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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
The past 12 months have been challenging times for community organisations across our country, many of which have faced higher demand for services alongside a reduction in financial support. Backing the organisations you are passionate about with untied funding will assist them to continue doing their vital work. In addition to supporting the organisations you know and love, you may want to find something new aligned with your interest areas or make ethical choices with your gift-giving.
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.
Arts & culture
Artists in the Black
Arts Law Centre of Australia
Artists in the Black enables First Nations peoples to determine legal, economic, and social autonomy in their creative and cultural lives. Read more
Storytelling workshops
The Opportunity Lab
The Opportunity Lab is seeking support to run workshops on storytelling through music, comedy and acting for communities who often have limited creative outlets and encounter many barriers that prevent them from expressing themselves, including young people with child protection history, women and children who have experienced family violence and people with mental health issues. Read more
Civic engagement & leadership
Strengthening democracy by skilling up advocates
The Commons Social Change Library
The Commons Social Change Library is an online collection of free educational resources on campaign strategy, community organising, digital campaigning, communications and media. The Commons is seeking support to scale this crucial work of gathering, curating and distributing educational resources related to social change, free of charge to the Australian public. Read more
Supporting public interest journalism: *PS Port Phillip
*PS Media
*PS Port Phillip is an early-stage local news startup from *PS Media with community-building as an integral feature of the model. Public interest journalism is intrinsic to the health of vibrant communities and local democracy. Support *PS Media to extend their *PS Port Phillip pilot into 2023. Read more
Education, training & employment
home.plate: Employment program for young people at risk of homelessness
For Change Co.
For Change Co. supports young people out of homelessness through employment and training programs and is seeking support to provide paid, on-the-job employment and training for young people at-risk of homelessness. Read more
Women’s Work Futures Program
Fitted for Work
Fitted for Work’s vision is economic independence and positive change for women through access to employment. The organisation is seeking support to create a pipeline of 300 work-ready and skilled candidates who will have access to sustainable employment opportunities across the IT, Retail, Administration, Transport, and Construction industries. Read more
Environment, conservation & climate change
Storytelling and community advocacy to prevent heatwave disasters
Sweltering Cities
Sweltering Cities works directly with communities in Australia’s hottest suburbs to campaign and advocate for more livable, equitable and sustainable cities. Heatwaves are our deadliest environmental disaster, yet our preparation, emergency response and communications about them are insufficient the extreme heat of our future. Sweltering Cities is seeking support to advocate for policy to name and categorise heatwaves in Australia. Read more
Protecting the world heritage Daintree Rainforest
Rainforest Rescue
Rainforest Rescue has been protecting and restoring rainforests in Australia and internationally since 1999. The Daintree Rainforest is one of the most ecologically diverse ecosystems in the world and is home to species not found anywhere else on the planet. Rainforest Rescue is seeking support to capture solid evidence of precious populations and protect these species as the Earth warms. Read more
Health, wellbeing & medical research
Shaping Australia’s mentally healthy future
batyr
batyr is a for purpose mental health organisation, created by young people, for young people. batyr delivers preventative education and early intervention programs in schools, universities, and via community outreach. batyr continues to experience increased demand and is seeking support for 19 unfunded batyr@school programs to reach socially and economically vulnerable school communities across QLD, VIC, NSW and the ACT. Read more
Transport to Treatment for Cancer Patients in WA
Cancer Council WA
Cancer Council WA operates a free Transport to Treatment program to support cancer patients in rural and remote areas of Western Australia. With the program being entirely community funded and driven by volunteers, Cancer Council WA is seeking support for fuel costs, as well as annual registration, roadside assistance, insurance and volunteer training. Read more
Minimising alcohol and drug related harms in older Australians
Alcohol and Drug Foundation
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) is Australia’s leading organisation committed to inspiring positive change to minimise alcohol and drug harm. ADF is seeking support for a research project that aims to design, develop and test an intervention targeting high risk older adults (over 65) to prevent and reduce harms from alcohol and its interactions with other drugs. Learn more
Housing & homelessness
Making a Home Campaign
StreetSmart Australia
StreetSmart Australia is raising funds this giving season to support vulnerable Australians who are facing rental stress, eating less meals and cannot afford the basics to make somewhere feel like home. This funding will be distributed to frontline homelessness services to provide shelter, food and the simple comforts of bedding and linen to vulnerable Australians. Read more
Supporting people transitioning into affordable housing
SPL Living Foundation
SPL Living Foundation provides permanent supportive home environments including short and long-term affordable accommodation for vulnerable individuals in the Hunter region of NSW. The organisation is seeking support to provide clients with essentials such as new mattresses, linen and hygiene products. Read more
Indigenous communities
Mentoring for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women
Stars Foundation
Stars Foundation is seeking funding to support more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to successfully participate in school and build positive and independent futures. The Foundation will establish new programs in New South Wales in 2023 and other locations where gender inequity persists. Read more
Protecting a site of cultural significance
The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania
Wybalenna is one of the most significant colonial history sites in Tasmania, especially for Aboriginal peoples, being the place of exile and detention for people rounded up and relocated by the colonial administration. It’s now owned by the Aboriginal Community, but funds to maintain let alone rebuild heritage structures are limited. The Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania is seeking support to restore a 1900s timber shearing shed at Wybalenna before it is lost. Read more
VACCA Christmas appeal
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
Every year, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) organises Christmas events for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in their foster care, kinship care, residential care and other programs. Donations to VACCA’s Christmas appeal will support them to organise and provide a great Christmas to children and young people in care, their friends, family and community as well as gifts to exchange. Read more
Individual & family services & support
Grant a Christmas wish to a child in care
Berry Street Victoria
Berry Street supports thousands of children and young people in out-of-home care with specialist services to help them recover from the effects of trauma. Each year, Berry Street gives Christmas hope to those in its care to make them feel special, loved and deserving. Your donation allows Berry Street’s staff, foster carers and kinship carers to buy exactly the right gift that will best meet children’s wishes and needs. Read more
Food relief for disadvantaged Australians
St Merkorious Charity
St Merkorious Charity provides over 3,500 nutritious and delicious meals and hampers weekly to clients across Greater Sydney, including people experiencing homelessness, culturally diverse communities, migrants, refugees, youth at risk and veterans. This funding will support their Food Relief Program to meet rising demand. Read more
International aid & development
Christmas appeal to support women farmers
ActionAid Australia
Women’s livelihoods have been devasted by climate change and the pandemic. ActionAid’s Christmas appeal will support women farmers in developing countries keep their families fed, safe and healthy. Learn more
Digital learning for rural Cambodian students
Plus Education
Plus Foundation will provide disconnected and under-resourced Cambodian schools with non-internet dependent Digital School Kits which enables access to in-school digital and hybrid learning opportunities for around 600 students each year. Read more
Social inclusion & justice
Creating an effective and equitable social security system
Economic Justice Australia
Economic Justice Australia is seeking support to advocate for the reform of Australia’s social security system so that people who are vulnerable and/or experiencing violence have access to equitable support. Read more
Freedom Wheels Bike Training for children living with a disability
Solve-TAD
Solve-TAD changes the lives of people living with a disability by providing personalised technology, equipment, and services. The organisation is seeking support to teach children to ride custom-built bikes through its Freedom Wheels Bike Training program. Read more
Childcare for Refugee and Asylum Seeker women
River Nile Learning Centre
River Nile Learning Centre provides hope and education opportunities to refugee and asylum seeker women to acquire the language, life and work skills to thrive in the community. RNLC is seeking support to provide refugee students with free childcare to allow them to attend classes and concentrate on their studies. Read more
Gift ideas with impact
Food for Everyone: Art posters that support people experiencing food insecurity
Food for Everyone is a ‘culinary poster shop’ that collaborates with renowned chefs, cooks, and restaurateurs, transforming recipes into artworks. For each poster sold, the equivalent of 10 meals is donated through charity partner SecondBite.
Gifts that celebrate Indigenous culture and native foods
Kakadu Plum Co. is a social enterprise celebrating Indigenous culture and Australian native ingredients. Explore Kakadu Plum’s online shop, which includes Christmas hampers, stocking stuffers and gift ideas for kids.
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.
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.
Ethical fashion
The Social Outfit is a fashion label with a difference, providing employment and training to people from refugee and new migrant communities in clothing production, retail, design and marketing.
Gifts from Australian women-led microbusinesses
Global Sisters exists to make business possible for women, enabling them to be financially resilient and stand tall. Shop from over 3000 artisan, handmade & limited edition products.
Support emerging musicians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Music in Exile is a not-for-profit record label and artist services organisation aimed at increasing access to resources and building professional networks for artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds working in the music industry.
How to have a plastic-free festive period
The Australian Marine Conservation Society has put together a list of tips and tricks to reduce your plastic waste during the holiday season.
Food for Everyone: Art posters that support people experiencing food insecurity
Food for Everyone is a ‘culinary poster shop’ that collaborates with renowned chefs, cooks, and restaurateurs, transforming recipes into artworks. For each poster sold, the equivalent of 10 meals is donated through charity partner SecondBite.
Gifts that celebrate Indigenous culture and native foods
Kakadu Plum Co. is a social enterprise celebrating Indigenous culture and Australian native ingredients. Explore Kakadu Plum’s online shop, which includes Christmas hampers, stocking stuffers and gift ideas for kids.
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.
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.
Ethical fashion
The Social Outfit is a fashion label with a difference, providing employment and training to people from refugee and new migrant communities in clothing production, retail, design and marketing.
Gifts from Australian women-led microbusinesses
Global Sisters exists to make business possible for women, enabling them to be financially resilient and stand tall. Shop from over 3000 artisan, handmade & limited edition products.
Support emerging musicians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Music in Exile is a not-for-profit record label and artist services organisation aimed at increasing access to resources and building professional networks for artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds working in the music industry.
How to have a plastic-free festive period
The Australian Marine Conservation Society has put together a list of tips and tricks to reduce your plastic waste during the holiday season.
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