Grant Guidelines

3

Make the Difference

At Future2, we believe that improving financial wellbeing has the power to change lives. That’s why we’re committed to supporting community-led initiatives that build stronger financial futures for Australians in need.

Since 2007, Future2’s Make the Difference! Grants Program has awarded more than $1.9 million to over 190 grassroots programs across Australia.

Through the program, Future2 funds initiatives where support can make a meaningful and lasting difference.

Looking ahead, Future2 is working towards an ambitious goal: improving the financial wellbeing of 20,000 Australians by 2030.

APPLY HERE

2026 Grants Program

In 2026, Future2 will offer one-year grants of up to $15,000 to initiatives that improve financial wellbeing.

Applicants must clearly demonstrate how their program aligns with at least one of the grant categories below and delivers measurable outcomes.

Grant

Categories

Who
Can Apply
Eligibility
Criteria
How Grants
Are Assessed
How
to Apply
Application
Steps

Grant Categories

To be considered, applications must align with at least one of the categories.

Important Dates
Applications open: 9 July 2026
Applications close: 20 August 2026
Recipients will be notified: end of October 
Grant recipients will be announced in November

 

Organisations that have received a Future2 grant within the past two years are not eligible to apply in the current grant round.

Financial Wellbeing for Young Australians

Financial literacy and education programs for people under 25.

Financial Wellbeing for Australians in Need

Initiatives supporting individuals experiencing hardship, including those affected by mental health challenges, social isolation, domestic violence, homelessness, or poverty, as well as First Nations peoples and people from refugee or migrant backgrounds.

Financial Wellbeing for Women

Programs that strengthen financial literacy, independence, and security for disadvantaged women.

Financial Wellbeing for Regional and Remote Communities

Programs that improve access to financial education and capability in regional and remote Australia.

Who can apply

Future2 welcomes applications from a wide range of community organisations, including not-for-profits, charities, and local programs. You don’t need to be a registered charity or have DGR status to apply.

Eligibility Criteria

Definition of Financial Services

A financial services professional is an individual who works within, or in direct connection to, the financial services sector in a role that contributes to the creation, advice, management, distribution, oversight, or support of financial products, services, or financial decision-making. 

These roles typically require industry-specific expertise and may be subject to licensing, accreditation, or professional standards. 

This includes individuals in client-facing, technical, operational, governance, regulatory, leadership, and related roles across financial services organisations, as well as retired professionals who remain connected to or supportive of the sector.  

Examples include (but are not limited to): 

  • Accounting and professional services (e.g. accountants, bookkeepers)  
  • Compliance, risk, audit and governance (e.g. compliance professionals, auditors)  
  • Corporate, management and executive leadership within financial services organisations  
  • Financial advice and client-facing roles (e.g. financial advisers, risk specialists, business development managers within financial services organisations)  
  • Insurance roles (e.g. underwriters, actuaries)  
  • Investment and funds management (e.g. investment analysts, product and platform specialists, fund managers)  
  • Lawyers – including those who provide advice on SMSFs and tax matters 
  • Mortgage brokers  
  • Paraplanning and support roles (e.g. paraplanners)  
  • Retired professionals who previously worked in the financial services sector and remain connected to it 
  • Superannuation roles (e.g. superannuation fund professionals)    
Organisations with annual revenue exceeding $5 million are not eligible.
Organisations receiving more than 15% of recurrent funding from government sources are not eligible.
Applications must be endorsed by a financial services professional.
Organisations do not need to be registered charities or hold DGR status.
Priority will be given to grassroots programs where funding can deliver direct and visible impact.
Nominations submitted by members of formal partner organisations, including the FAAA, SMSFA & IPA, will receive additional consideration within the assessment criteria.

How Grants Are Assessed

Future2 is committed to a fair, transparent, and impact-driven grants process. Each application is assessed by our Grants Committee against a clear framework that considers the project’s alignment with our purpose, potential for impact, and the capacity of the organisation to deliver outcomes. We also consider geographic and demographic spread to ensure funding supports a diverse range of communities across Australia.

Note: Organisations that have received a Future2 grant in the past two years are not eligible to apply.

Strong applications will:

  • Clearly define the problem and target cohort.
  • Demonstrate a direct link between activities and financial wellbeing outcomes.
  • Include specific, measurable outcomes (e.g. number of participants, behaviour change, capability uplift).
  • Provide a clear, realistic budget showing how funds will be used.
  • Show how the program will continue beyond Future2 funding.
  • Highlight community need and evidence-based approach.
Applications demonstrating a strong connection and active engagement between the nominator and the cause/program will be scored more favourably within the assessment criteria.
Clear alignment to one or more of the grant categories
Demonstrated impact and measurable outcomes, with priority given to high-impact, visible results.
Opportunities for engagement with Future2 (e.g. volunteering, fundraising, industry connection).
Evidence the program addresses root causes, not just symptoms, and is sustainable beyond the grant period.
Potential for the program to scale or replicate.
Evidence of collaboration or partnerships (where relevant).
Strong governance, planning, and financial management.
Applications open on 9 July 2026
Applications close 20 August 2026
Recipients will be notified in October 2026

How to Apply

APPLY HERE

DEFINITION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONAL

A financial services professional is an individual who works within, or in direct connection to, the financial services sector in a role that contributes to the creation, advice, management, distribution, oversight, or support of financial products, services, or financial decision-making.

These roles typically require industry-specific expertise and may be subject to licensing, accreditation, or professional standards.

This includes individuals in client-facing, technical, operational, governance, regulatory, leadership, and related roles across financial services organisations, as well as retired professionals who remain connected to or supportive of the sector.

Examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Accounting and professional services (e.g. accountants, bookkeepers)
  • Compliance, risk, audit and governance (e.g. compliance professionals, auditors)
  • Corporate, management and executive leadership within financial services organisations
  • Financial advice and client-facing roles (e.g. financial advisers, risk specialists, business development managers within financial services organisations)
  • Insurance roles (e.g. underwriters, actuaries)
  • Investment and funds management (e.g. investment analysts, product and platform specialists, fund managers)
  • Lawyers – including those who provide advice on SMSFs and tax matters
  • Mortgage brokers
  • Paraplanning and support roles (e.g. paraplanners)
  • Retired professionals who previously worked in the financial services sector and remain connected to it
  • Superannuation roles (e.g. superannuation fund professionals)

All applications must be endorsed by a financial services professional. Each application includes two parts:

Application from the cause and/or program
Application from the nominator (financial services professional)

You can start either part first — the system will prompt the other party to complete their section.

Please note, the nominator does not need to be a member of a specific industry or professional association however, additional weighting will be applied to nominations from members of Future2 partner organisations (FAAA, SMSFA, IPA).

Application Steps

For questions or support, please contact [email protected]

Review the eligibility and criteria.
Register for an account on the application portal.
APPLY HERE
Complete your section of the application.
Submit your part and await the nominator/cause to complete theirs.

Future2 generally does not fund:

Ineligible Applications

Individuals
Government bodies or wholly government-funded organisations
Organisations with revenue over $5 million or more than 15% government funding
Religious groups, except where funding supports a non-religious purpose.
Programs located outside Australia.
Capital works, building projects, or operational overheads.
General appeals, conferences, or study programs.
Programs seeking 100% of funding without demonstrating future financial support.
Research (except in special cases at the Board’s discretion)
Travel (unless integral to program delivery).
Retrospective or commercial funding requests

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.

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