GHD Foundation STEAM Education Innovation Grants
GHD Foundation STEAM Education Innovation Grants
impactful support to young people with their education
GHD Foundation Innovation Grants aim to support grant recipients to develop and test new project ideas that balance creativity with achieving measurable progress in STEAM education. This round welcomes grants supporting early, mid-, and late-stage innovation concepts, fostering fresh approaches that have the potential to create lasting impact.
The Foundation will support innovative research, programs and projects including near-term impact projects through to system-level interventions across the following three focus areas:
Tertiary Scholarships: Granting to provide undergraduate scholarships and/or bursaries for students from underrepresented groups to pursue STEAM-based credentials and qualifications, allowing this focus on supporting the transition from school to employment.
Teacher Capacity: Granting to support teacher recruitment, professional development, and upskilling to better equip STEAM educators in primary and secondary schools working with under-represented students or in rural and remote settings. By empowering these teachers, we help foster a more inclusive and impactful STEAM education experience for all students.
In-School Early Education STEAM Programs (Ages 8-13): Granting to support programs that engage students early in STEAM subjects (ages 8-13) to build foundational skills and inspire long-term interest in STEAM careers.
Five, one-off grants of $75,000 will be offered. If you have lower delivery capacity, smaller grant applications are welcome. Grants will typically be awarded for a one-year project period.
You can view the Grant Guidelines here.
ABOUT ghd foundation
GHD Foundation helps diverse young people (8 to 26 years) to access what they need to successfully navigate the STEAM education and employment systems.
The Foundation does this by identifying, funding, and supporting organisations that deliver impactful support to young people at critical points in their education and employment journey, or that work to remove systemic barrier/s to inclusion.
The Foundation targets initiatives that address equitable access + quality education + STEAM education and employment. It is also eager to embrace risk and investigate innovative, unproven methods to address this complex challenge.
Guidelines
Eligibility
Who can apply
Eligible organisations must be registered as a charity, with Australian organisations required to have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 endorsement.
Charities that do not have DGR1 endorsement are welcome to apply if auspiced by a DGR-1 endorsed charity.
Funding considerations
Funding aligning to the guidelines, can be used for:
- Establishment and/or delivery of programs supporting the engagement, skillbuilding and training in STEAM
- Research for new solutions, including think tanks and the development of new models or strategies to improve STEAM education outcomes
Funding cannot be used for:
- Environmental projects
- General fundraising appeals
- Projects or organisations that are partisan in nature
- Retrospective activities
- Non-charitable activities
Application process
To access and submit an Expression of interest (EOI) and grant application, you must be logged into the Australian Communities Foundation Grants Portal and enter the access code: GHDINV2025.
Please create an account on the Australian Communities Foundation Grants Portal here. If you already have an account, please use your existing username and password. Make sure to note your username and password as you will be able to save and continue the form at a later date.
Preview the Expression of Interest form here.
Preview the Application form here.
Timeframes
- Expressions of Interest (EOIs) open 9:00am AEDT Tuesday 25 March 2025 and close at 11:59pm AEST Thursday 24 April 2025.
- Unsuccessful EOIs will be informed of the outcome of their EOI in early May.
- Shortlisted EOIs will be invited to submit a full application between early May and early June.
- Grant applications must be submitted by 11:59pm AEST on Friday 6 June 2025.
- Applications will be shortlisted by the GHD Foundation evaluation panel. GHD staff will then support by casting a final vote to determine the successful applicants. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by late July 2025.
- Grants will be paid in August 2025, alongside a celebration event showcasing the successful organisations and projects.
All applications must be submitted in full including any supporting documentation by 11:59pm AEST on the closing date. Any incomplete applications or applications received after 11:59pm AEST will be treated as ineligible.
Need help?
If you have any questions in relation to the grant guidelines or require technical assistance with the application process, please contact Claudia Lang (Senior Grants Coordinator, Australian Communities Foundation) on 03 9412 0412 or email [email protected]. Australian Communities Foundation’s office hours are Monday to Friday 9am-5pm.