Westpac Foundation Launches Social Scale-up Grant Program

The Westpac Foundation has launched a Social Scale-up Grant Program to support Australian social enterprises.

Grants of $300,000 each over three years will be awarded to organisations with a proven model for creating jobs and employment pathways for Australians experiencing disadvantage.

Westpac Foundation launched its new Social Scale-up Grant Program aimed at supporting Not for Profit organisations with a proven model for creating jobs and employment pathways for Australians experiencing disadvantage.

Successful organisations will receive grants of $300,000 over three years, as well as non-financial support such as business mentoring, to help improve their business sustainability and capacity to scale-up their operations for increased social impact.

This new grant program builds on the long history of support for Australian communities offered by Westpac Foundation since it was formed 137 years ago. Since 1999, Westpac Foundation has granted more than $28 million to over 450 Not for Profit organisations.

Westpac Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Sinclair Taylor, said that helping open doors for fellow Australians experiencing disadvantage was at the heart of Westpac Foundation’s purpose.

“The launch of our Social Scale-up Grants today reflects our renewed focus on supporting Not for Profit organisations which create jobs and employment pathways for people who may otherwise be unable to access sustainable employment opportunities,” Taylor said.

“We have designed these grants – over multiple years, with both financial and non-financial support – to help selected organisations to become financially sustainable through their own business activities ensuring they are around for the long-term to deliver more jobs and employment pathways for disadvantaged Australians.

“We’re excited by the prospect of backing the people with the passion and conviction to make a positive, measurable difference for their fellow Australians and watching communities strengthen as a result.”

Expressions of interest for Westpac Foundation’s Social Scale-up Grants will be accepted until the closing date of 28 February 2016. Eligible applicants will then be invited to participate in a formal application process. Successful grant recipients will be announced in September 2016.

Westpac Foundation will present an information webinar briefing on Friday 5 February at 1pm AEDT to be hosted by Westpac Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Sinclair Taylor. The webinar will provide a detailed overview of the Social Scale-up Grant Program, eligibility criteria, plus hints and tips on submitting a strong application.

Westpac Foundation is a charitable organisation with a legacy that dates back 137 years. In 1879 Thomas Buckland, the President of the Bank of New South Wales (which became Westpac), established The Buckland Fund to help families of deceased bank employees who found themselves in financial hardship. The fund commenced with Buckland’s initial donation of £1,000, a bonus he received for services to the bank.

Today, Westpac Foundation continues to support social enterprises taking a fresh approach to addressing complex social problems, borrowing the best from business and the social sector to create more opportunity for Australia’s most disadvantaged. While being independent, Westpac Foundation considers Westpac Group to be its greatest supporter.

Since 1999, Westpac Foundation has granted more than $28 million to over 450 Not for Profit organisations and remains steadfast in its goal to help open doors to social and financial inclusion for fellow Australians experiencing disadvantage.

Westpac Foundation is administered by Westpac Matching Gifts Ltd as trustee for Westpac Community Trust (ABN 53 265 036 982). Westpac Community Trust is a Public Ancillary Fund, endorsed by the ATO as a Deductible Gift Recipient.

For more information click here or contact Rosa Cortez, Marketing & Communication Manager at Westpac Foundation. To register for the webinar click here.