Grants | Youth

Major grant round opens for ACT charities with focus on youth input

Ritchelle Drilon
February 12, 2026

Young people in the ACT will play a direct role in deciding how community funding is spent, as the Canberra Foundations Collaborative opens a new $1 million grant round with a significant shift in its assessment process.

The Collaborative, a partnership between the Snow Foundation, Hands Across Canberra and the John James Foundation, has opened its fifth joint grant round. For the first time, members of the ACT Youth Parliament will be formally involved in reviewing Expressions of Interest for projects that directly affect young people.

The move builds on a grant awarded in 2025 that helped establish the Youth Parliament, which supports 25 people aged 16–25 to build civic leadership skills. Now, those same participants will provide feedback to inform shortlisting and funding decisions.

“Youth Parliament was created to give young people a genuine voice in decisions that affect their lives and their communities,” said Kobi Stray, Youth Coordinator for the ACT Youth Parliament. “Being involved in reviewing projects that impact young Canberrans is a meaningful opportunity to contribute our perspectives.”

Since launching in 2021, the Collaborative has distributed more than $6.8 million to over 310 community projects. This round makes another $1 million available, with most grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000, though larger or multi-year grants will be considered for significant initiatives.

Kirsty Dixon, CEO of YMCA Canberra, said involving a structured community group in the review process is a key step in evolving how philanthropy operates in the capital.

“Bringing our voices into this process will strengthen the quality of decisions being made and help ensure funded projects are grounded in real community need,” Dixon said.

Expressions of Interest are now open and close on 27 February 2026.

The Collaborative aims to support local organisations working in mental health, disability, housing, family violence, healthcare and community connection.