John James Foundation CEO Joe Roff, Snow Foundation’s Georgina Byron and Hands Across Canberra CEO Genevieve Jacobs. The three organisations form the Canberra Foundations Collaborative, which has opened its latest grant round to purposeful initiatives with the “potential to grow”. Photo: Photox.
Canberra’s worthy causes are about to be a million times better off thanks to the Canberra Foundations Collaborative’s fifth grant round.
Until Friday, 27 February, community organisations working to improve outcomes across the ACT can apply for grants from the partnership between the Snow Foundation, Hands Across Canberra (HAC) and the John James Foundation, with up to $1 million available.
Past recipients have included Cafe Stepping Stone, whose owners were named Australia’s 2025 Local Heroes at the Australian of the Year Awards, and Little Luxton, a social enterprise cafe changing the trajectory of disadvantaged young people in the capital.
“We look for opportunities that are generative, ensuring we’re not simply funding business as usual, or simply keeping the lights on, but productive and purposeful initiatives with the potential to grow in the community,” HAC CEO Genevieve Jacobs said.
“We want to give people the means to deliver their vision, something that resonates across the whole community.”
In the case of Allara Creative, a grant last year helped women from refugee backgrounds take a vital step towards independence, funding the fitout of a dual-control vehicle to launch its driving school.
Allara Creative’s Jessica Wright said the program would be a game-changer for newly arrived women.
“Getting a licence in Australia is challenging for people who either don’t speak English or don’t know anyone with a full licence to help them accumulate the number of hours they need to complete their log books,” she said.
“Lessons are commercially rated at around $90 per lesson, and you need at least 100 hours of practice before you can get a licence. That’s cost-prohibitive for people who are often unemployed and face barriers getting a job.
“A licence to drive not only improves their chances of getting a job, but the people we work with are also trying to integrate into a new society and culture. A licence can help tackle isolation.”
Allara Creative’s new social enterprise driving school will work in tandem with its many other programs, including its “English for driving” course. Photo: Allara Creative.
The program will offer heavily subsidised driving lessons from accredited instructors and pair students with trained volunteers to help them build road experience for free, while also providing incidental exposure to their new community, culture and language.
The aim is to provide approximately 200 hours of instructor-led lessons and approximately 500 hours of volunteer driving to support learners in obtaining their licences.
“Our driving school would not have been possible without our Canberra Foundations Collaborative grant,” Ms Wright said.
“It means a lot to be recognised by this collective of organisations dedicated to making Canberra a better place.”
Grant sizes vary depending on project scale and each foundation’s approach. Most grants range from $5000 to $50,000, with larger or multi-year grants considered for significant initiatives.
Since launching in 2021, the Collaborative has provided more than $6.8 million to more than 310 community projects, supporting local organisations working in areas including mental health, disability, housing, family violence, healthcare and community connection.
The Collaborative is also evolving how it supports the community by exploring new funding approaches, engaging recipients in decision-making and ensuring grants respond to the changing needs of Canberrans.
That’s why, in 2026, the Collaborative will build on a grant that helped launch the first ACT Youth Parliament, which gave 25 young people aged 16 to 25 a platform to draft, debate, and present policy ideas in the ACT Legislative Assembly, helping them build leadership skills, confidence, and civic participation.
This year, members of Youth Parliament’s newly formed committee will review expressions of interest for projects affecting young people and provide feedback to inform shortlisting and funding decisions.
“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,” YMCA CEO Kirsty Dixon said.
“Participatory grant making is something we’re keen to encourage,” Ms Jacobs added.
“We don’t want to sit above and beyond the community — we are of the community and seek the community’s input on how grants can be most impactful.”
An information session will be held for interested organisations on 17 February, covering eligibility, assessment criteria and tips for submitting a strong expression of interest.
Visit Canberra Foundations Collaborative for up-to-date information on funding guidelines, past recipients, events and resources for community organisations. Expressions of interest close 27 February 2026.
