Canberra Foundations Collaborative Announces Grant Recipients for 2023
Published on 22 June 2023
The Canberra Foundations Collaborative (the Collaborative) is pleased to announce the successful recipients of its 2023 grant round (full list below). The round resulted in funding for 57 separate projects, covering a wide range of sectors and addressing critical social issues, valued at almost $1.3 million.
This year, the Collaborative (Hands Across Canberra – which administers the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund, The Snow Foundation, and the John James Foundation) has funded over 80% of the invited applications from local organisations.
“We were very impressed with the calibre of applications this year,” Joe Roff, CEO of the John James Foundation said. “A significant portion of the funding has been allocated to projects supporting disability, mental health and wellbeing, and healthcare as well as organisations supporting those community members struggling the most. At a time of significant cost-of-living pressure, this last category, in particular, is so important.”
The grants program has funded, amongst others:
- 13 disability projects valued at $453,014
- 9 mental health and wellbeing projects valued at $218,715
- 6 projects focused on healthcare valued at $309,200, and
- 6 projects addressing disadvantage valued at $111,300.
Peter Gordon, CEO of Hands Across Canberra, added, “Among the funded projects, 21 are multi-year projects, with total associated funding of $1 million. Additionally, nine projects have been co-funded, including two three-way partnerships and seven two-way partnerships.”
“Feedback from the inaugural grants last year highlighted the need for us to provide multi-year funding options to ease the challenges faced by organisations. Reflecting this feedback, a third of the approved applications this round are multi-year agreements. We’re very proud of this.”
This is the first year that all three Foundations have been able to offer multi-year agreements. In addition, the Collaborative is excited to have additional funders coming to the table, including the Aspen Foundation.
“We are thrilled to support these diverse projects, which are making a positive impact in our community,” Georgina Byron, The Snow Foundation CEO said. “The role of the Collaboration is to provide a one-stop-funding-shop for the for-purpose sector in our region.”
“By working together in this collaborative manner, we are actively reducing administration, while ensuring more funding is delivered to the community. And by offering multi-year agreements, we are enabling organisations to plan and implement long-term solutions, ultimately fostering sustainable change and greater social impact.”
The Collaborative is proud to highlight a few of the funded projects:
- The One Box has received $50,000 for the first year and $25,000 for years 2 and 3. This program, in partnership with Together 4 Youth and seven Queanbeyan schools, aims to address food insecurity and promote school engagement for vulnerable families in the Queanbeyan area. The One Box provides free weekly boxes of fresh produce sourced from Australian farmers, creating community touchpoints and building rapport between families and school representatives.
- Mental Health Mob has been granted $50,000 for one year. The funding will enable Mental Health Mob to provide culturally safe and informed mental health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Canberra and surrounding regions. The services include group interventions, individual and family therapy, and cultural activities and camps for youth.
- Capital Region Muscular Dystrophy has been granted $30,000. The organisation will use the funding to purchase additional power football chairs, expanding the Power Chair Football League and providing more opportunities for local players. Each chair costs approximately $20,000, and the aim is to acquire four additional chairs in 2023.
Rob Oakley, from Capital Region Muscular Dystrophy, said, “The support of Hands Across Canberra, Aspen Medical and the John James Foundation is what makes the expansion of power chair sport possible. It is such a great opportunity to make weekend sport available to all abilities. We cater for players looking for weekend sport as well as those looking to play representative football. We are very grateful for this grant support.”
Martin Halphen, from The One Box, said, “Food insecurity is a complex problem and needs the collaborative focus of many to have real impact. The funding received from the Canberra Foundations Collaborative is a great example of bringing together and aligning multiple parties for the same cause. Hands Across Canberra, The Snow Foundation, Together 4 Youth, seven Queanbeyan Schools, together with The One Box, just shows you what it takes. We are both excited and confident that this program in the Queanbeyan area will not just support vulnerable families but also demonstrate the powerful impact that can be achieved when different groups are working together.”
Snow Foundation CEO Georgina Byron concluded, “In addition to funding, the Collaboration is committed to supporting the for-purpose sector through capacity-building initiatives. Following the success of the Grant-making seminar held in February, the Collaborative will be hosting a Marketing Seminar in the coming months. This seminar will provide insights into the skill sets necessary for effective communication with external stakeholders.”
THE FULL LIST OF SUPPORTED ORGANISATIONS IS BELOW:
For media inquiries and further information, please contact:
Media contacts:
Peter Gordon, CEO – HAC – 0428 432 621
Chris Wagner, Media – The Snow Foundation – 0434 378 939
Nathalie Maconachie – John James Foundation – 0412 341 117
Full list of organisations/projects supported in 2023
| ACT Pet Crisis Support | Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children |
| Asthma Australia Ltd | Special Olympics ACT |
| Beryl Women Inc | Spinal Cord Injuries ACT |
| Bosom Buddies ACT Inc | The Farm in Galong Ltd |
| Bruton Basketball Foundation Ltd (BBF) | The Men’s Table |
| Canberra Community Law | The Mill House Ventures Limited |
| Canberra Kangaroos Football Club | The One Box Group Limited |
| Canberra Refugee Support Inc | The Shepherd Centre for Deaf Children |
| Cancer Patients Foundation | The STOP Campaign |
| Capital Region Community Services | UnitingCare Kippax |
| Capital Region Muscular Dystrophy | University of Canberra – Cancer Wellness |
| Carers ACT | University of Canberra – DV West program |
| Cerebral Palsy Alliance | WheelEasy |
| CHC Australia | Woden Community Service |
| Community Home Australia | YWCA Canberra |
| Delta Therapy Dogs | |
| Directions Health – Teen Clinic | |
| Directions Health- Mini Pat | |
| Doris Women’s Refuge Inc. | |
| Dr Charles Mosse (ANU) | |
| Evatt Primary School | |
| First Steps Pregnancy Support | |
| GetAboutAble Pty Ltd | |
| Hawker’s Men’s Shed | |
| HOME in Queanbeyan | |
| Homeable | |
| Justice Reform Initiative | |
| Legacy Club of Canberra | |
| Lions Youth Haven Inc. | |
| Little Luxton | |
| Mental Health for Mob Aboriginal Corporation | |
| MIEACT | |
| MS Limited | |
| Orange Sky Australia | |
| Ozharvest | |
| Prisoners Aid (ACT) | |
| Project Independence Limited | |
| Rainbow Club Australia Ltd | |
| Raw Potential Canberra | |
| Rebus Theatre Inc. | |
| Right to Work | |
| Roundabout Canberra | |