Melbourne Women's Foundation

Thank you to everyone who joined us last night and contributed behind the scenes to make the Changemaker Grants Expo a success. Our members' generous contributions in FY23/24 enabled us to grant a record-breaking $165,000 to organisations making a lasting impact: WomenCAN Australia - Capacity Building Grant of $80,000 PartnerSPEAK - Enabling Grant of $45,000 United Housing Co-operative ltd., Meals with Impact, Wellsprings for Women and Women's Circus each received a Spotlight Award of $10,000. We are deeply grateful to our event sponsors, JLL and Bendigo Bank Community Bank Elwood, for their generous support for our event. A special thank you to our anonymous donor for the delightful "Melbourne Women's Foundation" commemorative cups. Our event truly showcased the incredible generosity and unity within our community. 🩷

We are excited to announce the six finalists who are transforming the lives of women and families in our community. Meet these changemakers, hear their inspiring stories and be part of shaping the future of our giving as we grant $165,000 to support their vital work. Join us at the Changemaker Grants Expo, 6-8pm on Thursday 24th October at JLL, 101 Collins Street, Melbourne: https://lnkd.in/g9Bdjvfm Voting opens online Monday 21st October and closes during the event. Finalists: Capacity Building Grant $80,000 Wellsprings for Women WomenCAN Australia United Housing Co-operative ltd. Finalists: Enabling Grant $45,000 Meals with Impact PartnerSPEAK Women's Circus The runner-up organisations in each category will receive a Spotlight Award of $10,000. Let’s come together and make a lasting impact. #MelbourneWomensFoundation #InclusiveMelbourne #CollectiveGiving

Last night, we were privileged to host our inaugural arts experience for Melbourne Women's Foundation members and friends, an event that reflects our commitment to informed and impactful contributions. More than forty members and friends of the giving circle met at the Arts Centre Melbourne to see "Mother," a powerful solo performance by legendary Australian actor Noni Hazlehurst. "Mother" tells the compelling story of Christie, a homeless woman navigating a world filled with hardship and destruction. Noni's portrayal was filled with tenderness, shedding light on a reality many endure daily. Following this moving performance, we engaged in a focused discussion with representatives from Launch Housing. We are deeply grateful to Bronwyn James and Fiona Costolloe for leading a thoughtful conversation on women and homelessness in Melbourne and sharing the statistics that remind us why our work is so vital. Understanding and engaging with pressing social issues in diverse ways enhances our granting and our members' voting impact. We are inspired to continue making a difference, one meaningful conversation at a time. Thank you to everyone who joined us, to the team at Launch Housing and to the Arts Centre Melbourne for making this memorable evening possible. Together, we advance towards a more equitable world where everyone can thrive. Read our membership FAQs to see if we're a community you might want to be aligned with: https://lnkd.in/gmkcSduM #MelbourneWomensFoundation #CollectiveGiving #InclusiveMelbourne

Last year, we donated $160,000 to six innovative nonprofit organisations, awarding two major grants and four merit awards. This was made possible thanks to our members’ support and generosity.   Next week, we'll hear from Prison Network and St Kilda Gatehouse to learn how our grants have enabled them to create change for women and families in Melbourne.   When 6pm to 8pm on Thursday 29th August 2024  Where Evans & Partners 171 Collins Street, Melbourne  Tickets https://lnkd.in/ggGgx2qM       Whether you've been a member for a while, are new to our giving circle, or are thinking about joining, don't miss this opportunity to connect with us and hear how we are investing in the wellbeing of women and families in Melbourne. #MelbourneWomensFoundation

Thank you Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation for sharing the story of our beginnings! Established in 2014 under the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, Melbourne Women's Foundation evolved into an independent entity in 2023. Co-founders Patricia Burke OAM and Gillian Hund OAM were originally inspired by the pioneering efforts of the Washington Women's Foundation in the US. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gmzTHXFH #MelbourneWomensFoundation

Join us for an evening of community connection and positive collaboration: https://lnkd.in/ggGgx2qM 🩷 A heartfelt thank you to Evans & Partners for their immense support.

We are excited to announce the opening of our Changemaker Grants, aimed at boosting the ability of nonprofits to effect change for women, and women and families, in the following areas: - Employment and economic empowerment - Homelessness - Family violence - Mental health We warmly invite all eligible nonprofits to apply and become part of our mission to create lasting change. For more information and to apply, please visit our Grants Page: https://lnkd.in/ghxENUJd. If you have any questions, please reach out! Let’s celebrate our 2023 finalists who have shown incredible dedication and impact: Prison Network St Kilda Gatehouse For Change Co. The Beautiful Bunch Our Village (formerly St Kilda Mums) Women's Property Initiatives #MelbourneWomensFoundation #ChangemakerGrants

A warm welcome to all new and renewing members! By joining before 30 June, you can participate in this year's decision about our 2023/24 grants. New members often ask us, "What do I have to do?" The answer is that you can create your unique approach, and we are here to help you. Events We provide learning and social gatherings to enhance your giving experience. How you participate is up to you. Our learning events educate us about the challenges facing women and children in Melbourne and how nonprofits are addressing these issues. Together, we can make informed and impactful contributions. Our social events help build community and shared experiences. All events and social gatherings are listed in our quarterly newsletter and on our website. We will be in touch next week to inform you of the total amount in our giving pool based on memberships and donations. We look forward to a year of giving with you. #melbournewomensfoundation 

// UPDATE Our Collective Impact Every year our members vote for which nonprofit organisations should get our funds. 🗳️💡 In November 2023, our members voted to award a major grant to each of these two nonprofits, selected from six finalists: Prison Network: $80,000 helping women post-incarceration to build a future St Kilda Gatehouse: $45,000 providing vital support to marginalised women Join us on Thursday 29 August 2024, as we connect with Prison Network and St Kilda Gatehouse for an update and a Q&A session. Tickets are by donation and everyone is warmly welcome. Book your place here: https://lnkd.in/ggGgx2qM #MelbourneWomensFoundation

Our learning events deepen our understanding of diverse experiences of vulnerability, making sure our giving is informed and impactful. Thanks to our amazing events team, we’re offering our members the opportunity to see the incredible Noni Hazlehurst and engage in a Q&A session with her. A heartfelt thank you to all our new and renewing members! 🩷 Everyone who becomes a member or renews before 30 June will have the chance to vote on our fund allocation this October. Book your spot now to avoid disappointment: https://lnkd.in/gshTNxbc #MelbourneWomensFoundation