The Canberra Foundation Collaborative announces the launch of its third annual grant round, offering $1 million to local community-led initiatives aimed at creating positive change from the ground up. 

This year, the Collaborative, which includes Hands Across Canberra (who administer the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund), The Snow Foundation, and the John James Foundation, will continue to support the Canberra community through strategic funding and capacity-building efforts. 

Understanding the diverse needs of the Canberra community, the Collaborative focuses on grassroots projects with the potential to assist the vulnerable in-need members of their community, not just with short-term assistance, but also long-term, sustainable change. 

“The Collaborative is not just about funding; it’s also about building a stronger, more interconnected community sector,” said The Snow Foundation CEO Georgina Byron.  

“By building their networks and capabilities, and sharing and learning together, we hope to create a more resilient community sector in the region, which will have positive long-term flow-on effects for people in need.” 

With grant amounts ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, and an openness to considering larger funding requirements, the initiative is set to support a broad spectrum of impactful projects. 

The Snow Foundation aims to respond to the needs in Canberra across a range of cause areas with a deeper focus on at-risk youth and preventing family and domestic violence, while the John James Foundation prioritises health and disability, and Hands Across Canberra tailors its support to enhance community wellbeing in unique ways.  

Related: The Snow Foundation commits $500,000 to help young care leavers in Canberra

However, organisations from all areas of need are encouraged to apply. 

“We want everyone to consider applying for this grant round, and we’ve made it as easy as we can. Streamlining the application process and reducing administrative burdens, in particular, has been a focus for us,” said Hands Across Canberra CEO Peter Gordon.  

“This tried and tested approach has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community sector, simplifying their access to multiple funders and enabling a more efficient allocation of resources. This will result in more services for more people.” 

The Collaborative will host networking and capacity-building events throughout the year, kicking off with a session on “Measuring Impact” to empower organisations with the tools to quantify their contributions to social change. 

“Over the past two years, the Canberra Foundation Collaborative has supported 128 projects with $2.8 million,” said John James Foundation CEO Joe Roff. 

“This action shows our joint commitment to addressing the needs and challenges of the Canberra community,”