Our Granting Approach
Gandel Foundation is a proud family-based organisation with the founders, John Gandel AC and Pauline Gandel AC along with members of the next two generations of their family, actively involved. We lead with our values and Gandel Foundation’s grant making is guided by principles rather than a set of detailed policies.
We support initiatives that:
- empower people to improve their wellbeing and future prospects
- promote community values and foster community spirit
- have a long-term transformative impact
We prioritise support for the most vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Our approach allows Gandel Foundation to meet both immediate as well as long-term needs.
Key principles are:

Community need
We seek to fund programs that meet a genuine, evidence-based need that have the potential for significant or direct community impact and benefit, as well as broader implementation.

strengths
We focus our funding on areas where we can make an impact.

Prevention & Early intervention
We aim to support programs that focus on addressing the root causes of any problem to build resilience and prevent escalation.

Leverage
We encourage organisations to work in cooperation and partnership within their program work and to collaborate with key stakeholders in a given field.

Innovation & sustainability
We seek to support programs that offer innovative and creative solutions to issues and programs that have the potential to be sustainable over the longer term.

Excellence
We aim to support organisations that have a strong track record in meeting the community's needs and ensuring lasting endurance through their leadership approach, strong governance, community accountability, efficient resource use, robust operations and positive culture.
Gandel Foundation grants to organisations serving the Jewish community, the wider Australian community and in Israel. We grant in five issue areas and provide three levels of grants.
Community Grants
Community Grants are envisaged as one-off grants that will support a defined program or part of a program. These grants are awarded up to a maximum amount of $40,000, and they are allocated towards the following Areas of Interest:
- Arts & Culture;
- Education;
- Health & Medical Research;
- Community Development;
- Social Cohesion & Inclusion; and
- Poverty & Disadvantage.
Major Grants
Gandel Foundation’s Major Grants reflect the organisation’s wish to provide more substantial and meaningful support that can help achieve stronger and longer-term positive social impact within the specified areas of interest.
Major Grants are awarded from $40,000 up to $250,000 and they can be in the form of one-off support or multi-year funding, covering the following Areas of Interest:
- Arts & Culture;
- Education;
- Health & Medical Research;
- Youth at Risk;
- Jewish Identity & Leadership; and
- Indigenous Programs.
Flagship Grants
The third level of giving, the Flagship Grants, was developed with the aim of providing significant, leadership-type grant for flagship programs and activities that have the potential to build more resilient, vibrant and inclusive communities. Funding for these grants ranges from $250,000 to $2 million, awarded as one-off or multi-year support, covering the same Areas of Interest as the Major Grants level:
- Arts & Culture;
- Education;
- Health & Medical Research;
- Youth at Risk;
- Jewish Identity & Leadership; and
- Indigenous Programs.
In addition to the Areas of Interest stated above, Gandel Foundation will retain its flexibility to respond to other emerging or relevant community needs outside of this sphere, but only in exceptional circumstance and as identified and approved by the Board.