Westpac Foundation Opens Grants Round

The Westpac Foundation has opened its next round of social enterprise grants and announced the latest recipients of grants worth $1.2 million to support local community organisations and social enterprises around Australia.

The recipients received funds via two grant rounds – Westpac’s Community Grants and Seed Grants.

Under the Community Grants program, which are smaller grants of up to $10,000 each, the Westpac Foundation says it has donated $588,000 to 65 local community organisations.

“These grants give a crucial funding boost to local organisations, many of whom are volunteer led,” Group Executive of Westpac Retail & Business Banking and a Trustee of Westpac Foundation, Jason Yetton, said.

“Now in its third year, the Westpac Foundation Community Grants Program has donated more than $1.6 million to 177 organisations across the nation.

“Recipients were selected by Westpac employees, in conjunction with Westpac Foundation, for their commitment to making a difference in their local communities including providing employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians, helping people from refugee backgrounds to find long-term work and providing opportunities for people with disabilities.”

See the complete list of 2014 Westpac Foundation Community Grant recipients.

“This year, we are pleased to donate $640,000 in Seed Grants to nine of the most innovative social enterprises in Australia,” Executive Officer of Westpac Foundation, Lisa Waldron, said.

“Westpac Foundation Seed Grants are up to $100,000 each and support social enterprises that are at the start up stage, giving them the funding boost they need to kick-start their operations.

“The people behind these social enterprises are true visionaries. We are excited to be supporting each of their world class initiatives that are working towards achieving significant social impact, in the form of jobs for people from refugee backgrounds, employment pathways for Indigenous Australians in remote areas and training for people living with disability.

“Each of these social enterprises is at the heart of innovation in the social sector today and we are proud to be a part of their story.”

Waldron said a crucial component of these grants was the non-financial aspect, including opportunities for recipients to access organisational mentoring from staff across Westpac Group.

“Recipients are at the forefront of innovation in the social enterprise sector today, and include Good Cycles, who run bike workshops that also provide employment for people experience disadvantage,” Co-Founder of Good Cycles, Loretta Curtin said.

“Receiving the Westpac Foundation Seed Grant is a huge boost to Good Cycles and will help ensure that we achieve our objectives as a social enterprise.

“This funding gives us greater capacity to grow our organisation and to expand our programs, providing more opportunities for people in the community who need a helping hand. We are very pleased to be working closely with Westpac and we are grateful that they are investing in and supporting the community, with a strong focus on social enterprise.”

The full list of Seed recipients is:

The Foundation says the next grant round for funding of $100,000 is available from August to start-up social enterprises.