Strategy 2030 | Initiatives

Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE)

The Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) Initiative supports social enterprises that exist to create jobs and employment pathways for Australians facing barriers to mainstream employment.

About

The Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) Initiative supports social enterprises that exist to create jobs and employment pathways for Australians facing barriers to mainstream employment.

The Initiative is currently a collaboration between Greater Melbourne Foundation, Macquarie Group Foundation, McLean Family Fund, Minderoo Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, The Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation, The Honig Foundation and Westpac Foundation. MinterEllison provides invaluable pro bono advice on the grant program’s governance.

These organisations recognise the economic and social value of WISE and have pooled funding to help create a more accessible and streamlined approach to supporting WISE seeking to build their financial sustainability and impact.

In 2023, fourteen organisations from around Australia received funding totalling more than $4.7 million as part of the inaugural Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) Grant program.

What we're working towards

Economic Justice

Initiative updates and outcomes

Funder collaborations – going further together

16 September 2024

Stephen Torsi, the Foundation's Program Manager, shares insights from the interim evaluation of the WISE Grant Collaboration, including the essential elements to support positive and dynamic working relationships.

Read the full Knowledge Hub article.

WISE Grant Interim Insights and Learning

06 August 2024

This interim evaluation report of the WISE Open Grant Round explores the initial experiences of Partner Organisations, as well as Grant Applicants and Recipients in working in this new model, and applying to a collaboratively developed opportunity.

Read the full article and access the interim report.

New funding for local programs to help more Australians into work

05 December 2023

Social enterprises working to tackle employment barriers and support more Australians into work are set to accelerate their growth and impact with new funding from Australia’s leading philanthropic foundations.

Fourteen organisations from around Australia will receive grant funding totalling more than $4.7 million as part of the pioneering Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) Grant program managed by Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation as part of an innovative collaboration.

Read the full news article.

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