Empowering not for profits with technology Impact Grants

Applications are now open for Dog and Bone’s next round of Impact Grants. Apply by 15 July 2022.

In 2021, Dog and Bone launched a $120,000 annual in-kind grants program as part of our commitment to creating a better world through technology. Our goal is to amplify the impact of smaller not for profits (NFPs) working hard to make the world a better place. 

Dog and Bone’s Impact Grants give organisations access to technology projects ranging from help with their technology strategy, navigating the new hybrid workplace, through to independent technology procurement. 

Since launching, Dog and Bone has awarded seven Impact Grants to NFP’s to support them to achieve their missions through strategic technology projects. 

You can read more about our most recent Impact Grant awardees here.

One of the awardees was Aboriginal community-led NFP Deadly Connections. 

About Deadly Connections

Deadly Connections is an Aboriginal community-led, not-for-profit organisation that breaks the cycles of disadvantage and trauma to directly address the over-representation of Aboriginal people in the child protection and justice systems.

Founded by Keenan Mundine and Carly Stanley, both proud First Nations people with lived and professional experience, Deadly Connections is built on their own personal and professional experiences as Aboriginal people and community members.

Their community centred, culturally responsive, holistic programs develop stronger, safer, communities, creating deadly connections and more positive futures, for communities, families, individuals, and kids.

How an Impact Grant supported Deadly Connections 

Deadly Connections is experiencing significant growth and demand for its First Nations designed and led programs. The organisation sought support through the Impact Grants to improve its technology, to create more efficient systems and more effectively manage client data which would enable its mission to achieve better outcomes for First Nations communities. 

As part of our shortlisting process, Dog and Bone conducted a scoping call with the Deadly Connections team on their challenges and goals. Dog and Bone awarded Deadly Connections an in-kind Impact Grant to select a fit-for-purpose client management system to improve their client and donor management processes, helping to run and streamline their growing organisation. 

“We got a small monetary grant to update our client management system, but we didn’t have an IT person, or the capacity to figure out the best system. The grant from Dog and Bone was different as it was in-kind which was so helpful as they had the skills and knowledge we needed here at Deadly Connections.” – Lucie Zangger-Page, Deadly Connections

The process undertaken included:

• Facilitating a discovery workshop with Deadly Connections and reviewing manual forms. Client intake and case management were identified as the two core requirements for a new system.
• Conducting several one-on-one meetings to deepen understanding and document Deadly Connections’ business processes and systems requirements.
• Undertaking a market review of suitable client management systems that best met Deadly Connections’ requirements. Seven potential client management systems were identified that ranged from significant global solutions to smaller more boutique options.
• Completing a systems assessment against the requirements and shortlisted using further criteria of budget, systems support and Australian hosting.
• Presenting findings and recommendations in a high-level report to key stakeholders to facilitate decision making. A systems review and recommendations report identified three potential solutions and provided an implementation roadmap to achieve this within 12 months.

“Dog and Bone took the time to understand why Deadly Connections exists and our underlying purpose. When we partner with an organisation and get to know someone and they get to know us, that’s really important to us. We’ve got that investment with Dog and Bone.” – Lucie Zangger-Page, Deadly Connections

Deadly Connections can now select a client management system with confidence and use this to improve and streamline the important work they do.

“The client management system (CMS) review process gave me the confidence to know what Deadly Connections needs. I feel like I have the skills and capacity to reach out to CMS providers now. Dog and Bone completely delivered on our expectations and what we were hoping to get from the review process. We got exactly what we hoped for.” – Lucie Zangger-Page, Deadly Connections

Impact Grant applications now open

We’re excited to announce that Dog and Bone’s second round of Impact Grants for 2022 is now open.

If you’re an NFP, you may be eligible for one of our Impact Grants. We launched the $120,000 annual grants program as part of our commitment to creating a better world through technology. Our hope is that we can amplify the impact of NFPs working hard to change the world.

Quick grant information

1. For NFPs with 50 staff or less.
2. Plus, this round also includes a special opportunity for telecommunications support for a NFP with 50-200 mobile services (more below).
3. Apply for grants between $5-$20,000.
4. $120,000 of projects are available annually, with $40,000 released in three rounds per year.
5. Applicants must be a registered charity.
6. Applications close on 15 July 2022.

Telco Impact Grant for a small-medium NFP 

Our grants are targeted to NFPs with under 50 staff to enable smaller organisations to access high-quality support that they could otherwise not afford. This round, we are also providing a telco focused grant to enable one small- to medium-sized NFP with 50-200 mobile services to whip their telecommunications into shape. Our telco team has a wealth of expertise and are bursting to use their power for good. 

Examples of telco projects include: 

• help assessing or developing your mobile strategy
• managing mobile expenses and identifying cost reduction opportunities (in contract)
• support finding the right telco or internet provider (out of contract).

Apply now

We’ve made our application form super short so you can submit your application in just a few minutes and get back to working on what’s most important to you.

If you work at or know of an organisation that might be eligible for our Impact Grants, please share this link to our grant application.

Not ready to apply? 

Our Impact Grants have three application rounds per year. To be notified of when our next round opens, you can subscribe to our mailing list on our website, or email us at info@dogandbone.com.au to be added.

About Dog and Bone – walking our talk

We’re inspired by organisations that exist to make the world better. While our expertise is in technology, we do what we do to enable the people who are working hard to improve the world at our client’s businesses. 

Over 20 years of working with NFPs and impact-driven enterprises, we’ve learnt the challenges, pitfalls and opportunities that help them succeed. We work with incredible organisations that serve the community like Anglicare Victoria, Beyond Blue, Royal Flying Doctors Service, and so many more. 

We are committed to creating “a better world through technology” and our best contribution to that is through working with and supporting direct impact organisations. Through technology and our Impact Grants program we empower smaller NFPs to have an even bigger impact in the communities they serve.