Financial wellbeing-focused programs handed grant uplift

Twelve community initiatives focused on improving the financial wellbeing of Australians have been named as the recipients of this year’s ‘Make the Difference!’ grant program run by the Future2 Foundation, with a total of more than $177,000 issued nationwide.

Foundation chair, Julie Berry, confirmed each recipient would receive a $15,000 grant this year – up from $10,000 in previous years – to reflect the important work each initiative brings to communities all over the country and to support them in their efforts to “drive lasting positive change”.

This brings the total amount Future2 Foundation has awarded in community program funding since 2007 to over $1.8 million, with over 3,200 Australians helped by 15 programs supported by the foundation in 2023-24 alone.

“In all, the $177,000 awarded this year is the highest level of grant funding we have distributed since 2020,” Berry said.

“Future2 Foundation’s mission is to support community programs that help Australians in need build stronger financial futures. The grants awarded today will fund programs delivered in the 2026 calendar year and cannot be used for operational costs. They support 12-month programs where the impact of the funding can be clearly measured.

“Future2 is the foundation of the financial services profession – this means that we rely on people from within the industry to nominate causes to receive our funding. Nominators play a vital role, as organisations cannot apply directly without the support of a financial services professional.”

According to the foundation, grant applications were examined for their “potential to improve financial wellbeing with measurable outcomes, … ability to address root causes, demonstrate long-term sustainability, and show potential for collaboration and growth”.

The 12 recipients were:

• Diamond Women’s EmpowHER Financial Coaching
• 2MFM – Muslim Community Radio’s Financial Literacy Workshop & Radio Series for CALD Youth
• Tiny Foxes’s The Life Skills Academy
• Financially Empowered’s Migrant Money Matters Program
• Anglicare WA’s Foyer Oxford
• Dismantle’s Financial Wellbeing for Successful Futures
• Speak & Share’s People before Students
• The Mallacoota Wilderness Collective Inc.’s Building Financial Wellbeing for Women 40+ in Rural and Remote Victoria
• Pluton’s Empowering Regional and Rural Queensland
• Just Motivation’s Hope Starter Finance
• Zahra Foundation’s Pathways to Empowerment Program
• Mill House Ventures’ Financial Literacy Program