This is a new grant program that will provide up to $4 million to social enterprises that exist to create jobs and employment pathways for Australians facing barriers to mainstream employment.
Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation is the Initiative Host and WISE Grants funds are held in the Foundation’s WISE Collaboration Giving Account.
The WISE grant is a collaboration between eight partner organisations Paul Ramsay Foundation, Westpac Foundation, Macquarie Group Foundation, and Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Minderoo Foundation, and English Family Foundation. MinterEllison are providing invaluable pro bono advice on the grant program’s governance.
These grant partners recognise the economic and social value of WISE and have pooled funding to help create a more accessible and streamlined approach to supporting WISE seeking to build their financial resilience and impact.
The grant program is offering two types of multi-year grants available to fund “core” costs to build the organisation’s capacity to create meaningful jobs and employment pathways for disadvantaged job-seekers.
Tier 1 grants
Valued at approximately $200,000 over two years ($100,000 a year) to support WISE at “the experienced start-up and survival stages” to develop their impact and business model towards greater financial resilience.
Tier 2 grants
Up to approximately $500,000 over two years ($250,000 a year) to support WISE at the “stable and early sustainable stages” to strengthen and prepare them for future growth based on a stable and proven impact and business model.
How to apply
Click on each of the steps to learn more.
Further Enquiries
We are expecting a high level of interest in this grant program and do not have the resources to manage general phone call enquiries. However, if you have a question that cannot be answered by the material provided in the documentation or if you are having technical difficulties, please send us an email and we will endeavour to respond quickly.
We have prepared a FAQ sheet available below:
We are holding a Webinar on 11 July to give a brief presentation and respond to immediate questions; this will be recorded and available afterwards. Register here.
