Future2 Make the Difference! Grants

2023 GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

KEY DATES

Applications open: 1 August 2023

Applications close: 10 September 2023

Reviewing process complete & outcomes announced: End October 2023

Future2 reaches out to financial services professionals who have the passion, commitment and social conscience to assist those in need, in their local community. Professionals contribute to Future2 through donations, getting involved with fundraising activities, and by nominating community causes for the annual Future2 Make the Difference grants program. 

Through the annual Make the Difference! Grants program, Future2 supports Australians experiencing social, financial, or physical hardship. Since 2007, Future2 has committed $1.6 million in grant funding to over 150 community programs.  

In 2023, Future2 is excited to expand the criteria to welcome applications for programs that support Australians of any age, allowing us to make an even bigger difference in the lives of those in need.   

Furthermore, the Make the Difference! Grants program now invites all financial services professionals to nominate a community cause for funding.

2023 Guidelines

GRANT CATEGORIES

FUTURE2 SUPPORTS PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE: 

The type of grant offered is a one-year grant of up to $10,000. Applications to receive grant funding are invited for community programs that help Australians in need through: 

• Education, including financial literacy, skills training, and leadership development 
• Engagement, including mentoring and juvenile justice programs 
• Employment, including work experience and job readiness training 

• Wellbeing, including mental health programs and support services 
• Independent living and social inclusion 

Eligibility 

Future2 encourages applications from all causes, charities, not-for-profit organisations or community programs that meet the below criteria.  

Organisations are not required to have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status.  

Priority is given to grassroots, community programs where you can see the ‘money at work.’  

Applications must be endorsed by a financial services professional and should demonstrate a genuine association between the cause and endorser (see ‘application process’ below).  

JUDGING CRITERIA

Future2 seeks to support programs that give Australians in need a second chance, and hopes for a better future. Each application is assessed on its individual merit, with priority given to programs which

• Focus on supporting Australians who need help with one or more of the below: 

Education –
Incl. Financial literacy, skills training & leadership development  

Engagement –
Incl. Mentoring, access to services for those living in regional or remote Australia, engagement for those who are socially isolated or at risk of juvenile justice  

Employment –
Incl. Work experience & job readiness training 

Wellbeing –
Incl. Support for mental health, domestic violence, people who are intellectually or physically disabled & senior citizens  

Independent living –
Incl. Support for people who are homeless and/or transitioning out of poverty
 

• Can demonstrate the direct impact and outcomes of the program in the local community.  
• Provide opportunities for ongoing involvement with Future2’s community, for example engaging financial services professionals in volunteering, fundraising, committees, etc. 

• Address specific problem areas in ways that enable Australians in need to move towards productive and fulfilling lives (see grant categories above). 
• Can demonstrate a genuine association with the financial services professional who endorsed the application.  
• Identify and deal with the cause of a problem, not simply treat the after-effects. 
• Will continue to have an impact and remain sustainable well beyond the period of our support and, if appropriate, have the capacity to become self-sustaining. 

• Could be extended or replicated so that it benefits an increasing number of people. 
• May show evidence of collaboration with other agencies and organisations to implement or extend the reach of the project, or to share improved knowledge.  
• Well-managed and prudently budgeted. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

All applications are required to be nominated by a Financial Services Professional, therefore, each application must include:

• Application submitted on behalf of the cause and/or program
• Application submitted on behalf of the nominator (financial services professional)

Please note, the nominator does not need to be a member of a specific industry association. Please contact your local financial services professional to seek endorsement (this could be your accountant, financial planner etc).

Points are awarded for demonstrating a genuine association between the cause and nominator.

Steps to complete your application:

1. Review criteria
2. Register an account
3. Start your application
4. Submit your application*

* If you are submitting on behalf of a cause/program, it will then be sent to the nominator for completion.

* If you are submitting as a nominator, it will then be sent to the cause/program for completion.

Ineligible

In general, the following are not eligible for funding: 

• Individuals 
• Government entities, for example, government departments, statutory bodies and organisations wholly funded by government
• Religious groups, except for programs that support a non-religious purpose 
• Programs outside Australia

• Capital funds and building works
• Recurrent costs or general operating expenses of an organisation 
• 100% of the costs of any program unless future financial support can be demonstrated 
• Study programs or conferences
• Research, except in special circumstances at the Board’s discretion

• Travel, except where it is integral to the operation of a program
• Retrospective requests, general fundraising appeals or commercial sponsorships

More information about Future2 and the Make the Difference! Grants process 

Future2 is a charitable trust with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status conferred by the Australian Tax Office. Future2 Foundation Ltd is a company limited by shares and guarantee that has the power to use the income and assets of the trust to the benefit of persons in ‘necessitous circumstances.’ The Board has resolved to make grants to community not-for-profit organisations and charities that assist Australians who are in necessitous circumstances. 

All grants are made at the sole discretion of the Future2 Foundation. The shortlist is based on its evaluation of each application, judging criteria and the availability of funds. Future2 reserves the right not to award any specific grant for any reason, or for no apparent reason, no matter how deserving the proposed project may be or how closely the applicant has followed the guidelines and procedures. Rejection of an application does not mean that it is not well regarded. Future2, at its discretion, may or may not enter into correspondence with individual grant applicants about the relative merit of the application or the specific reasons for deciding not to award a grant.