Applications for Community Sector Banking’s $300,000 Social Investment Grant Program now open

APPLICATIONS open today for Community Sector Banking’s 2018 Social Investment Grants Program, building resilience and capability for people who are experiencing homelessness or domestic abuse. Not-for-profits can apply for grants totalling $300,000.

The program was launched yesterday at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre in Melbourne, where past recipients Youth Project and the Melbourne Homelessness Collective, and social commentator Van Badham spoke about the issues of homelessness and domestic abuse.

This year’s Social Investment Grant Program has increased by $100,000.

“The impressive growth in our annual Social Investment Grant funding pool speaks to the strength of the grants program – which is financed by contributions from Social Investment Deposit Account holders, along with 50% of our net profits from that product,” said Andrew Cairns, Community Sector Banking CEO.

“It’s a fantastic example of the power for good that everyday banking can have in strengthening not-for-profits, and in turn, communities that benefit from their services.”

Not-for-profits can apply for grants of $25,000 or $50,000 to build resilience and capability in people experiencing homelessness or domestic abuse.

Cairns acknowledged that the theme for the 2018 grants – homelessness and domestic abuse – is the same as the 2017 program.

“We received an overwhelming number of applications to last year’s program, highlighting the huge need in the community and the sector for addressing these issues. We’re proud to be continuing and increasing our support,” said Mr Cairns.

“We recognised that homelessness and domestic abuse remain the greatest crises Australian communities currently face, and that long-term support and solutions are key to properly address them,” said Cairns.

Find out more about the Social Investment Grants Program at: communitysectorbanking.com.au/grants

About Community Sector Banking

Community Sector Banking is the not-for-profit banking specialist for more than 13,000 organisations; it’s a joint venture between Bendigo Bank and the Community 21 consortium of not-for-profit organisations, established 15 years ago.

About the Social Investment Grant Program

Community Sector Banking’s annual Social Investment Grants Program shows the power for good that everyday banking can have in the community. The grants program is funded by Community Sector Banking contributing 50 percent of the net profit earned on all Social Investment Deposit Accounts. Account holders can also choose to contribute 50 percent or 100 percent of the interest earned on their account. It’s administered in conjunction with the Community Enterprise Foundation.

Community Sector Banking selects the grants’ theme each year through assessing need and determining the areas in which they will generate the most impact. Find out more about the Social Investment Grants Program at: communitysectorbanking.com.au/grants

Key dates for the 2018 Social Investment Grants Program:

 

• 1 May 2018 - grant applications open today
• 31 May 2018 - grant applications close 5pm AEST

ENDS