Canberra Foundations Collaborative boosts social projects with $1.94m in grants

As more Canberrans turn to community services for support, a local philanthropic collective has joined forces for the fourth year to deliver a $1.94 million 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, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, family and domestic violence prevention, and support for people experiencing disadvantage.

Georgina Byron AM, Snow Foundation CEO said: “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. 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.”

This round responds to a record 213 Expressions of Interest – highlighting the rising demand on local services. In response, the Collaborative increased its funding and sharpened its focus on long-term commitments, co-funding models and capacity-building. Since its launch in 2022, the Collaborative has committed $6.8 million to more than 310 community projects.

“We’ve 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. We’re backing larger requests, like Right to Work – which empowers young people with disabilities to experience employment success and genuine inclusion,” said Georgina.

“We’ve also deepened our engagement with First Nations organisations in the ACT, supporting four local partners, building on our national partnerships.”

Seventeen of the 71 grants are multi-year commitments, giving organisations the stability and confidence to plan ahead. “We’re seeing growing demand across every part of the community sector, and this collaboration helps meet that need with practical, meaningful support,” Genevieve Jacobs, CEO of Hands Across Canberra 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.

“We’re also deeply grateful for the additional support from Davencare and Aspen Foundations this year – thank you for your shared commitment to strengthening our community.”

Among the projects funded this year include:

• 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 (joint funding from Snow Foundation and Hands Across Canberra).

Kirsty Dixon, CEO of YMCA ACT said: “We’re excited to have Canberra’s first youth Chief Territory Member, and 25 youth Legislative Assembly MLA’s gather on the floor of the ACT Assembly to discuss bills and motions that matter to young people.

“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.”

Joe Roff, CEO of John James Foundation, said: “These investments are enabling organisations to do more of what works – and to do it together. Collaboration is the engine of a stronger, more resilient Canberra.

“This funding is our way of saying thank you to the frontline workers, leaders and changemakers across the ACT.”

Main image: Joe Roff of John James Foundation with Georgina Byron AM, Snow Foundation CEO (centre) and Genevieve Jacobs, Hands Across Canberra CEO.