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Giving Guide 2023
Giving ideas for the year’s end
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