
The Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council (MFRC) is an alliance of Elders from independent nations of the Fitzroy River Catchment in the Kimberley, WA defending against the destruction of cultural heritage, ecological damage, poverty and climate change. MFRC’s vision is to ensure Martuwarra, one of the Earth‚Äôs last great River systems is protected and continues to flow for the benefit of all present and future generations.
What we like about this initiative
Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council is an entirely First Nations-led organisation, working to protect and sustain the National Heritage-listed Martuwarra River for the cultural, social and environmental health of the Kimberley. Read more
Looking for other granting ideas? Find a wide range of funding proposals on our Granting Opportunities platform. Filter by location, focus area and target population to find a project that aligns with your funding interests.
Australian Communities Foundation is proud to be supporting GiveOUT Day on Thursday 17 October. GiveOUT Day is Australia’s annual day of giving to LGBTQIA+ not-for-profit organisations and initiatives, with 100+ participants of all sizes, regions and focus areas. 
GiveOUT Day is an uplifting and powerful opportunity to come together and make a meaningful difference in rainbow communities. GiveOUT Day provides an opportunity for the sector to raise funds for their vital causes and raise awareness of the incredible work that they do.
Every dollar you donate to participating LGBTQIA+ not-for-profits through GiveOUT Day is matched by GiveOUT (T&C apply). That’s twice the funding, double the impact! 
Due to ongoing stigma and discrimination, LGBTQIA+ communities still face disproportionate rates of suicide, homelessness and bullying. But the sector is chronically underfunded, with just 5 cents of every $100 donated reaching our communities.‚ÄØ
Together, we can help grow the pot of gold under the rainbow, and ensure organisations on the front-line have the resources they need to create a safer and more inclusive Australia.‚ÄØ
For those interested in supporting these organisations, we have curated a selection of granting opportunities below.
Are you an ACF Fundholder? Make a grant request from your Fund by contacting our Philanthropy Team on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au.
Please note this is not a complete list of organisations doing critical work in this space. Fundholders who would like to discuss their giving in this area can contact our Philanthropy Team.
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of structuring your giving with Australian Communities Foundation, click here.

PrideAbility – Next Gen
PrideAbility | $3,000 üìç NSW
PrideAbility (formerly Rainbow Bridge Social Club) is a community of LGBTQIA+SB people with intellectual disability, autism and psychological disability. PrideAbility exists because queer people exist in every community, but there aren’t enough social supports for people with disability.
Why we recommend: Many LGBTQIA+SB people with disability experience isolation, mental health issues and lack of connection with their community at higher levels than other members of the community. PrideAbility provides essential social support, education and mentoring so that members can be active in the queer community, explore identity and build connections in safe and supported ways.
Learn more

The Trans Justice Project
The Trans Justice Project | $10,000 üìç Nationwide
The Trans Justice Project is the first, trans-led, national campaigning organisation. Its mission is to build a powerful, trans-led movement standing up for freedom, justice and equality for all trans and gender diverse people. The Trans Justice Project is working with communities, loved ones and allies to bring about a future where all trans people are safe, celebrated, and free.
Why we recommend: Anti-trans lobbyists are using targeted disinformation campaigns to attack the lives, rights and healthcare of the trans and gender diverse community. There is an urgent need to support campaign efforts to combat this. The Trans Justice Project is a leader in combating anti-trans disinformation.
Learn more

2025 Queer Displacements Conference
Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN)‚ÄØ| $7,500 üìç Nationwide
The Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN) is a non-government and non-profit organisation dedicated to advocating for LGBTQIA+ people who have been forced to leave their homes due to persecution based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics. It is the first registered LGBTQIA+ refugee-led organisation in Australia whose mission is to create a future where every LGBTQIA+ forcibly displaced person not only survives but thrives, and where their rights and dignity are not just recognised but celebrated and protected.
Why we recommend: While the number of LGBTQIA+ displaced people grows, only a few stakeholders are addressing their unique needs. FDPN responds to the growing needs of sexually and gender diverse refugees. FDPN is also hosting the Queer Displacements Conference – the only event in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region fully led by LGBTQIA+ refugees.
Learn more

Kimberley Blak Pride Festival 2025 – A First Nations Queer Festival
Kimberly Blak Pride‚ÄØ| $10,000 üìç WA
Kimberly Blak Pride provides a voice and safe space for Kimberley Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sistagirls, Brothaboys and LGBTIQA+ mob.
Why we recommend: Kimberly Black Pride is the only gathering for LGBTIQA+ First Nations people in the Kimberly region of WA. Located over 2,000 kilometres from Perth, this community is one of the most remote Aboriginal communities in WA. Facing significant isolation, Kimberly Black Pride brings voice and visibility to Queer Blak mob throughout the Kimberley region.
Learn more

Support trans and gender diverse (TGD) people to get out and stay out of violent prisons
Beyond Bricks & Bars | $10,000 üìç VIC
Beyond Bricks & Bars provides life-saving support and advocacy for criminalised trans and gender diverse (TGD) people in prison and out. The project exists to (1) prevent TGD people from entering prison, (2) ensure those returning home from prison are supported and connected to stay out, and (3) build support for TGD community still inside to ensure their survival.
Why we recommend: Beyond Bricks & Bars is a trans-led community project working alongside criminalised TGD people. The project takes a holistic approach by providing material aid and direct social work support, while advocating for systemic change.
Learn more

Queer Arabs Australia
Queer Arabs Australia | $2,500 üìç Nationwide
Queer Arabs Australia was established to support LGBTQIA+ Arab/Middle East and North Africa (MENA) communities.
As the leading national body, Queer Arabs Australia creates safe spaces across Australia for people who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ Arab/MENA community.
Why we recommend: Queer Arabs Australia provides culturally safe and responsive resources and support to LGBTQIA+ MENA communities to access information, services and social events. A minority within a minority, LGBTQIA+ Arab/MENA members face discrimination in accessing support for migrants because of their sexual and gender identity.
Learn more
Earlier this month, the Federal Government announced a $4.7 billion package to accelerate action to end gender-based violence. But some say it’s not enough.
With a focus on frontline responses, the five-year package includes $3.9 billion for legal services for women fleeing violence. While an increase of $800 million on existing support, the funding still falls short of meeting community need, say service workers.
Advocates are also concerned about the equitable distribution of funding. Because of social inequality and discrimination, some groups of people experience significantly higher rates of violence generally, including family violence. Philanthropy has a role to play in ensuring these groups receive targeted support.
While the remaining government funds are earmarked for local responses including prevention efforts, a greater focus on prevention is essential to end this crisis.
For those interested in supporting organisations tackling Australia’s domestic violence crisis, we have curated a selection of granting opportunities below.
Are you an ACF Fundholder? Make a grant request from your Fund by contacting our Philanthropy Team on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au.
Please note this is not a complete list of organisations doing critical work in this space. Fundholders who would like to discuss their giving in this area can contact our Philanthropy Team.
If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of structuring your giving with Australian Communities Foundation, you can learn more here.

Financial and social wellbeing support for migrant and refugee survivors of family violence
inTouch | $80,000 | VIC
The inSpire Financial Wellbeing project supports migrant and refugee survivors of family violence to build financial literacy and social connections.
Why we recommend: inTouch specialises in supporting refugee and migrant women and families affected by family violence, tailoring services to meet the specific needs of these communities.
Learn more

The Galiwin ôku Women’s Space Operational Costs
Galiwin’ku Women’s Space | $80,000 | NT
Galiwin’ku Women’s Space (GWS) is seeking support for its women’s shelter and other operations to support survivors of domestic violence in Galiwin’ku and Gapuwiyak in East Arnhem Land.
Why we recommend: GWS is a grassroots organisation offering community-led, culturally sensitive services in the Top End.
Learn more

EmpowerHer: Expanding access to economic empowerment
Zahra | $40,300 | Nationwide
The Zahra Foundation’s program is a vital resource for women affected by family violence, helping them¬†create pathways to employment, education and training. After nine years of delivering the program in South Australia, Zahra is seeking support to extend its national reach and run the program online.
Why we recommend: Zahra is thinking creatively about how to reach survivors who typically experience barriers to services, such as those in regional and rural areas.
Learn more

Family Domestic Violence Court Support Service
Orana House | $50,000 | WA
Orana House provides emergency crisis accommodation and wraparound services to women affected by family violence. The organisation is seeking funding for its Court Support service to accompany clients in court and help them navigate the stressful process of applying for restraining orders.
Why we recommend: Orana’s Court Support service offers crucial assistance to survivors at a time of acute need.
Learn more

Specialised counselling for survivors of sexual violence with an intellectual disability
WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention | $35,000 | QLD
WWILD provides specialised counselling and case management to women and gender-diverse people who have an intellectual disability and who are survivors of or at risk of sexual violence.
Why we recommend: Support for domestic and sexual violence survivors with disabilities is often overlooked and underfunded. WWILD has become a leader in this space in Queensland and provides guidance to other states.
Learn more

Sydney Women’s Fund Domestic Violence Appeal
Sydney Community Foundation | $100,000 | NSW
The Sydney Women’s Fund is raising funds for grassroots charity partners across NSW to provide essential services including crisis support, trauma recovery, legal support, prevention and education, and advocacy for systems change.
Why we recommend: For over 15 years, the Sydney Women’s Fund has supported women and built a strong network of organisations promoting women’s safety and freedom.
Learn more

Embedding gender equality and preventing violence
Our Watch | Nationwide
Our Watch is a national leader in the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia. The organisation works to embed gender equality and prevent violence where Australians live, learn, work and socialise.
Why we recommend: Our Watch plays a key role in the national conversation on prevention and provides leading resources and workplace training to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women.
Visit website

Counselling for men’s behaviour change
No to Violence | Nationwide
No to Violence is the peak body for organisations working with men to end family violence. The organisation has worked directly with men for 30 years, including through its Men’s Referral Service, which provides counselling for men looking to change their behaviour.
Why we recommend: Men’s behaviour change is crucial to addressing the crisis. By encouraging men to take accountability and promoting non-violent ways to manage conflict, behaviour change programs are key for prevention.
Visit website
Australian Communities Foundation receives funding proposals from a wide range of organisations through our Granting Opportunties platform. See below for this month’s granting recommendations from our Grants Team.

Reviving Cultural Knowledge Practices to Protect and Heal Country
Firesticks
Nationwide
Firesticks is a national Indigenous network that empowers communities to protect and enhance Country and wellbeing by reviving Cultural knowledge practices. For years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have managed Country by using fire sticks for carefully timed burns that improve the health of the land and native species.
What we like about this initiative
Firesticks is leading the way in resourcing First Nations communities to restore the cultural wellbeing and identity of their Country through Cultural Fire. Firesticks marries efforts for environmental stewardship and health, cultural revival and self-determination for First Nations to enhance the health of land and people.
Read more

A co-design project for engaging youth in social change
Spark Youth Hub
New South Wales
Recent movements like School Strike 4 Climate demonstrate the rapid growth in high school students’ activism, but there is a gap in capacity and infrastructure to support their efforts. In response, Spark Youth Hub is a new co-design project engaging high school students in social change by providing training and resources in community organising and grassroots advocacy. Spark Youth Hub aim to establish dedicated learning and co-designing spaces with students and young people from southwest Sydney and develop its pilot program.
What we like about this initiative
Spark Youth Hub is addressing a gap in social change programs for high school students, helping teenagers become proactive participants in Australian democracy. Read more

Save Corner Inlet and Stop Sea Dumping in Bass Strait
Friends of the Earth
Victoria, Regional
Friends of the Earth (FoE) has recently uncovered attempts by oil company Esso to dump thousands of tonnes of toxic waste in the Bass Strait, and build a poisonous and radioactive breaking yard in South Gippsland, Victoria. FoE has crafted an informed grassroots campaign plan to create community empowerment and movement cooperation to stop this from happening. Esso’s is the first major offshore oil and gas asset decommissioning project in Australia, meaning what it can get away with will set a precedent for an emerging $70 billion environmental problem nationwide. Now is a crucial time to influence public opinion with grassroots activism before any regulatory or government decisions are made.
What we like about this initiative
Friends of the Earth have a rigorous practice in co-designing campaigns with communities. This campaign will engage and resource communities in South Gippsland to take action against toxic waste dumping in the Bass Strait. Read more

Theatre for Change: Empowering Young People Through the Art of Performance
Australian Theatre for Young People
Nationwide
Australian Theatre for Young People will deliver drama workshops in public secondary schools, focusing on lower socio-economic areas that often lack access to high-quality arts education. These workshops are designed to cultivate essential soft skills such as communication, collaboration, empathy, and confidence.
Led by professional teaching artists with extensive experience in theatre and performance, the skills-based sessions will be tailored to meet the needs of participants.
What we like about this initiative
This project specifically works with the diverse needs of young people at risk, those with disabilities and neurodivergent people to develop soft skills and cultivate self-esteem. Their programs are evidence-based and reach communities that typically have limited access to creative opportunities. Read more

Amber’s Alert: Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy & Treatment Planning in Mental Health
HER Centre
Nationwide
To address the gap in timely and accurate diagnosis of mental health conditions, HER Centre propose to develop a diagnostic toolkit with revised scales and objective biological markers to help determine the most effective treatment strategies. This kit, called ‘Amber’s Alert’ would be used to assist clinicians in general healthcare facilities to provide enhanced treatment planning for those with mental health conditions.
What we like about this initiative
Diagnostic tools for mental illness are severely underdeveloped in comparison to physical illness. This project of the HER Centre, supported by ACF Fund Amber’s White Light, seeks to develop a toolkit that will have tangible impacts on the accuracy of diagnosis in the early stages of mental illness. Read more
Looking for other granting ideas? Find a wide range of funding proposals on our Granting Opportunities platform. Filter by location, focus area and target population to find a project that aligns with your funding interests.
Australian Communities Foundation’s recent Tackling Inequality Learning Circle, with Tracey Martinovich, Zoe Chan, Simon Quilty and Maiy Azize provided great insights for better giving to support safe, affordable and sustainable housing in Australia.
From declining home ownership and social housing to rising homelessness and rental stress, our national housing crisis requires a combination of interventions. Learn more about the powerful role philanthropy can play with the summary below.

If you would like to learn more about initiatives addressing the housing crisis and best-practice giving, please contact our team on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au

Zoe Chan, Principal Lawyer, Anika Legal
Zoe serves as the Principal Lawyer at Anika Legal, a free not-for-profit legal service for renters, fighting for a fair housing system through casework, innovation and systemic advocacy. Zoe is responsible for developing and delivering Anika Legal’s service to address rental inequity.

Maiy Azize, National Spokesperson, Everybody’s Home
Maiy Azize is the National Spokesperson for Everybody’s Home, a national campaign calling on the government to fix Australia’s housing crisis to bring balance back to the system, so that everyone has a secure home. Maiy has also written several major studies, including Priced Out, a report that analyses Australia’s renting crisis and proposes solutions to make housing more affordable.

Simon Quilty, CEO, Wilya Janta
Simon Quilty serves as CEO of Wilya Janta, an Aboriginal not-for-profit cultural consultancy that promotes community agency in the design and construction of housing in Indigenous communities. Simon has a strong background in innovation, research and evaluation within the remote Warumungu context, and is dedicated to making homes that are safer for Indigenous culture and celebrate climate.
Australian Communities Foundation receives funding proposals from a wide range of organisations through our Granting Opportunties platform. See below for this month’s granting recommendations from our Grants Team.

Agriculture for the Great Barrier Reef
Sustainable Table
Queensland, Regional
The Atherton Tablelands Integrated Collaboration (ATIC) is a program from Sustainable Table to enable and scale regenerative agriculture opportunities within the Atherton Tablelands, a major agricultural region located close to the fragile Great Barrier Reef system. This approach would enhance the landscape’s biological vitality and improve the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef.
What we like about this initiative
Sustainable Table is one of the few NFPs advocating for and enabling regenerative land management practices in the agricultural sector. This project has an innovative approach to stewardship of the Great Barrier Reef, starting at the source to address the quality of water flowing from the Atherton Tablelands down to the Reef.
Read more

Combatting Anti-Trans Discrimination
Trans Justice Project
Nationwide
Trans Justice Project (TJP) has been a leader in combatting anti-trans disinformation campaigns that threaten the lives, rights, and health care of trans and gender-diverse people. Building on the success of its existing campaigns, TJP will continue to strengthen the responses of civil society, government, and media by launching an informative resource with the latest research and strategies on combating anti-trans disinformation.
What we like about this initiative
This is a timely and responsive initiative from Trans Justice Project to shift public perceptions and protect the welfare and lives of trans people. Read more

Sports and Homelessness
Streetsmart Australia
Nationwide
StreetSmart is using sport and recreation programs to create change for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and those experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or vulnerability, including children. These programs help build connection and resilience among those vulnerable to homelessness, improving health, wellbeing and social inclusion outcomes. They also help reduce the risk of children and young people becoming involved in petty crime and ending up in youth detention.
What we like about this initiative
StreetSmart has a successful track record of supporting high-impact, community-based projects that otherwise have limited fundraising capacity. This is a powerful initiative that leverages sport and recreation to provide connection and support for people experiencing homelessness and social isolation. Read more

Elevating Regional Narratives, Empowering Emerging Editors
The Suburban Review
Nationwide, Regional
The Suburban Review is strengthening its regional focus in 2024/25 by launching ‘The Regional Review,’ a publishing avenue dedicated to amplifying regional narratives and nurturing emerging editorial talent. The organisation plans to publish diverse works from at least 40 regional writers and artists with unique perspectives and artistic merit.
What we like about this initiative
With the decline in publishing opportunities and funding for regional stories in Australia, this project has the capacity to connect readers and underrepresented writers across geographic divides while strengthening the national socio-cultural fabric. Read more

Caring for Country Grant Round
Groundswell Giving
Nationwide
The Caring for Country Grant Round is a First Nations-run and led grants program that supports the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities focused on climate justice and caring for Country. Groundswell is raising funds to support 25 First Nations projects dedicated to protecting and caring for Country, culture and communities.
What we like about this initiative
This program engages First Nations community leaders to manage the decision-making process of the grant round, allowing First Nations people to address climate justice on their terms. This is a timely opportunity to empower First Nations self-determination. Read more
Looking for other granting ideas? Find a wide range of funding proposals on our Granting Opportunities platform. Filter by location, focus area and target population to find a project that aligns with your funding interests.
It’s NAIDOC Week – a time to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud, celebrates the unyielding spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We are invited to listen, learn and engage in meaningful action as we journey towards a future where the wisdom and contributions of First Nations communities are fully valued and respected.
Join us in supporting First Nations self-determination this NAIDOC Week. See below for a curated list of First Nations-led community initiatives seeking support or find a local NAIDOC Week event where you can share in the celebrations.

Campaign to end incarceration and family violence against First Nations people
Change The Record
Change the Record is a national First Nations-led campaign calling on our government to invest in holistic early intervention, prevention and diversion strategies that foster strong and safe communities. Change the Record advocates for smarter evidence-based solutions that improve safety, cut imprisonment rates, and address the root causes of family violence. Read more

Core capacity support for First Nations funding
First Nations Futures
First Nations Futures is driving economic justice through a First Nations-led funding platform that provides an alternative pathway for First Nations community-driven initiatives to receive unrestricted and sustainable funding. The platform enables all people in Australia to collectively redistribute wealth and invest in initiatives that support intergenerational change. First Nations Futures is seeking funding to meet immediate core capacity needs to scale and sustain long term impact. Read more

Power to Country: Sustainable solutions for remote communities
Original Power, GARUWA and Ngardara Collective
As Australia transitions to renewable energy, First Nations communities experiencing extreme energy insecurity risk being left behind. A collaboration between GARUWA, Original Power and Ngardara Collective, Power to Country is reconnecting a network of First Nations people with sustainable energy solutions to support their return to Country. Read more

Seeding Strengths Grants: Empowering youth-led First Nations movements
The Foundation for Young Australians
Seeding Strengths is designed to shift resources to empower First Nations young people and their communities through grant-making and increasing philanthropic connections for long term sustainability. In 2024, Seeding Strengths is seeking an additional $50k to redistribute to young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations fighting injustice and building Blak power over the next 12 months. Read more
This is not an exhaustive list of First Nations-led community initiatives you can support this NAIDOC Week. You can find a wide range of funding proposals on our Granting Opportunities platform.
Filter by ‘First Nations communities’ to find other initiatives that align with your funding interests.