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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

A collaboration between Hands Across Canberra and Canberra-based business A+P Leemhuis Builders has awarded 24 local projects with a total of $99,911 in grant funding to community organisations that support people who experience economic and social disadvantage.

“Hands Across Canberra is honoured to be a conduit between generous Canberra-based businesses and those residents in need throughout our region,” Hands Across Canberra CEO Peter Gordon said.

“As the community foundation for Canberra, we are very aware of needs throughout our region. While these grants presented will provide some immediate assistance, the need continues to grow and we encourage more businesses to engage and give where they earn.”

The inaugural grant round received a total 40 grant applications.

“The work proposed by the community organisations for these grants is inspiring,” the A + P Leemhuis Builders Director Darrell Leemhuis said.

“We are excited to play a part and see communities build and grow their work. Our hope is that we learn from these community investments and together, in partnership with Hands Across Canberra and the Canberra community, work to support the organisations that are assisting vulnerable community members.”

The projects funded in this grant round are located across the ACT and include activities like support to food pantries, purchase of equipment and fit out activities that support service delivery. The grants could be up to $5,000.

“We are delighted to support organisations respond to the relief and capital needs of Canberra’s communities and do our part in supporting the communities we live and work in to achieve more.” Darrell Leemhuis said.

One of the organisations supported by the grant round is Woden Community Services who work to provide services across all age groups and throughout the community, from early learning to aged care services, supporting mental health and wellbeing, responding to homelessness, assisting those living with a disability, working with families and young people, engaging communities while supporting those who are vulnerable. WCS received $5,000 to fit out The Community Hub with flexible, multi-functional equipment that is able to serve a variety of demographics and purposes including a sensory zone to support neurodiverse people attending the site.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant. The Community Hub will be used for community based and WCS programs supporting marginalised and socially disadvantaged people. The Community Hub will be easy to access and provide support to the wider Woden community as well as provide ease of access to a range of services nearby,” WCS CEO Jenny Kitchin said.

“It is expected that the new space will become an open community asset to which community groups may also be able to access. It will be an asset to service the whole community and a place for connection and support.”

“It is also great to see Canberra businesses getting involved to support community.”

The full list of grants awarded is below.  However, there is still a gap in funding for some of these organisations and further support is encouraged.  Please visit www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au to donate.

A collaboration between Hands Across Canberra and Canberra-based business A+P Leemhuis Builders has awarded 24 local projects with a total of $99,911 in grant funding to community organisations that support people who experience economic and social disadvantage.

“Hands Across Canberra is honoured to be a conduit between generous Canberra-based businesses and those residents in need throughout our region,” Hands Across Canberra CEO Peter Gordon said.

“As the community foundation for Canberra, we are very aware of needs throughout our region. While these grants presented will provide some immediate assistance, the need continues to grow and we encourage more businesses to engage and give where they earn.”

The inaugural grant round received a total 40 grant applications.

“The work proposed by the community organisations for these grants is inspiring,” the A + P Leemhuis Builders Director Darrell Leemhuis said.

“We are excited to play a part and see communities build and grow their work. Our hope is that we learn from these community investments and together, in partnership with Hands Across Canberra and the Canberra community, work to support the organisations that are assisting vulnerable community members.”

The projects funded in this grant round are located across the ACT and include activities like support to food pantries, purchase of equipment and fit out activities that support service delivery. The grants could be up to $5,000.

“We are delighted to support organisations respond to the relief and capital needs of Canberra’s communities and do our part in supporting the communities we live and work in to achieve more.” Darrell Leemhuis said.

One of the organisations supported by the grant round is Woden Community Services who work to provide services across all age groups and throughout the community, from early learning to aged care services, supporting mental health and wellbeing, responding to homelessness, assisting those living with a disability, working with families and young people, engaging communities while supporting those who are vulnerable. WCS received $5,000 to fit out The Community Hub with flexible, multi-functional equipment that is able to serve a variety of demographics and purposes including a sensory zone to support neurodiverse people attending the site.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant. The Community Hub will be used for community based and WCS programs supporting marginalised and socially disadvantaged people. The Community Hub will be easy to access and provide support to the wider Woden community as well as provide ease of access to a range of services nearby,” WCS CEO Jenny Kitchin said.

“It is expected that the new space will become an open community asset to which community groups may also be able to access. It will be an asset to service the whole community and a place for connection and support.”

“It is also great to see Canberra businesses getting involved to support community.”

The full list of grants awarded is below.  However, there is still a gap in funding for some of these organisations and further support is encouraged.  Please visit www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au to donate.

A collaboration between Hands Across Canberra and Canberra-based business A+P Leemhuis Builders has awarded 24 local projects with a total of $99,911 in grant funding to community organisations that support people who experience economic and social disadvantage.

“Hands Across Canberra is honoured to be a conduit between generous Canberra-based businesses and those residents in need throughout our region,” Hands Across Canberra CEO Peter Gordon said.

“As the community foundation for Canberra, we are very aware of needs throughout our region. While these grants presented will provide some immediate assistance, the need continues to grow and we encourage more businesses to engage and give where they earn.”

The inaugural grant round received a total 40 grant applications.

“The work proposed by the community organisations for these grants is inspiring,” the A + P Leemhuis Builders Director Darrell Leemhuis said.

“We are excited to play a part and see communities build and grow their work. Our hope is that we learn from these community investments and together, in partnership with Hands Across Canberra and the Canberra community, work to support the organisations that are assisting vulnerable community members.”

The projects funded in this grant round are located across the ACT and include activities like support to food pantries, purchase of equipment and fit out activities that support service delivery. The grants could be up to $5,000.

“We are delighted to support organisations respond to the relief and capital needs of Canberra’s communities and do our part in supporting the communities we live and work in to achieve more.” Darrell Leemhuis said.

One of the organisations supported by the grant round is Woden Community Services who work to provide services across all age groups and throughout the community, from early learning to aged care services, supporting mental health and wellbeing, responding to homelessness, assisting those living with a disability, working with families and young people, engaging communities while supporting those who are vulnerable. WCS received $5,000 to fit out The Community Hub with flexible, multi-functional equipment that is able to serve a variety of demographics and purposes including a sensory zone to support neurodiverse people attending the site.

“We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant. The Community Hub will be used for community based and WCS programs supporting marginalised and socially disadvantaged people. The Community Hub will be easy to access and provide support to the wider Woden community as well as provide ease of access to a range of services nearby,” WCS CEO Jenny Kitchin said.

“It is expected that the new space will become an open community asset to which community groups may also be able to access. It will be an asset to service the whole community and a place for connection and support.”

“It is also great to see Canberra businesses getting involved to support community.”

The full list of grants awarded is attached.  However, there is still a gap in funding for some of these organisations and further support is encouraged.  Please visit www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au to donate.

About the partnership

Hands Across Canberra is an independent philanthropic community foundation, working with more than 300 local community organisations. For more information visit www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au

A+P Leemhuis Builders is a Canberra-based, multi-award winning construction company who will project manage your commercial project from concept to completion. Specialising in tilt up concrete panel, office retail and warehouse, refurbishments and shop and office fit outs.

Media contact:

Peter Gordon, CEO HAC – 0428 432 621