Grantmaking approach

Building on over a century of grantmaking experience as Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, we know that effective philanthropy means finding a balance between:

• Meeting immediate needs, while also backing long-term systemic change that removes barriers and builds resilience

• Supporting urgent service delivery where it matters, while also investing in the “scaffolding” - the relationships, leadership, and infrastructure - that enable lasting change
• ​Funding research and evidence that not only shapes policy and practice but is grounded in community priorities and accountable to those most affected
• ​Supporting connected efforts that bring organisations and communities together to drive lasting change

• Exploring community-owned assets and new financing models that shift benefit and opportunity back into the hands of community

This is not an either/or approach. As our grants program evolves, we will seek to fund across horizons - from responding to pressing needs, to strengthening the conditions needed to create lasting, positive change.
 

How this works in practice

Our grants streams operate across different timeframes and each stream serves a different purpose. Not all streams will be open at the same time. Some operate as annual open rounds, while others are delivered through multi-year phases, pilots or invited opportunities.

We are currently in a deliberate transition period (2025-2027) as we move towards a clearer multi-year grant cycle aligned to Strategy 2030.

During this transition period:

• Our primary open grant round, the Greater Melbourne Foundation Annual Grant Round, offers a clear and consistent access point for community organisations across Greater Melbourne.
• We have made a long-term place-based commitment to Melbourne’s West. Phase 1 is focused on strengthening the enabling conditions needed for long-term community-led systems change. 
• Our field-building approach is currently being shaped through pilots and targeted opportunities, which are focused on how we fund and support ecosystems of organisations working collectively toward significant change, rather than funding isolated initiatives. (Expected August-December 2026)
• We are shaping applied policy and research work (alongside field building) to elevate community voice and address the connected drivers across our three identified impact areas – climate justice, economic justice and housing justice. (Expected August-December 2026)
• We are offering proactive, invitation-only grants selectively and strategically, as a bridge between funding cycles, in response to urgent need and emerging work that is aligned to Strategy 2030. 
• In collaboration with other funders, the Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) Initiative is the primary mechanism supporting social enterprises that create jobs and employment pathways for people facing barriers to mainstream employment.

Our guiding principles

We work across the intersections of Greater Melbourne Foundation’s identified Impact Areas – Climate Justice, Economic Justice, and Housing Justice – in recognition that these challenges are deeply connected.

We fund the true cost of impact, including overheads, governance and the relational work that makes change possible.

We provide flexible, proportionate support, including multi-year funding where it is most effective.

We back collaborative models that enable collective problem solving and shared action.

We bring together the passion of supporters, the insight of communities, and our own experience to drive social justice and equity.

We create space for experimentation, iteration, reflection and learning.

Through this approach, we seek to become a catalyst for connection, collaboration and community-led change.
 

General funding eligibility

To be eligible for funding from Greater Melbourne Foundation, your organisation must be endorsed as a Tax Concession Charity (TCC). 

Depending on the grant round, your organisation may also need DGR1 (a Deductible Gift Recipient as covered by Item 1 of the table in Section 30-15 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997). 

Please refer to the relevant grant guidelines for each grant round to confirm eligibility.

Location
While our focus tends to be the region of Greater Melbourne, Greater Melbourne Foundation funds work across Victoria. 

Please refer to the relevant grant guidelines for each grant round to check eligibility and specific geographic boundaries which may apply.

Exclusions
We do not fund the following:

• Clinical research projects
• Endowment funds
• Retrospective funding.

We are unable to fund through auspice – the organisation requesting funding must be the organisation doing the work.