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Our Place

Grant Applications for Organisations – Expressions of Interest open now!

Grant Applications for Individuals are open year-round, visit the Individuals Page.

The Canberra region is at the heart of our family foundation and falls under the Our Place pillar.  We support a variety of local organisations across  different cause areas, helping address community needs, build capacity and foster connection.

Since 2022, Snow Foundation has partnered with Hands Across Canberra and the John James Foundation to deliver the Canberra Foundation Collaborative (CFC) grant round. This collaboration simplifies the application process for community-focused organisations, saving time and resources by offering a centralised funding application process.

Over the past three years, the Collaborative has supported 191 projects with over $4.3 million in funding. This year, we’re again offering $1 million to support community-led initiatives that create lasting impact in Canberra.

Grants range from $5,000 to $50,000, with opportunities for larger, multi-year funding based on project needs.

Our Funding Priorities

Snow Foundation aims to respond to the needs in Canberra across a range of cause areas with a deeper focus on:

  • Youth at risk
  • Preventing family and domestic violence
  • First Nations-led initiatives
  • Women and girls – with gender at the heart of our decision making and processes.

John James Foundation prioritises health and disability, and Hands Across Canberra targets community wellbeing. However, organisations across all areas of need are encouraged to apply.

The grant round is more than just funding – it’s about building a stronger, more collaborative for-purpose sector. We actively support collaborative approaches that foster partnerships, shared learning, and deeper community connections – ensuring greater collective impact.

Grant Process 

The Collaborative grant round follows a two-step process:

Step 1: Expression of Interest (EOI)

Opens: 4 February 2025 – Closes: 4 March 2025

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the Hands Across Canberra portal. This can be written or submitted as a video.

Step 2: Step 2: Full Application (by invitation)

Opens: 26 March 2025 – Closes: 17 April 2025

After reviewing EOIs, selected organisations will be invited to submit a full application. Each foundation will then follow its own assessment and approval process, with funding announcements in June.

Online Information Sessions

We’re hosting two online information session where representatives from each Foundation will provide an overview of the EOI and application process, and answer questions:

📅 Tuesday 11 February 2025 | 2:00 PM
📅 Thursday 20 February 2025 | 10:00 AM

📌 Register Here

Eligibility

  • All initiatives must be for Canberra and/or the surrounding region.
  • Grants are intended for community organisations and social enterprises working with socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups including, at-risk youth, young people, women, men and elderly persons; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, precariously employed people, unemployed people, prisoners, domestic violence victims and perpetrators, homeless people, persons with a disability, persons identifying as LGBTIQ+ amongst others.
  • We welcome applications from all First Nations organisations, including community-controlled organisations, not-for-profits, and grassroots initiatives. Your organisation does not need to have DGR or ACNC registration to apply for Snow Foundation funding through the Collaborative Grant Round. If you are not ACNC-registered, we encourage you to apply and let us know what other governance structures you have in place, such as ORIC registration, state-based incorporation, or an auspice arrangement. We are committed to supporting strong First Nations leadership and impact.

Grant Round Additional Information and Guidelines

 

About the Canberra Foundations Collaborative

Snow Foundation, established by Terry Snow AM in Canberra in 1991 and led by his daughter Georgina Byron AM as CEO since 2006, is focused on fostering positive social change. We support a range of causes, from grassroots entrepreneurial projects to established organisations and exceptional leaders working for social change. The Foundation is committed to catalysing community infrastructure and have a deep focus on youth at-risk, domestic and family violence, being a respectful and useful ally to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and giving to women and girls through a gender lens.

Hands Across Canberra is an independent philanthropic community foundation, working with more than 300 local community organisations. Funds for this grant round are being provided by the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund which is delivered in partnership with Hands Across Canberra.  www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au

John James Foundation is an independent broad-based healthcare charity providing a range of programs and assistance to the people of Canberra and beyond. Keep up to date on their activities on www.jjf.org.au

Contact Us

For any questions regarding grant applications, please contact us at: enquiries@snowfoundation.org.au

Priority will be given to initiatives that

  • are strong in collaboration and consultation
  • involve the affected communities
  • offer new solutions
  • are led by passionate and skilled leaders, and
  • have clear objectives, outcomes and evaluation plans.

What we assist with

  • Innovation
  • Programs
  • Research
  • Advocacy
  • Equipment
  • Seed funding
  • Capacity building
  • Untied core funding

We don’t provide funding for

  • Sponsorship or endowments
  • Tickets/tables to fundraising events
  • Cancer and food programs (beyond existing partners)
  • Environment
  • Arts

Capacity Building Assets – Outcome Measurement Toolkit & Recordings of Seminars

Outcomes Measurement Toolkit

The purpose of this Toolkit is to help all the organisations we work with under the Canberra Foundations Collaborative Grant Round to help measure and demonstrate their impact. We believe that doing this will help all of us paint a picture of achievements while finding ways to improve how we address community needs.

Download the Toolkit

Capacity Building Seminar Videos

The recordings of three Seminars by the Canberra Foundations Collaborative on Leadership, Marketing and Grant Writing can be found here.

Watch the Seminars

Focus Areas

Economic Justice and Safety

Homelessness and affordable housing, family and domestic violence/abuse. A priority area for Our Place is pathways that help prevent youth homelessness and assist survivors of family and domestic abuse.

View Related Case Studies

Education and Employment

Education and Employment – life skills, employment pathways, scholarships

View Related Case Studies

Health

End-of-life care, disability, addiction, youth mental health prevention

View Related Case Studies