Hands Across Canberra & The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund
Impact Report 2024 – 25
We acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and pay respect to all Elders and their continuing connection to their lands, waters, culture and heritage.
We’re excited to share our Impact Report 2024–25: Building Our Future Together. Every spring, this report gives us a chance to look back and celebrate the powerful difference we’ve made together. Through heartfelt stories, inspiring highlights, and meaningful events, you’ll see how, with our partners by our side, we are nurturing stronger community resources and creating lasting resilience and pathways for Canberrans and those in nearby regions.
Download Report SummaryWelcome
2024-25 has been a year of consolidation, growth, and achievement for Hands Across Canberra as we strengthen our engagement across the community.
The Canberra Day Appeal exceeded all expectations, raising more than $840,000 for participating charities. In addition, we ran the Gears 4 Giving small grant rounds, the annual Sue Salthouse leadership grants and a Christmas gift appeal.
More than 350 charities used our platform to raise funds, increasing donations by 150%. We delivered capacity building workshops in governance, efficiency, and innovation to the charity sector, with more to come.
Working with our Canberra Foundations Collaborative partners the Snow Foundation, John James Foundation and additional funders Aspen Medical and Davencare, we made almost $2 million worth of grants to projects across the community, meeting urgent need.
Our first major corporate partnership offering, the HAC Heroes, is flourishing alongside our named fund donors, who are the core of the organisation’s financial sustainability.
This report provides a brief glimpse into all the ways your generous donations are strengthening our community. Thank you to everyone who gives of their gifts, time, and talents to make this possible.
Together, we are building a better and fairer Canberra for us all.
Greg Boorer (Chair) and Genevieve Jacobs AM (CEO)
Hands Across Canberra and the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund
Explore Impact Stories
Discover how community partnerships and generous support are transforming lives across Canberra—explore our impact stories.
Explore Partner Stories
Meet the generous partners whose support is helping Hands Across Canberra and our network of charities build a stronger, more inclusive community—explore their stories.
Major highlights in 2024-25
Thanks to your generous support, Hands Across Canberra achieved strong growth this year—expanding our reach, increasing grants, and deepening community impact across Canberra.
- Reached $6.17 million in assets across CMCF and HAC
- Surpassed in grants made since inception with partners
- Our Named Funds have doubled since 2023 reaching $2.16 million
- Hands Across Canberra experienced extraordinary growth across digital platforms, with an exponential increase in new followers. Reach and interactions tripled.
- The Canberra Day Appeal Fun Run grew to nearly 1000 participants
- We engaged with 94 local business during 21 events throughout the year
- Collaborated with 350+ community partners working tirelessly on the frontlines to support Canberrans in need
- Launched a new charity house project in collaboration with Master Builders Association ACT, in celebration of their centenary
- Grew our partner network to 100+ dedicated supporters
- Launched our new Corporate Giving Program, onboarding 40 supporters:
12 HAC Heroes – outstanding supporters who go above and beyond to champion our work.
11 HAC Activators – passionate, loyal advocates who actively promote and invest in Hands Across Canberra and the charities we support through sustained engagement.
16 HAC Champions – committed community members who amplify our impact through volunteering, pro bono services, media support, grassroots promotion, and continual involvement.
- 150% increase in charitable giving through the HAC portal to Canberra-based charities
- Distributed $1.35 Million to local charities
- Raised $2.1 million during the year for investment and granting
- Across our giving programs, we supported 170 charities in Canberra to:
Stock community pantries and provide support to food‑insecure families
Amplify the voices of people with lived experience of the justice system
Increase access to extracurricular activities for vulnerable Canberrans
Protect and support vulnerable children and women
Empower people with disability by developing leadership skills and opportunities
Provide shelter and essential food relief for people experiencing homelessness
Foster belonging, inclusion, and connection across our city
Across our giving programs this year, we supported 170 charities in Canberra to:
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Stock community pantries and provide support to food‑insecure families
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Amplify the voices of people with lived experience of the justice system
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Increase access to extracurricular activities for vulnerable Canberrans
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Protect and support vulnerable children and women
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Empower people with disability by developing leadership skills and opportunities
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Provide shelter and essential food relief for people experiencing homelessness
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Foster belonging, inclusion, and connection across our city
Our Three Pillars
Everything we do is underpinned by three pillars – awareness, partnering and giving. Through them, we help charities, community organisations and businesses to make a difference to those in Canberra that need it most. Dive into our pillars below and read about the work Hands Across Canberra did in each this year.
Together,
we are Canberra
The Hands Across Canberra team would like to thank our extended family of donors, grantees, professional advisors, government officials, partners, friends, supporters.