As more Canberrans turn to community services for support, local foundations have joined forces for the fourth year to deliver the funding boost to 71 vital community projects across the region.
The 2025 Canberra Foundations Collaborative grant round, led by Snow Foundation, Hands Across Canberra and John James Foundation, will support 67 grassroots and systems-focused organisations working in areas such as community belonging, disability inclusion, healthcare, domestic and family violence prevention, and support for people experiencing disadvantage.
Since its launch in 2022, the collaborative has committed $6.8 million to more than 310 community projects, demonstrating the power of collaborative philanthropy in strengthening Canberra’s social fabric.
This round responds to a record 213 expressions of interest, highlighting the rising demand for local services. In response, the collaborative increased its funding and sharpened its focus on long-term commitments, co-funding models and building the capacity of Canberra’s social support sector.
This year’s funding is focused on supporting people with disabilities, young people facing complex challenges, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, families experiencing hardship and others at risk of exclusion.
“We’re thrilled to support 26 diverse programs this round, some co-funded, some funded by Snow – but the collaborative is more than just funding programs,” Snow Foundation CEO Georgina Byron AM said. “It’s about strengthening the people and organisations behind them. They work so damn hard, and our job is to work together as a collective and constantly learn how best to respond to our local community.”
According to Byron, the collaborative introduced a multi-year funding model for Canberra’s community centres that serve a range of communities, providing greater certainty for long-term, locally led change and immediate crisis response. It’s backing larger requests, like Right to Work, which empowers young people with disabilities to experience employment success and genuine inclusion.
“We’ve also deepened our engagement with First Nations organisations in the ACT, supporting four local partners, building on our national partnerships,” she added.
Seventeen of the 71 grants are multi-year commitments, giving organisations the stability and confidence to plan and deepen their impact.
“We’re seeing growing demand across every part of the community sector, and this collaboration helps meet that need with practical, meaningful support,” Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs said. “We’re so proud to be co-funding Canberra’s first youth parliament—a powerful civics and leadership program giving 25 young people the opportunity to be heard in the legislative assembly. These are voices that are too often missing from the conversation, and this initiative gives them a platform to lead.”
Jacobs also thanks Davencare and Aspen Foundations for their additional support this year and shared commitment to strengthening their community.
Among the projects funded this year are:
- Sisters in Spirit: An Aboriginal-led organisation creating culturally safe healing and legal support spaces for Aboriginal women and girls (joint funding from Snow Foundation and Hands Across Canberra)
- The Y Canberra Youth Assembly: A civics and leadership program giving 25 young people the opportunity to participate in Canberra’s first youth parliament (joint funding from Snow Foundation and Hands Across Canberra)
- Sanctuary Aus: A partnership with ACT DVCS to deliver specialist domestic violence training for families living with disability (funding from John James Foundation and Aspen)
- ACT Regional Community Service Alliance: A collaboration between five ACT community organisations (Woden Community Service, Communities@Work, Capital Region Community Services, Northside Community Service and Community Services #1,) to explore shared services, advocacy and data to improve sector coordination and strengthen long-term impact (joint funding from Snow Foundation and Hands Across Canberra)
“We’re excited to have Canberra’s first youth Chief Territory Member and 25 youth legislative assembly MLAs gather on the floor of the ACT Assembly to discuss bills and motions that matter to young people,” YMCA ACT CEO Kirsty Dixon said. “This has only been made possible through the vision of Snow Foundation, Hands Across Canberra and the Office of the Legislative Assembly, who truly care about the youth voice. This will be a life-changing program for the 25 young people in this diverse youth parliament to express their passion and opinions about civics and the future of our region.”
Meanwhile, ACT Regional Community Service Alliance Chair Simon Bennett thanks Snow Foundation and Hands Across Canberra for believing in them and their drive for true collaboration and cohesion.
“The grant will support the collaborative work of our five organisations and enable us to consolidate our data, highlighting key trends, needs and service gaps across the region. By uniting our data and voices, we can amplify our impact, better represent the communities we serve and strengthen our ability to advocate effectively with both local and federal government,” Bennett said.
The top six key areas of funding this year are:
| Focus Area | Project Count | Total | % | |
| Strengthening Engagement & Belonging | 15 | $389,466 | 20% | |
| Disability | 12 | $195,043 | 10% | |
| Mental Health | 9 | $237,861 | 12% | |
| Healthcare | 9 | $433,041 | 22% | |
| Disadvantage | 8 | $240,000 | 12% | |
| Family and Domestic Violence and Abuse | 5 | $134,500 | 7% | |
“These investments are enabling organisations to do more of what works—and to do it together,” John James Foundation CEO Joe Roff said. “Collaboration is the engine of a stronger, more resilient Canberra. Through strategic funding and targeted capacity-building, we’re strengthening connections, fostering peer learning, and amplifying collective impact for those who need it most. This funding is our way of saying thank you to the frontline workers, leaders and changemakers across the ACT.”
Read also: FRRR and Suncorp grant over $300K to help communities build back better
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
Trending
Popular
