Grant Levels and Areas of Interest
Gandel Foundation has three levels of grant giving that are aimed at providing support for both Jewish and Australian causes and organisations.
Within those three levels, there are a number of specific Areas of Interest towards which grants are allocated, as described below.
Community Grants
These grants are allocated up to a maximum amount of $40,000. They are generally envisaged as one-off grants aimed at providing support for a defined program or part of a program.
They are mainly intended for smaller community organisations, however any eligible organisation can apply for support for programs or services within one of the specified Areas of Interest. The Community Grant level is implemented as a rolling program, with applications accepted throughout the year. Decisions on the grant applications will be made around four times a year.
Community Grants will be allocated in both the traditional and new areas of interest, reflecting our wish to explore and learn about the needs in a range of sectors in the community. These areas of interest may continue to evolve.
Currently, Gandel Foundation Community Grants are allocated towards six specific Areas of Interest:
- Arts & Culture;
- Education;
- Health & Medical Research;
- Community Development;
- Social Cohesion & Inclusion; and
- Poverty & Disadvantage.
Additional details related to eligibility, descriptions of Areas of Interest, the application process, exclusions and other relevant information are contained in the Community Grants Grant Guidelines document.
Gandel Foundation believes that all types of grants are needed to enable us to provide support for the benefit of those in need in our community, and to achieve our vision of “creating a positive and lasting difference in people’s lives.” We believe that, strategically, we can support both the ongoing, immediate, as well as emerging needs in the society through allocations from our Community Grants level of giving.
Major Grants
Major Grants reflect Gandel Foundation’s wish to provide more substantial and meaningful support to not for profit organisations to achieve stronger and longer-term positive social impact within the specified area of interest. These grants can be allocated as a single, one-off contribution or be part of multi-year support, depending on the nature of the need and the proposal. As a rule, the aim is to support programs that are evidence-based, that deliver defined positive outcomes in the community, that provide long-term benefit to the target audience, and that have the potential to be broadly implemented.
Funding for these grants can range from $40,000 to a maximum of $250,000.
It is important to note that applications for the Major Grants are available by invitation only. Selected organisations may be invited to apply throughout the year, while decisions will generally be made twice a year.
Through Major Grants, Gandel Foundation provides support for Jewish and Australian causes in a set number of Areas of Interest. Again, some of these have traditionally been part of Gandel family’s philanthropic giving in the past, and some are more recent:
- Arts & Culture;
- Education;
- Health & Medical Research;
- Youth at Risk;
- Jewish Identity & Leadership; and
- Indigenous Programs;
Gandel Foundation will be undertaking its own research and analysis to understand the relevant issues, the broader operating environment and the key players. We will then look to partner with leadership organisations in their respective fields of involvement – this does not mean these organisations need to be the biggest, only the best at what they do. We will seek to support both the existing as well as new, ground-breaking programs. We will look at programs and organisations that align closely with the granting philosophy of Gandel Foundation.
Flagship Grants
This level of giving was developed with the aim of providing support for significant, flagship-type activities, programs and causes. Flagship Grants are just that – leadership-type grants that will provide significant support to undertake initiatives that will help strengthen, or build, more resilient, more vibrant and more inclusive communities.
Similar to the previous level of giving, Gandel Foundation will work to investigate, research and analyse the issues, the needs and then decide who to work with, in which area and to what aims. Funding for these grants can range from $250,000 to a maximum of $2 million, awarded as a one-off grant or over a number of years, depending on the need.
Applications for Flagship Grants grants are by invitation only. Selected organisations may be invited to apply throughout the year, while decisions will generally be made twice a year.
Areas of Interest for Flagship Grants are the same as those for Major Grants:
- Arts & Culture;
- Education;
- Health & Medical Research;
- Youth at Risk;
- Jewish Identity & Leadership; and
- Indigenous programs;
In addition to the above approach to grant giving, Gandel Foundation will retain its flexibility to respond to other emerging or relevant needs outside of this strategy, but only in exceptional circumstances and as identified and approved by the Board.