About
Greater Melbourne Foundation is committed to walking alongside communities as they define and lead the changes needed for a more equitable and resilient future.
This initiative is the Foundation’s longer-term commitment to supporting such change in Melbourne’s West. Through a place-based approach, we are focused on advancing economic and climate justice - recognising that housing, and other community priorities, are essential means to achieving dignity, opportunity, and resilience.
The Foundation recognises that many organisations are already working with their communities to address social justice and inequality, and this initiative seeks to build on and amplify those existing efforts. By doing so, we aim to advance collective action and systems change towards equity and justice in the West.
At this stage, we envisage three broad phases of work and funding. We’re starting with Phase 1 and will co-design and create subsequent phases with community partners in the West.
The first phase of our place-based funding focuses on strengthening the enabling conditions needed for long-term, community-led systems change across Melbourne’s West.
This includes investing in the scaffolding that supports deeper collaboration, leadership, and shared purpose—particularly across the intersecting areas of economic justice and climate resilience.
Rather than funding programs or services, this phase backs the often unfunded but essential work of connectors, convenors, and community anchors—those building trust, nurturing local leadership, and holding the “messy middle” of collaboration.
It also supports shared learning and reflection, helping to build the conditions for more aligned and community-defined action over time.
We’re looking to support the existing justice-focused work of up to 10 community organisations or collaborations in the West.
Funding within this first phase, is focused on advancing a just and equitable Western Melbourne - where communities lead climate resilience, and shape fair and sustainable local economies.
We see this future taking shape through two interconnected areas:
- Climate justice: where communities lead adaptation efforts, strengthening climate resilience in ways that address inequities and centre those most at risk
- Economic justice: where communities shape economies that build community ownership, share power, and support people and planet into the future