2026 Impact100 Melbourne

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE 2026 IMPACT100 MELBOURNE FUNDING ROUND IS BY INVITATION ONLY, BASED ON RELEVANT APPLICATIONS THAT WERE RECEIVED AS PART OF GREATER MELBOURNE FOUNDATION'S 2026 FUNDING ROUND.

Guidelines

Impact100 Melbourne enables Melburnians to contribute to the city they call home through the power of collective giving.

It disrupts the traditional notions of philanthropy and provides an opportunity for both individuals and organisations to step into the role of changemaker, in a city where clever and transformative ideas are driving change.

Impact100 Melbourne is a fund of Greater Melbourne Foundation, and its goal is to bring together 100 diverse and community-minded members to combine their donations for impactful grants to local organisations contributing to a better future for Greater Melbourne.  Join us in investing in our local community.

With thousands of active giving circles across the globe, Impact100 Melbourne represents a growing movement in collective giving. Its model unites people with shared values to enable positive change in their communities. By pooling each member’s contribution of $1,000, Impact100 Melbourne amplifies individual impact. Beyond financial support, giving circles offer members a hands-on approach to philanthropy – providing the chance to determine where collective funds go, as well as the unique opportunity to engage with for-purpose organisations and their projects.

Applications for the 2026 Impact100 Melbourne Grant should be for projects that require a minimum of $50,000.

Why apply for Impact100 Melbourne Funding?

Introduced to Australia 15 years ago, the giving circle model makes philanthropy accessible to those outside the traditional sector.  By pooling modest contributions, it enables everyday donors to make a powerful, transformative difference for community organisations.

Application process

Impact100 Melbourne is governed by a volunteer advisory committee.  The committee is responsible for shortlisting grant applications and selecting finalists.  Greater Melbourne Foundation provides grant administration and management support and is responsible for contracting the financial distribution of the grant.

1. Organisations will be invited to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) online.
2. Impact100 Melbourne members will review EOIs and invite full proposals from a shortlist of organisations.
3. Impact100 Melbourne members will review the full proposals.  Four finalists will then engage with committee members to raise awareness of their work.
4. The Showcase and Selection Evening will take place in mid-November to announce the successful organisation.

Timeline

This funding round is a four-stage process.

Stage 1: Expressions of Interest – INVITATION ONLY
Wednesday 29 July (9:00am) to Wednesday 12 August (4:00pm)

Stage 2: Full Proposals
Thursday 3 September (9:00am) to Thursday 17 September (4:00pm)

Stage 3: Getting to know the Finalists and Site Visits
October 2026

Stage 4: Showcase and Selection Evening
Mid-November 2026

Expectation of Finalists

The four finalists must participate in either a site visit or a presentation in October. These sessions help Impact100 Melbourne members learn more about each organisation and its community impact. Site visits will only occur by mutual agreement and if relevant to the project. They can be held either in person or virtually. Finalists will receive at least three weeks’ notice, and the session will take no more than three hours.

If your organisation is selected as a finalist, you must attend the Showcase and Selection Evening in mid-November 2026.  At this event, Impact100 Melbourne members will learn more about each finalist and vote on the grant recipient.  You will not be required to deliver a formal presentation.

Focus Areas

Impact100 Melbourne is seeking to support small to medium-sized organisations (with an annual revenue of $5million or under as reported to the ACNC in the Annual Information Statement 2025) and initiatives that make a tangible difference for Melburnians.

Through a strong justice and equity lens, Impact100 Melbourne will focus on members of the community who experience disproportionate impacts from social and economic challenges, and whose voices are too often underrepresented in decision-making, public conversations, and policy responses — including, but not limited to, youth, women, and First Nations people.

To be eligible for Impact100 Melbourne funding you must directly link and contribute to one or more of the following Impact Area outcomes:

• Climate Justice – support and promote community-driven adaptation strategies that strengthen social connections, ecological health, and food justice.
• Economic Justice – support local economic development innovations through new business practices (including cooperatives) and community wealth building.
• Housing Justice – increase support to end homelessness for youth, women, First Nations people, and other priority cohorts.

Grant Guidelines 2026 Impact100 Melbourne

Access the guidelines document

Eligibility

To be considered your organisation needs to:

• Be endorsed as a Tax Concession Charity (TCC) and Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR Item 1)
• Be an Australian charity registered or operating in Victoria
• Be a small to medium-sized organisation with an annual revenue of $5million or under as reported to the ACNC in the Annual Information Statement 2025
• Have up-to-date reporting on the ACNC website
• Deliver work in Greater Melbourne that directly benefits communities of Greater Melbourne
• Have no overdue acquittals with Greater Melbourne Foundation
• Have submitted only one proposal for this funding round

Exclusions

The following will not be funded:

• Auspiced organisations
• Debt reduction or operational deficits
• Individuals (this includes scholarship programs)
• Attendance at conferences, or fundraising events
• Political organisations or activities that have a party-political purpose
• Religious organisations where the grant is intended for the principal benefit of the organisation’s own members or adherents, or where the grant is intended for inherently religious activities
• Clinical or medical research
• Work that denigrates, excludes or offends parts of the community, or that breaches Commonwealth or State anti-vilification laws

Please contact Bronwyn Roper, Grants Operations Lead, via grants@greatermelbournefoundation.org.au you have further questions.