John James Foundation CEO Joe Roff at the grant announcement, with Snow Foundation CEO Georgina Byron and Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs. Photo: PhotoX.
The numbers look big: Almost $2 million in funding, 71 organisations assisted across 67 projects and 213 expressions of interest. It’s the biggest grant round Canberra’s Funding Collaborative has ever rolled out in the ACT.
But as the Hands Across Canberra, Snow Foundation and John James Foundation CEOs made clear at the announcement, the need is substantial too as cost of living hits vulnerable Canberrans hard. And every cent of grant money stays here in our region, benefitting the local community.
Projects range from the Little Luxton cafe’s community employment and skills program for Gordon locals to the Eagles Sports Association, using basketball to build networks and life skills in the Sudanese community; from Sanctuary Aus, providing specialist domestic violence training for families living with disability to the Allara driving school, creating access to employment and community for refugees.
There’s funding for everyone from Bosom Buddies and the Brain Cancer Council, Girls Rock Canberra and Hartley Lifecare, Marymead and the Brite Notes singers, bringing music to the elderly.
Canberra’s first Youth Parliament has been funded, too. Twenty-five young leaders will take the floor at the Legislative Assembly in 2026 through the YMCA’s flagship national program, a first for Canberra where we have one of the youngest populations in Australia.
They’ll train, debate and create trial legislation that’s passed on to our political leaders, giving youth a voice in the ACT on issues affecting them critically, like housing, mental health and the cost of living.
“My brother – who repairs destroyers for a living – asked me how to vote,” said Pat, one of the YMCA cohort who is developing the Youth Parliament. “This program teaches something that’s not available in schools. We see around the world what happens when democracy fails, start falling apart. Let’s prevent that from happening in the first place.”
And, as his colleague Maddie reminded the room: “We’ll have to live with the future when everyone else dies!”
A shared approach is key. The Collaborative brings three foundations together with the assistance of funding partners including the Aspen Medical and Davencare foundations. A single application and collective knowledge streamlines the process.
“It’s about being generous across a whole range of causes and organisations, to invest in the community and uplift it at a time when the pressures from a cost of living crisis are very apparent among us,” Snow Foundation CEO Georgina Byron said at the grant announcement.
“We put the beneficiary first with single application process,” said John James Foundation CEO Joe Roff. “The benefit is organisations can just get on with the business of delivering programs and making a positive impact on the community.”
Behind the scenes initiatives got a significant nod too. Five of Canberra’s community services will create a shared data project to help them advocate about areas of need across the whole ACT.
Dan English, CEO Woden and Northside community services and Simon Bennett from Community Services One, who chairs the alliance, noted the enormity of the project, but the power good data will bring.
“The five organisations provide over a million hours of service every year and support tens of thousands of households,” Simon said.
“We know we’ll find gaps, we’ll be able to pinpoint where the need is for everything from homelessness to food support.”
Nicole Jones was at the announcement representing Davencare, a newly formed foundation engaged in health and wellbeing, arts and research. “It’s just such a great opportunity to jump on and give back to our community,” she said.
