Impact Report 2022-23
Giving and Granting
Hands Across Canberra & The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund
Read our report in full or jump to: Raising Funds Granting in 2022-23 Named Funds
Growing philanthropy at home
Hands Across Canberra is the nation capital’s independent community foundation and leverages philanthropic resources to strengthen and empower the charitable sector in the capital region Since our inception, we have raised a significant amount to support the sector in the region. Our top priority is to impact real social change that leads to better lives and a healthier Canberra community where all can thrive. Our community network of over 350 charitable partners help to increase our overall community impact. We strive to provide an inclusive giving experience for all whether it is about giving now, giving online, , time or funds, caused-based giving, pooled giving, crafting a legacy, or planning for the future to make the community a better place for all, in perpetuity. The most important aspect of our community fundraising is that money raised here, stays here through our local grant programs.
As a philanthropic hub for Canberra, we aim to make it easier for Canberrans to give in their own backyard. In 2022—23 we curated opportunities to give back and invest in our community around key social and emerging issues through our grant rounds that supporters were encouraged to contribute to as well as through digital appeals and physical events throughout the year. We harnessed the collective power of giving with our partners, supporting more projects long-term and with greater funding than we have in previous years. JB Were helps us to ethically and intelligently invest our endowments, which allows us to respond to the needs of communities and we continued to grow assets by opening new pathways to philanthropy through involvement of local businesses and expanding our named funds. Over $2.3 million was raised during the year, and the amount in the Perpetual Fund[1] grew from $664k to $1.1m. The Perpetual Fund included the establishment of our first seed-funding account[2].
Four major campaigns and events together raised $1.2 million:
- Canberra Day Appeal 2023
- Gears 4 Giving Gala Dinner
- EOFY Appeal 2023
- Annual Charity Lunch
Community initiatives in 2022-23 where Canberrans gave generously include:
- Luton Properties raised $7,500 for Hands Across Canberra through its Charity Golf Day
- Leemhuis Group raised $200,000 for Hands Across Canberra and its network of charities through the Gears 4 Giving Charity Dinner.
- Asset Construction Hire became a naming sponsor of the Canberra Day Appeal with a $50,000 contribution in matched funding.
- This year we were supported through a thrilling cricket match. Proudly organized by Master Builders ACT. In a thrilling Builders Vs. the ACT Womens Cricket Team (ACT Meteors) the event raised $20,000 for Canberra charities.
- Canberra Airport Runway Tour, an airside bus tour, raised funds throughout winter for Hands Across Canberra.
- The Canberra Symphony Orchestra gifted 210 tickets to our network of organisations, providing staff and clients respite.
- Synergy (200) and Solvit (20) generously donated laptops to our network of community organisations, these supported the organisations capacity, volunteers and clients.
- Greasy Monkey dedicated a burger to Canberra during the month of March: The Canberra Burley Griffin and a portion of it’s profits ($2,650) to the Canberra Day Appeal. A total of 1000 burgers were sold!
- Strathnairn Charity House was completed by a group of passionate builders, Kane Construction and Ginninderry and auctioned in April 2023 with financials settled in July 2023. The profits from the sale amounted to $506,966.74 and will be distributed to 4 charities including Hands Across Canberra.
- Each year the Ikea Christmas Drive asks its customers to donate a soft toy for our local charities – in 2023 Hands Across Canberra received bags full.
- Cockington Green Gardens: opened their hearts and their gardens for only $5 entry. All proceeds from the day ($9,500!!!) were presented to Hands Across Canberra for the Canberra Day Appeal.
In line with our strategy to grow, promote and increase the profile of philanthropy in Canberra, Hands Across Canberra has been fully engaged with its peer foundations, government and other stakeholders to change the DGR status of community foundations which would facilitate donations, distributions and collaboration in future. We are hopeful that the Federal Government’s commitment to provide DGR 1 status to 28 Community Foundations across Australia including Hands Across Canberra, but to also provide a more streamlined process for new Community Foundations to access DGR 1 status in the future, will occur soon.
[1] A fund that is invested to provide long-term support for the community in perpetuity
[2] A type of donor-advised fund that allows people to start on a journey towards structured giving with minimal investment.
Granting for a Canberra where all can thrive
We gave grants and provided capacity building initiatives to organisations supporting our most vulnerable community members. We ran 3 funding rounds in partnership with the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund, Aspen Medical, A+P Leemhuis, the Sue Salthouse Family and Canberra Foundations Collaborative which distributed more than $3m into the community sector and supported a total of 69 projects. In addition over $1.9m was distributed to charities by Hands Across Canberra.
Hands Across Canberra relies on donations which allow us to grant and Canberra gave generously this year despite inflation and looming economic crises. More and more Canberrans are choosing to donate to Hands Across Canberra because they know that the impact of their giving will deepen because of our knowledge of the community we live in. We also exchange ideas and resources regularly with stakeholders to ensure our grants remained agile, flexible and in step with our donors and communities expectations. As a grant making institution, we continuously seek to evolve our practice of philanthropy so that we can be more equitable and inclusive in our practices and achieve greater effectiveness in our giving.
Granting insights from 2022-23
- With rising inflation and costs, organisations are finding it hard to cover relief and capital upgrades.
- The community sector is seeking sustainability and this year we gave the largest number of multi-year grants we have ever committed.
- The number of grant applications decreased but the amount requested has increased. In particular, requests have doubled in the areas of Mental Health and Wellbeing; Disability; and Belonging – either in amount or number of projects – and made up our largest areas of giving this year.
Our Grant Rounds this year included:
Together with partners in community and government, and in honour of the late Sue Salthouse, the Sue Salthouse Leadership Fund supported its first three scholars in December 2022 with the aim of building the leadership capabilities of people with disability.
The scholarship recipients included:
- Laura Reid was awarded $1000 for online educational and recreational resources for deaf children
- Deb Shroot was awarded $3,000 for financial literacy tools for neurodivergent people
- Julia Bocking was awarded $6,000 for PhD coaching
The Sue Salthouse Leadership Fund was established to assist people with disability to access opportunities that build skills and experience, enhancing the representation and leadership capacity of people with disability. The fund recognises Sue’s hard work championing inclusion and leadership opportunities for people with disability and focuses specifically on women and girls.
Hands Across Canberra administers the fund which was set-up with $75,000 of seeding funds from the ACT Government’s Community Services Directorate and a 3 year commitment by Hands Across Canberra to inject $10,000 for scholarships per year. Since it’s launch it has grown through philanthropic support and has received donations from the public and supporters of the cause. The family has also generously contributed to the fund which is at the time of writing the report valued at $316,000
In collaboration between Hands Across Canberra and Canberra-based business A+P Leemhuis Builders, the foundation ran a Relief and Capital Upgrades grant round in response to many requests from the community sector for this type of support. In total, 24 local projects were supported with $99,911 in grant funding to community organisations that support people who experience economic and social disadvantage. In addition, Aspen Medical encouraged staff to support two further projects with an additional $10,000.
“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.” – Darrell Leemhuis, A + P Leemhuis Builders Director
In addition, A+P Leemhuis Builders supported 23 projects through donations amounting to $200,000 from the Gears 4 Giving Gala. Hands Across Canberra is honoured to be a conduit between generous Canberra-based businesses and those residents in need throughout our region.
The projects funded in this grant round were 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.
Grant Profile: Woden Community Services
One of the organisations supported by the grant round was 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.The Community Hub is being used for community based and WCS programs supporting marginalised and socially disadvantaged people. The Community Hub is easy to access and provides support to the wider Woden community as well as providing ease of access to a range of services nearby.
“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.” Jenny Kitchin, CEO of WCS
Together with the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund, The Snow Foundation, the John James Foundation and the Aspen Foundation, we are building a collaborative funding community. The Canberra Foundations Collaborative generously supported the community sector in its second iteration of the Canberra Foundations Collaborative Grant Round. The round resulted in funding for 57 separate projects, covering a wide range of sectors and addressing critical social issues, valued at almost $1.4 million.
The grants program funded, amongst others:
- 13 disability projects valued at $453,014
- 9 mental health and wellbeing projects valued at $218,715
- 6 projects addressing disadvantage valued at $111,300.
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. 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 and Aspen Medical who have been a long supporter of Hands Across Canberra’s work.
Examples of funded projects include:
- 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.
“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.” Martin Halphen, The One Box
- 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.
“The support of Hands Across Canberra, the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund, 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.” – Rob Oakley, Capital Region Muscular Dystrophy
Impact in Action: Featured Grants
The difference we are making together is best represented by our Impact in Action stories which highlight our the incredible work of our grantees.
Named Funds – Changemakers for Canberra today, tomorrow, always
Hands Across Canberra has been able to harness the generosity of a broad range of donors through our named funds program to address current and emerging needs and to support ongoing community-building initiatives. The ‘Named Funds’ initiative has continued to grow with receipts in 2022/23 expanding by $664,155 to now have a balance of over $1.1m. We are grateful to our named fund holders who continued to add to their funds in a year marked by inflation and economic uncertainty.
A ‘Named Fund’ is a charitable sub-fund you can set up within Hands Across Canberra’s Public Ancillary Trust Fund, which allows you to support causes close to your heart, in perpetuity. All funds are invested by Hands Across Canberra to earn interest and income.
Interview with Tim Fulton of the ‘Running Rare Fund’, our first seed-fund account
In 2022, Tim approached Hands Across Canberra to set up our first seed-fund. A seed-fund is a type of donor-advised fund that allows people to start on a journey towards structured giving with minimal investment and eventually turns into a Named Fund. Hands Across Canberra launched this product in line with it’s inclusive giving ambitions and with the aim of appealing to all demographics. We asked Tim a few questions about his journey.
Why did you establish a Named Fund? And why the Running Rare Fund? And why did you choose Hands Across Canberra?
At the age of 22, I was diagnosed with Adult-Onset Still’s Disease. An ultra-rare inflammatory disorder that affects approximately 1 in 500,000 people. My diagnosis opened my eyes to the difficulties faced by an estimated two million Australians living with a rare disease. It became apparent that although our diseases are rare, we’re facing similar challenges. The rarity, and often complexity, of these conditions results in challenges associated with receiving equitable opportunities for diagnosis, treatment and support. Still’s Disease, like many rare diseases, has no dedicated support or advocacy organisation in Australia. In response to this, in 2020, I started the initiative Running Rare with the mission to make the invisible, visible by raising awareness and advocating for the rare disease community as a collective. Around the same time, I had the privilege of connecting with Hands Across Canberra in my professional work. Ever since, I have been inspired by Hands Across Canberra’s heart for our community. In late 2022, I reached out to Hands Across Canberra to see whether we could establish a named fund to support the rare disease community in Canberra.
Why would you encourage others to establish a fund or get involved with Hands Across Canberra?
I believe one of the major barriers to starting anything is both the initial investment and expertise required to build momentum. Partnering with Hands Across Canberra significantly lowers the barrier of entry for individuals and organisations with a heart to support our community financially. Without Hands Across Canberra, having an efficient fundraising mechanism for rare disease charities wouldn’t be possible for Running Rare. I wouldn’t be able to set-up and maintain a giving and financial structure similar to Hands Across Canberra on my own, nor would it be anywhere near as impactful. Furthermore, by collectively concentrating our efforts in supporting Hands Across Canberra everyone receives the benefits of a network committed to our local community.
What value does Hands Across Canberra bring to our region in your opinion?
The greatest value I believe that Hands Across Canberra brings is that it empowers and champions what is already established. Choice can paralyse decision making—especially when there is so much need in our community. Hands Across Canberra unifies our region through its networked approach, removing barriers to both providing and receiving financial support. It is a financial vehicle our community desperately needed, but did not previously have. When investing in Hands Across Canberra, you know that community-service organisations working with our most vulnerable individuals and families will be supported.
Hands Across Canberra’s first seed fund – Running Rare from Hands Across Canberra on Vimeo.
Four easy steps to leave a lasting legacy:
1. Consider your charitable interests
What are you passionate about? Helping children? Youth Homelessness? Support for victims of domestic violence?
When you establish a Donor Advised Fund at Hands Across Canberra, you will have the flexibility to support the charities and causes you care about most.
2. Establish your fund
With a gift of $10,000, a Named Fund can be set up in just a day or two. The fund’s capital will be invested to generate income for annual granting.
3. Grant from your fund
With a Named Fund, you can have as little or as much involvement as you want. You can support eligible charities or our Focus Areas and leave the decision-making to our experts and advisors, who will evaluate hundreds of projects on your behalf.
4. Plan for the future
Planning for the future is important, because your Donor Advised Fund is a lasting legacy that will continue to support the community for generations. You can either appoint a trusted friend or family member as your successor fund advisor, or ask Hands Across Canberra to carry out your wishes in perpetuity.
Bring forward the pleasure of giving by starting a Named Fund with us: get in touch with our CEO, Peter Gordon, by email at gjacobs@handsacrosscanberra.org.au
Accessible and accountable: We will work to make your philanthropy rewarding and ensure you know how your donations are being used.
Flexible donating: You have the choice to donate to any of 300+ organisations supporting a variety of causes in the Canberra region.
Community expertise: From mental-health to homelessness, youth and Indigenous services support, Hands Across Canberra has the local knowledge and community networks to make your charitable giving hits the mark.
Legacy planning: By electing a Named Fund, you can ensure the issues you feel most committed to are being addressed through your ongoing gift. You may wish to specify the cause your philanthropy supports for many generations in the future.
Tax benefits: Donations over $2 to Hands Across Canberra are tax deductible.
Our Donor-Advised Funds include:
Together, we are Canberra – thank you!
Organisation |
Grant Purpose |
Amount |
| ACT Council of Social Service | Leading Social Change online modules |
$20,000 |
| ACT Down Syndrome | Training for effective digital presentations | $6,648 |
| Advocacy for Inclusion | App development to empower people with disabilities | $2,500 |
| Assisting Drug Dependents [Directions ACT] |
Healthy Food Healthy Me extension project | $10,000 |
| Asthma Foundation of ACT | Develop an education & treatment program with refugees | $6,000 |
| Beryl Women | Interpreting services to women suffering abuse | $5,000 |
| Domestic Violence Crisis Start Up packs | $9,900 | |
| Computor upgrades | $4,996 | |
| Boundless Children’s Playground | Benefit from the 2016 Charity House Project | $1,133,000 |
| C3 Church Monash | Expansion of Free Community Lunch Program | $9,738 |
| Essential technology | $2,500 | |
| Canberra City Care | Harvest kitchen in Charnwood | $20,000 |
| Canberra Community Law | Essential technology | $3,036 |
| Evaluation of the Aboriginal Human Rights Program | $10,000 | |
| Canberra Men’s Centre | Pilot, early intervention in domestic violence (Connect 24) | $5,000 |
| Canberra PCYC | Assistance for the establishment of the Canberra PCYC Foundation | $5,000 |
| PCYC Play for Change – Tuggeranong | $10,000 | |
| PCYC Play for Change – Belconnen | $10,000 | |
| Healthy Relationships program | $10,000 | |
| Canberra Rape Crisis Centre | Information management | $9,000 |
| Care Inc | Connecting Care through the Cloud program | $9,984 |
| CARHU (with CFMEU Trust) | Build a children’s outdoor playground | $50,000 |
| Cerebral Palsy Alliance | Early intervention sensory inclusion package | $5,743 |
| Communities@Work | Assist with establishing the community kitchen program | $10,000 |
| Connections ACT | Fathering after separation program | $10,000 |
| Survival packs for sole father families | $10,000 | |
| Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT | COTA Connects programme | $10,000 |
| CREATE Foundation | Create Your Future – building confidence through empowerment | $8,874 |
| Dancing Goddesses | Professional services to incorporate organisation | $680 |
| Directions Health Services | Training for people working with the impact of drugs | $9,984 |
| Domestic Violence Crisis Service | Growing Strong’ Support Group program | $4,974 |
| EveryMan Australia | Domestic violence intervention | $9,600 |
| Benefit from the 2016 Charity House Project | $34,333 | |
| Community order breach support service | $9,400 | |
| Focus Supported Living Foundation | Stay Safe program | $5,400 |
| Friends of Brain In jured Children ACT | KICKSTART: Early intervention program for families of young children with brain injury | $5,000 |
| Bring two specialists to Canberra twice this year for treatment of patients | $4,600 | |
| Galilee Foster Care | Sleeping bags and t-shirts for youth foster camp | $5,000 |
| Getaboutable | Accessible Canberra | $10,000 |
| Gungahlin Uniting Church and Community Centre | Establish a food pantry | $5,000 |
| Hartley Lifecare | Seed funding to establish a specialist information & advocacy service for people with brain injury | $5,000 |
| Improved management systems | $7,920 | |
| Benefit from the 2016 Charity House Project | $309,000 | |
| Holy Cross Tuckerbox | Development of a permanent kitchen area | $8,360 |
| Karinya House for Mothers & Babies | Domestic violence liasion worker | $10,000 |
| Provide outreach services to clients | $5,000 | |
| Karralika Programs | Children’s outdoor playground at treatment house | $5,000 |
| Kookaburra Kids | Respite and psycho-education for ACT children living in families affected by mental illness | $10,000 |
| LifeLine Canberra | Crisis support training | $9,520 |
| Mental health ambassadors | $10,000 | |
| Applied suicide intervention skills training | $10,000 | |
| 3 Youth Networx (LyNX) workshops at 3 schools to instil mental health, suicide awareness & resilience skills | $10,000 | |
| Marymead | Individual items for children in care to empower them to create their own space | $5,000 |
| Essential technology upgrade | $5,000 | |
| Grow the grandparenting program | $10,000 | |
| Menslink | Double the capacity of the mentoring program | $9,200 |
| Early intervention for young men and domestic violence | $9,800 | |
| Mental Health Foundation | Re-vamp website | $5,350 |
| Technology creating access | $4,701 | |
| Mental Illness Education ACT | Bullying prevention program | $9,939 |
| National Heart Foundation (ACT) | Pilot, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander cardiac rehabilitation in the ACT | $5,000 |
| Newborn Intensive Care Foundation | Kill welfare for the disadvantaged at birth | $1,000 |
| No Sweat Fashions | Repair of 14 sewing machines to allow participants to complete qualifications and to develop products | $5,000 |
| OzHarvest Canberra | Community cooking @ CC Cares | $5,000 |
| Ozhelp | Benefit from the 2016 Charity House Project | $34,333 |
| Paperworks Inc. | Paper Bridges project to assist vulnerable young people to reconnect with their families | $9,648 |
| Prisoners Aid | Family support | $2,500 |
| Riding for the Disabled of ACT (PEGASUS) | Equine facilitated learning | $6,300 |
| Safe Shelter | Homelessness support | $5,000 |
| Salvation Army | Benefit from the 2016 Charity House Project | $34,333 |
| St Benedicts Community Centre, Queanbeyan | Kitchen support project | $2,000 |
| St John’s Care | Christmas lunch support | $2,000 |
| St Vincent De Paul Society | Benefit from the 2016 Charity House Project | $34,333 |
| VINES: Vinnies, Inspiration, Network, Education, Support | $10,000 | |
| VINES Youth Group Pilot | $10,000 | |
| Tandem Respite Care | Outdoor shade structures and equipment for respite house | $5,000 |
| Technical Aid to the Disabled ACT (TADACT) | Capacity building and improving capability at TADACT | $4,948 |
| Assistance with capital equipment | $10,000 | |
| The Deaf Society | Building healthy relationships | $3,000 |
| The Right Direction | Mengineering program | $10,000 |
| The Shepherd Centre | A Sound Start to School program | $9,500 |
| Confident Kids- Social Skills program for children with hearing loss | $9,490 | |
| The Smith Family | An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls intervention project | $6,440 |
| The Tongan Association of Canberra & Queanbeyan | Empowering women – Home Away from Home project | $10,000 |
| The Yellow Van | Commercial dishwasher | $6,000 |
| This Is My Brave | This is my Brave Australia / Kanangra Community Garden refurbishment | $5,000 |
| Tjillari Justice Aboriginal Corporation | Galambany Circle sentencing support | $10,000 |
| Uniting Care | Benefit from the 2016 Charity House Project | $34,333 |
| Uniting Care Canberra City, Early Morning Centre | Commercial freezer to store donated food, host Christmas lunch and hampers for shutdown period | $5,000 |
| Support hosting of Christmas lunch for guests | $2,000 | |
| Operate shower facilities and provide hygiene products for guests | $2,000 | |
| Computer access and literacy | $4,150 | |
| Essential infrastructure – a fridge | $1,798 | |
| Benefit from the 2016 Charity House Project | $34,333 | |
| Uniting Care Kippax | Rock, Rhythm and Roll, and Drop-In Playgroup project | $9,410 |
| Rock, Rhythm and Roll, and Drop-In Playgroup project | $7,950 | |
| Playgroup for the disadvantaged | $9,640 | |
| Kippax Connections program | $10,000 | |
| Volunteering and Contact ACT | Volunteering program for migrants | $10,000 |
| Women With Disabilities ACT | Access to a circus program and documentary | $5,000 |
| Women’s Centre for Health Matters | Assistance Beyond Crisis | $10,000 |
| Yeddung Mura Aboriginal Corporation | Dhurrawang community outreach program |
$10,000 |
| YouthCARE Canberra | YouthCARE lifeskills camp | $10,000 |
| Assistance with the ‘tool up’ costs to increase outreach capability | $10,000 | |
| YWCA Canberra | A high tech digital studio where Tuggeranong youth collaborate with industry mentors |
$10,000 |
| Richardson Primary School Computer Clubhouse |
$10,000 |
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