The Honig Foundation

To be eligible, your organisation must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• An Australian registered charity with the ACNC or a Not-for-Profit with either an Incorporation Certificate and/or an ABN
• DGR 1 status and/or an auspicing arrangement is required
• Endorsed as a Tax Concession Charity (TCC)
• Be either: A small to medium-sized for-purpose organisation, or an established organisation seeking support for a new and innovative initiative (Small charities: annual revenue under $500,000; Medium charities: $500,000–$3 million).

Types of projects and activities that are ineligible:

• Political activities such as lobbying or policy advocacy
• Projects for public policy development
• Advancement of Religion(s)
• Administration and operating costs, such as marketing and utilities. The Honig Foundation acknowledges that some overhead costs are necessary for each project. However, this exclusion applies to funding requests that are solely for overhead or capacity building. Such projects are supported through its other avenues
• Retrospective support of existing programs/ projects
• Initiatives that promote animal welfare/rights
• Initiatives that support special interest groups or causes. The Honig Foundation is committed to inclusion and seeks to support organisations that actively embrace and promote it. Therefore, its funding prioritises organisations that cater to the broader community rather than focusing solely on specific groups (cohort segmentation is acceptable). At the same time, the Honig Foundation warmly welcomes initiatives led by or supporting First Nations communities.
• Health Research
• International charities and causes.

The Honig Foundation aims to support small to medium-sized, for-purpose organisations (Small charities: annual revenue under $500,000; Medium charities: $500,000–$3 million) or established organisations seeking support for new and innovative initiatives that test new approaches to solving problems or enhancing access.

Initiatives considered for funding must be:

• Achievable within 12 months
• Designed to address specific barriers and improve access to arts or heritage or cultural experiences for:

– People with Disabilities: Australian citizens living with physical, sensory, intellectual, cognitive, psychosocial, mental health, or developmental impairments
– Older Australians: Australian citizens, typically those aged 65 and over (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people).

• Include a co-contribution (monetary or in-kind). Co-contribution support could take various forms, including an organisation covering the cost of office staff time, utilities, marketing, or other related expenses. The co-contribution might also come from other funders who support these core activities. The Honig Foundation understands that requiring co-contributions can sometimes be a barrier, so it is open to discussing what kinds of support would be considered appropriate in each case
• Deliver measurable outcomes, evaluation and performance.

Initiatives considered for funding must also be aligned with the values of the Honig Foundation:

• Equity: The Honig Foundation is committed to promoting fairness and justice in the distribution of resources and opportunities, ensuring that all individuals can thrive regardless of their background or circumstances
• Innovation: The Honig Foundation embraces creative and disruptive solutions to address social challenges, encouraging new approaches that drive meaningful change
• Collaboration: The Honig Foundation believes in the power of partnerships and working together with funders and funding partners to amplify collective impact
• Integrity: Transparency, honesty, and accountability are fundamental to The Honig Foundation’s actions, ensuring that it operates with the highest ethical standards
• Sustainability: The Honig Foundation is dedicated to supporting long-term solutions that consider environmental, social, and economic sustainability, creating a future where communities can flourish.

The Honig Foundation will support organisations and leaders that:

• Value the experience of those with lived experience
• Are community-focused and actively listen with empathy and compassion
• Demonstrate capacity for innovation and service improvement
• Are committed to organisational learning and growth.

Other selection criteria include:

• May have the potential for expansion and/or replication
• Projects that may deliver a lasting impact beyond the funding period
• The project proposes an approach, model, or initiative that has not previously been implemented in Australia (to the best of your knowledge), offering fresh insights or solutions to a recognised issue
• Pilot projects that may lead to the rollout of more sustainable long-term initiatives
• Involves meaningful collaboration with community partners, cultural institutions, or cross-sector stakeholders
• Embeds evaluation and learning methods that may contribute to sector knowledge
• Offers co-designed or participant-led elements that centre lived experience.