Balnaves Foundation Grants

  • The Balnaves Foundation disperses $5 million annually to eligible organisations.
  • Funding up to $150,000 – $250,000 per annum is available (multi‑year preferred)
  • Ongoing, EOI reviewed within four weeks of submissions, with Trustee consideration typically taking 3-6 months if progressed past EOI stage.

The Balnaves Foundation provides philanthropic funding to organisations that contribute to creating a better Australia, with a distinct focus on improving outcomes in education, medicine, and the arts, particularly for young people, the disadvantaged, and Indigenous Australians. Through its ongoing national grant program, the Foundation aims to support high-impact initiatives that demonstrate innovation, strong leadership, deep community engagement, and the potential for long-term positive change.

Key Requirements

  • Innovative Solutions Projects must demonstrate clear innovation and the capacity to deliver positive outcomes that extend beyond the immediate activity. This may include new approaches, models, or methods that address unmet needs or create significant community benefit.
  • Outstanding Individuals Funded initiatives should involve passionate, driven individuals with the ambition and capability to execute high‑impact programs effectively and sustainably. The Foundation values leadership strength and demonstrated expertise.
  • Strong Organisational Commitment Applicant organisations must show deep commitment to the proposed project, supported by senior leadership and strategic alignment with their mission and capacity to deliver.
  • Deep Engagement Projects should offer opportunities for meaningful engagement that go beyond financial support, enabling ongoing collaboration, relationship‑building, and long-term impact.

 

What is eligible for funding?

Eligible activities include projects that demonstrate innovation, support outstanding individuals, and deliver strong organisational and community engagement.

Activities may relate to program delivery, research, service models, capacity-building, artistic development, education initiatives, or health interventions, provided they align with the Foundation’s focus areas: education, medicine, arts; and target young people, disadvantaged communities, or Indigenous Australians

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants include:

• Charitable organisations across Australia with DGR‑1 status.
• Organisations working primarily in education, medicine, or the arts, and focusing on young people, disadvantaged groups, or Indigenous Australians.
• EOIs may only be submitted by organisations (not individuals).
• Organisations do not need to meet set funding rounds, as timelines are flexible.
• Projects must align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications via EOI screening and Trustee approval.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.