The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund (CMCF) Ltd was established in 2018 with an initial contribution of $5 million from the ACT Government and is administered by Hands Across Canberra. The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund allows support to be directed to priority needs in a timely way. The ACT Government continues to make annual contributions to the fund. In 2023-24 the ACT Government supported the fund with $808,987.
The CMCF is dedicated to building a connected, inclusive, and thriving Canberra. Over the past six years the fund has supported numerous initiatives to bridge divides, empower those in need and improve living conditions for our most vulnerable community members.
The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund (CMCF) has:
- Supported 231 projects, directly contributing $2.68 million to the community.
- Leveraged over $6.46 million for Canberra through our network of peer foundations, generous individuals, and local businesses.
- Grown number of grant applications from 69 in year 1 to 173 in year 6 reflecting our engagement with the community sector.
- Contributed to the establishment of the Canberra Foundations Collaborative, an Australia-first collaboration among peer foundations.
- Provided 24 webinars and workshops on topics ranging from grant writing to evaluation, strengthening community organisations.
- Empowered over 175 organisations to apply for funding, receiving 487 EoI’s in the last 3 year period.
- Incorporated innovation and pilots to drive positive change.
- Developed an impact measurement toolkit with the Canberra Foundations Collaborative to streamline evaluation for grantees.
- Helped Canberrans give where they live through the creation of the Canberra Day Appeal, raising over $4.25 million for community organisations.
“Since it’s founding, the CMCF has been a driving force in fostering stronger community bonds, uplifting marginalised individuals, and creating the conditions for a more equitable Canberra.”
A snapshot of the 2023-24 financial year:
Funds distributed to date from the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund:
| Year 1 (2018–19) | Year 2 (2019–20) | Year 3 (2020–21) | Year 4 (2021-22) | Year 5 (2022-23) | Year 6 (2023-24) |
| $398,756 | $385,482 | $1,070,118* | $1,515,045 | $677,042 | $535,191 |
* Note: $438,566 in grants from the Autumn Grant Round were approved in June 2021 but paid in July/August
In 2023-24, the CMCF received $808,987 from the ACT Government to support its operations, future proofing and grantmaking activities.
In response to the evolving needs of the Canberra region, the CMCF:
- Partnered with supporters and 81 charities to conduct a successful Canberra Day Appeal, raising over $750,000 for community sector initiatives. The CMCF contributed $215,799 to the matching pool.
- Collaborated with Canberra’s community foundations to administer a collective grant round, funding 63 projects valued at over $1.5 million. These projects addressed a wide range of social issues and benefited from $319,392 in CMCF funding for 28 of these projects.
- Prioritised funding for initiatives that focused on addressing the critical challenges faced by Canberrans in connection to mental health; disability; housing; and belonging.
In 2022 – 23, the ACT Government made a generous contribution of $750,000 to the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund to support the purchase of land for the next Charity House project. At the time of writing, the purchase is close to completion.
The CMCF supported a wide range of initiatives through its community-informed grants program in 2023-24, including:
- Refuge support: programs assisting children and women facing housing insecurity due to DV.
- Community building: Projects fostering belonging, inclusivity, and community harmony
- Legal access: Grants to improve access to justice for all community members.
- Bridging social divides: Grants to close the gap of extracurricular support for disadvantaged communities.
- Community connectedness: Initiatives promoting community engagement and connectedness
- Advocacy and awareness: Grants for raising awareness of community needs in Canberra and advocating for policy change.
- Mental health support: Funding to support mental health initiatives and capacity building.
The CMCF consistently demonstrates a commitment to supporting diverse community needs and building a more inclusive and resilient Canberra.
| Organisation Name | Project Name | Grant |
| A Gender Agenda | Youth Engagement | $10,000 |
| ACT CHILDREN’S WEEK COMMITTEE INC. | ACT Children’s Week Inc – Annual Grants / Building Social Capital Program | $5,000 |
| Barnardos Australia | Barnardos Mentoring Support and Family Fun | $7,500 |
| Better Renting | Strengthening a network of Canberra housing sector organisations | $2,500 |
| Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation & Advocacy | The CAHMA Cafe | $5,000 |
| Canberra Qwire Association Incorporated | OUT and about with Canberra Qwire | $5,000 |
| Canberra Refugee Support Inc | Driving lessons for people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds settling in Canberra | $4,000 |
| Canberra Refugee Support Inc. | Inclusion through sport and recreation for children from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds | $5,000 |
| Canberra Symphony Orchestra | CSO and Woden School Music Pilot Project | $5,000 |
| Capital Region Community Services | Commercial Kitchen – supporting the community to connect over food and developing skills. | $12,500 |
| Community First Development | Community Development Program | $20,000 |
| Doris Women”s Refuge Inc. | Children’s participation in community vital for recovery of DFV | $5,000 |
| Every Chance Incorporated | Every Chance | $5,000 |
| GIVIT Listed Ltd | Supporting Canberrans experiencing economic hardship | $5,000 |
| Good Omen Goodeze Ltd | GOG Wellbeing Promotion Initiative | $3,023 |
| I Got You Ltd | Recreational Activities – Building Support Networks and Connections | $3,750 |
| Missionworx | Volunteers Training | $5,000 |
| Music for Canberra Incorporated | Scholarships for Student Musicians | $5,000 |
| Orange Sky Australia | Orange Sky Canberra Laundry Service | $10,000 |
| OzHarvest Canberra | OzHarvest Canberra – Third Van Run | $5,000 |
| Project Independence Ltd. | Independent Work Skills and Confidence Building Program | $12,000 |
| Raw Potential Canberra | Building sustainable growth and independence in the vulnerable young people | $10,000 |
| Scouts ACT | Camping and other outdoor activities for ACT’s disadvantaged youth. | $5,000 |
| The Brite Notes | The Brite Notes | $3,500 |
| VolunteeringACT | Canberra Food Relief Network – enablers and capacity building project | $20,000 |
| Yeddung Mura | Smooth Transition employment Project for Aboriginal detainees released from prisons. | $15,000 |
| Yerrabi Yurwang Child and Family Aboriginal Corporation | Yawarj Mara – Strong Pathways for Youth program | $10,000 |
| ZamZam Foundation Inc | ZamZam Foundation support for Afghan refugee women in Canberra | $15,000 |
** In addition, the CMCF supported multiyear commitments in the amount of $116,902 (ACT Pet Crisis Support Tiny Vet Clinic, BBF Lessons 4Life, Canberra Kangaroos Football Club – Pathways to Inclusion for New Australians, ACT Lived Experience Speakers Bureau Pilot, Prisoners Aid Participate Project, Rebus Theatre Staff Wellbeing Program, The Men’s Table Across Canberra, YWCA Youth Diversity and Inclusion Project)
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