ANZ today announced it has granted $440,000 to 20 charitable organisations through its Community Foundation. The organisations are each delivering projects that advance financial wellbeing, housing, environmental sustainability and other initiatives that support communities to thrive.
Funded by ANZ employees, the Community Foundation sees every dollar staff contribute through the workplace giving program matched by the Bank with an additional two dollars. Since 1988, around 951 grants valued at more than $7.2 million have been distributed to groups across Australia.
Chair of the Foundation, Christine Linden said: “The power of giving back to improve lives and empower communities is at the heart of ANZ’s Community Foundation. I continue to be inspired by the ingenuity and dedication of our community partners and their efforts to make a meaningful difference using the generous donations contributed through our workplace giving program.”
“The ANZ Community Foundation is committed to making a meaningful impact by funding projects in the areas of housing, financial wellbeing and environmental sustainability. This year we have been able to increase both the number of grants and the amount of funds distributed and I look forward to seeing the ongoing impact of these projects and initiatives as they come to life,” Ms Linden said.
In 2023, 20 grants were given, with the average recipient receiving $22,000. Four each were distributed in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland; three each in Western Australia and South Australia; and two in Tasmania.
Category | Amount | State | Organisation | Project details |
Housing | $17,500 | VIC | Cocoon Education | Establishment of education and employment pathways program to support people at risk of homelessness. |
Housing | $15,000 | SA | Anglicare SA | Program to address the needs of vulnerable young people moving out of state foster care. |
Housing | $16,000 | WA | Stepping Forward | Anglicare WA offer services supporting children, young people, individuals, families and communities. |
Housing | $30,000 | QLD | Butterfly Lodge Homeless Shelter | Initiative to upgrade and install 15 modern, energy efficient air conditioners to make the accommodation operational year-round. |
Financial wellbeing | $22,000 | VIC | Staying on Track | Delivery of programs incorporating a range of services aimed at people experiencing disadvantage and financial hardship. |
Financial wellbeing | $30,000 | SA | Next Step Program | Delivery of an outdoor education program for young people aged 13-18 to build self-confidence and resilience. |
Financial wellbeing | $15,000 | NSW | Cancer Council | Creation of financial literacy resources to specifically support people impacted by cancer. |
Financial wellbeing | $16,000 | NSW | WindGap Foundation | Funding to expand access to online financial literacy services for participants with intellectual disabilities. |
Financial wellbeing | $22,500 | QLD | Community Spirit Foundation (NT) | Delivery of a range of education programs to support Indigenous children and families. |
Environmental sustainability | $25,000 | VIC | Cerberus to Red Hill South Biolink Project | Restoration of vital koala habitat through the revegetation of private land on the Mornington Peninsula. |
Environmental sustainability | $30,000 | TAS | Saving the Red Fish from Extinction | Support for a program aimed at helping species most at risk from extinction. |
Environmental sustainability | $30,000 | NSW | Rescue Aust – Emergency Response | Providing recovery support for wildlife and domestic animals impacted by bushfires and other emergencies. |
Environmental sustainability | $30,000 | QLD | Protecting a wetland eco-system on Yourka Reserve | Project to protect ecosystems and wildlife in an important conservation area in Far North Queensland. |
Other | $26,250 | VIC | Sustainable Healthy Integrated Food towns | A local social enterprise to help create jobs, support local farmers and producers, reduce waste and improve community wellbeing. |
Other | $30,000 | SA | Documentary Australia | Funding projects that harness the power of documentaries as a tool for positive outcomes in social change. |
Other | $20,000 | TAS | Safe Sleeping | Ensuring disadvantaged families have access to essential items for babies and children. |
Other | $20,000 | WA | Leading Youth Forward | Improving the livelihood of at-risk young people through pairing mentorships and positive life experiences. |
Other | $15,000 | WA | Final Wish Program | A volunteer run program to enable people who are terminally ill to visit a place of personal significance as a final wish. |
Other | $15,000 | NSW | Creative writing program | A literacy program to improve the future educational and employment prospects of participants. |
Other | $14,750 | QLD | DV Safe Phone | A program that collects, repurposes and gifts mobiles phones to people impacted by domestic violence to help when it’s needed most. |
About ANZ Community Foundation: ANZ Community Foundation uses regular donations of ANZ Staff to provide grants to small yet impactful charities and organisations in local communities. The Foundation is a charitable trust funded by staff payroll donations and managed by ANZ staff – a National Advisory Board and State Committees. ANZ staff can join the Foundation and make regular donations from their pay which is matched by the bank at the rate of $2 for every dollar donated. ANZ covers all administration costs, so donations are tripled and go straight to charities across Australia.
About ANZ Workplace Giving: Since inception, ANZ’s Workplace Giving program has distributed more than $23 million to our community partners. ANZ won the ‘Best Employer Grants Program’ category at the 2022 Australian Workplace Giving Awards. At the 2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards, ANZ won the ‘Best Employer Response to a Crisis’ category, and was recognised with Silver in the Most Innovative Charity & Employer Partnership together with The Smith Family.
