Media releases

Eight not-for-profit organisations receive $50,000 each from the Westpac Foundation

 

8 May 2012

The Westpac Foundation today announced eight social enterprises from across Australia who will receive a grant of $50,000 from the Foundation’s Catalyst Grant program.

The grants will be used to further the foundation’s goals to develop communities where the long-term unemployed, Indigenous Australians, refugees, the homeless, and individuals with a disability, feel engaged and included.

The Westpac Foundation Catalyst Grant program also rewards sustainable business models in the not-for-profit sector, providing a boost to an organisation’s commercial activities. The total amount provided by the Foundation through the program is $400,000.

The Foundation Catalyst Grant Recipients for 2012 include:

 

  • Tangentyere Artists (Alice Springs, NT)
  • Human Ventures (Brisbane, QLD)
  • Ningana Enterprises Inc.(NEI) (Griffith, NSW)
  • Fairbridge (Pinjarra, WA)
  • FareShare (Abbotsford, VIC)
  • Green Collect (Yarraville, VIC)
  • Tasty Fresh Community Catering (Logan, QLD)
  • CareerTrackers (National)

 

The Westpac Foundation’s Executive Officer, Susan Bannigan, said: “These grants are an opportunity to support the significant work of not-for-profit organisations in disadvantaged communities around Australia.

“The Westpac Foundation is proud to take this opportunity to not only provide financial grants to these not-for-profit organisations, but to invest in these communities and help build a better future.

“The Foundation and the Westpac Group work together to provide additional support to Foundation grantees, connecting them with Westpac's customised range of banking solutions, dedicated Social Sector Specialists and free financial education guides tailored to the needs of community organisations. The Foundation also provides grantees with volunteering and mentoring support from Westpac employees.

“More than 130 social enterprises, or social enterprise initiatives from the not-for-profit sector, applied for a Catalyst Grant. The Westpac Foundation Board selected eight projects from a short list, which represent a wide range of innovative social enterprise approaches designed to address various social issues affecting a number of disadvantaged groups,” said Ms Bannigan.

The eight Catalyst Grant winners will also have the opportunity to receive an additional $50,000 grant through The Westpac Employee Choice Award. Westpac Group employees will vote for the organisation they would like to receive an additional $50,000. The organisation who receives the most votes will be the winner. 

The Employee Choice Grant gives Westpac Group employees the opportunity to support community organisations whose work they feel passionate about.

More than $21 million in funds has been distributed by the Foundation since 1999 to not-for-profit organisations across Australia.