July 2023 Community Grants announced

The Sisters of Charity Foundation provides grants of up to $15,000 to community projects and programs that break down social isolation and alleviate the impact of poverty on individuals and families through its Community Grants Program.

Applications for the July grant round opened 8 July 2022 and closed 31 July 2022. In total 118 EOIs (Expressions of Interest) were submitted. Of these, 44 organisations progressed to stage 2 and were invited to submit a full application; in the end 28 organisations were selected to receive grant funding.

A snapshot of the projects

Altitude Scholarships works with school principals across Australia to identify students with academic potential and personal motivation who are financially disadvantaged. They are provided with $1,500 per year to cover educational costs such as laptops, textbooks etc, for the remainder of high school and then through university.

Migrants and refugees face many complex barriers to employment, such as lack of network, lack of understanding of the industry/business culture, their overseas skills and experience not recognised, lack of confidence etc. The Catalysr Foundation has supported over 900 people through its fellowship and accelerate programs to learn about enterprise skills, find a meaningful skilled job and/or start their own business.

One Voice for Aussie Youth operates a mobile shower service that can provide more than 80 free showers to people experiencing homelessness per week. The charity works closely with other service providers to ensure clients can access food and outreach services.

List of successful Community Grant recipients

Below are the names of each organisation that received a grant in the July 2023 round and its project or program name.

• Alex Makes Meals Group Ltd – ‘Nutritious meals for those in need: Melbourne’
• Altitude Scholarships Ltd – ‘Supporting young people to reach their full potential’
• Bowen Residents Action Group – ‘The RONAN Project’
• Bridge Builders Inc – ‘Nanna’s Kitchen’
• Bridge for Asylum Seekers Inc – ‘Asylum seeker support project’
• Careworks Sunranges Inc – ‘Food Support Programs’
• Catalysr Foundation Ltd – ‘Meaningful skilled employment for migrants and refugees’
• Compass Community Care Inc – ‘Pantry’
• Escabags Ltd – ‘Escape bags for families fleeing domestic abuse’
• Find a Penny Foundation Inc – ‘Cooking therapy’
• FND Australia Support Services Inc – ‘Upskilling Masters Allied Health students to fill the divide and the gaps in service provision for people with Functional Neurological Disorder’
• Food Relief Neerim District Inc – ‘Christmas Hamper Project’
• Foothills Community Care Inc – ‘Foothills Community Meals’
• Hearts Of Purple Ltd – ‘Operation Family Protect’
• Journey 2 Learn Ltd – ‘ASD intervention and care training for J2L behaviour therapists, mainstream school teachers, and parents of children with autism’
• Lily House – ‘Recognising our volunteers’
• Little Things for Tiny Tots Inc – ‘Community Support Program’
• Monaro Community Access Service Inc – ‘Food Relief to help alleviate financial burden’
• Morris Children’s Fund Inc – ‘Music Therapy at 7 schools and 2 Hospital Schools’
• One Meal It Makes a Difference Inc – ‘Food security for northern beaches women and children’
• One Voice for Aussie Youth Ltd – ‘Mobile Showers for people experiencing homelessness in NSW’
• Reason to Thrive Inc – ‘Equine Assisted Learning “Maverick” Life-Skills Program for At-Risk Youth’
• Rise Which Way Inc –‘ Essentials Package and Yarning Circles’
• Strong Mothers Inc – ‘Treating trauma during pregnancy, birth and first years of life’
• The Aboriginal Literacy Foundation Inc – ‘Literacy tutoring for Aboriginal children in Ballarat’
• The Babes Project Australia Ltd – ‘New mums and nanas program’
• The Reconnect Project Ltd – ‘Laptops for Learning: closing the digital divide’
• We Care 2 Inc – ‘School supplies for vulnerable and disadvantaged children of the Fraser Coast’

Applying for a Community Grant

If your organisation provides compassion, hope and practical assistance to those in need, then you may be eligible for financial support from the Sisters of Charity Foundation.

There will be two grant rounds in 2024:

• January 2024 Grant Round: Opens 1 December 2023 / Closes 22 January 2024
• July 2024 Grant Round: Opens 8 July 2024 / Closes 31 July 2024

Learn more about applying for a Community Grant.