Bennelong Foundation

26/04/2025

Today's the day! Join Team Bennelong at the Pillars of Wisdom 🏆🏃⏰

15/07/2024

Our 2024 Community Grants are now open for expressions of interest. Submissions open until 14 August, 2024 (11:59pm AEST).

For more information, visit our website - https://www.bennelongfoundation.com/grant/community-grants

03/07/2024

"When I come to football, my mind is free. I see people like me, with difficulties like me, and we give each other hope. My coach is smiling at me, and I feel welcome. Everyone encourages each other - do you best, do your best. I remember this for my rest of life too. I will do my best." M

We're incredibly grateful to the Bennelong Foundation for funding our weekly sports sessions. Read more below...

https://www.bennelongfoundation.com/story/big-leaf-foundation

01/07/2024

Today we unveil our new strategy, inspired by the ambition that every person has the opportunity to shape their future and chase their goals. The strategy, focuses on opening pathways to economic empowerment and social cohesion, guides our approach to grant-making, partnerships and engagement. This is the Bennelong Foundation’s first new strategy in 10 years. It launches today alongside a new brand and a new website.

“This new strategy is an evolution in how the Bennelong Foundation creates opportunities for meaningful change,” said CEO Laura Cochrane.

Bennelong Foundation Chairperson Carena Shankar said: “We believe in empowering people by providing them with opportunities they may not otherwise have access to. One small opportunity can kick-start a journey that can be transformational, both for individuals and entire communities.

Read our strategy at bennelongfoundation.com.

05/04/2024

Congratulations to Annette Brodie and the team at  for winning the National Banksia Sustainability Award for Circular Economy!

The Bennelong Foundation first made a grant to The Reconnect Project at our Pitch In Sydney 2023 event. Their work recycles and rebuilds donated devices like laptops, tablets and mobile phones and donates them to charity partners. They also train neurodiverse young people to become the next generation of device repairers harnessing their special gifts. They are a creator of jobs for those with barriers to employment.

They are always on the lookout for old devices, so if you are an organisation refreshing your laptop and mobile phone fleet. Or have old iPhones stored in your bottom draw - please reach out. You would be surprised at the extra life that Annette and her team can breathe into your old devices and use them for social good. Share this post, or tag your IT department here so they are aware of The Reconnect Project.

We are proud to see Annette and The Reconnect Project go from strength to strength!

04/04/2024

04/04/2024

The Bennelong Foundation Tan Track Clocks have been updated at Melbourne's famous Tan Track!

Sunshine blessed the unveiling of the clocks alongside running greats Steve Moneghetti, Peter Bol, Jaryd Clifford and Lord Mayor Sally Capp AO.

The clocks feature the top 10 mens, womens and para multi class times around the 3.8km track and are officiated by RUN THE TAN. The next opportunity to get your official Tan time is next month's Run the Tan Showcase event on April 21.

07/06/2022

The Bennelong Foundation and Bangarra Family Office are hiring !! A wonderful opportunity for someone looking to get started in the philanthropic sector, and to be a part of a growing purpose driven organisation. Please see details in the link.

https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/bennelong%20foundation/grants-administration-manager?keywords=bennelong%20Foundation&page=1

We are seeking a driven and passionate person to join our small but dynamic team to support the operations and administration of the Bennelong Foundation and Bangarra Family Office.

06/06/2022

Expressions of Interest are now open for our October 2022 grant round.

If your organisation holds a DGR status and are currently seeking funding for projects that align with our target groups and funding areas, please head to the 'Register to Apply' page on our website https://www.bennelongfoundation.com/ to submit your application.

Applications close 29th of July at 5 pm.

31/05/2022

Bennelong Foundation turns 20 today!

Twenty years ago today, the Bennelong Foundation was established as the 53rd Australian Prescribed Private Fund, now known as a Private Ancillary Fund. To mark the occasion, the Bennelong Foundation celebrated with our staff and community at Bennelong House.

Twenty years is a remarkable milestone, the gift of time providing knowledge, experience, and most importantly impact. We have learnt so much along the way, and over this time been able to create opportunities for better health care, better access to education and pathways to employment for close to 400,000 people. And importantly, alongside this, the Bennelong Foundation community have had the opportunity to be a part of something greater than ourselves.

The Bennelong Foundation has been built around the Bennelong Community; the staff and employees of the Group, whose hard work and endeavours makes the work we do possible, our grantees who have allowed us to work alongside them and with them, our Executive team, Board and Special advisers whose commitment, guidance and rigour keeps us focused and always striving to do better and our peers, whose generosity in sharing knowledge and advice cannot be underestimated…

We look forward to continuing our work over the next twenty years and beyond!

27/04/2022

Last week, the Bennelong Foundation community had the privilege of visiting Oakhill Food Justice Farm. Oakhill Farm distributes 100% of the produce grown to the local community and food relief initiatives and offers training in urban agriculture, building food systems literacy and empowering local community members.

Bennelong Foundation is currently funding the Oakhill Farm through their collaboration with Sustain: The Australian Food Network, a unique and dynamic not-for-profit focused on transforming urban agriculture and food systems in Australia.

Jemma, the amazing farmer at Oakhill, took us on a tour of the property, where we explored the numerous plants, fruits and vegetables growing. After our tour, we created signs for the numerous foods being grown at Oakhill and filled and prepared a wicker box for planting. We finished the day with a delicious homemade soup topped with freshly picked herbs accompanied by a salad made with handpicked vegetables. It was fantastic to be out in the community again, and we were fortunate enough that it was school holidays and many of our Bennelong community members were able to bring their families along to participate.

21/04/2022

Common Ground is working to shape a society that centres First Nations people, knowledge and self-determination. They do this by amplifying First Nations voices, embedding our knowledge in key systems, and delivering cultural strengthening projects that harness the power of storytelling. Their work brings truth, connection and education to all people.

The First Nations Bedtime Stories features five short films that capture Dreaming stories. Common Ground works with Elders and knowledge custodians to record stories that have been passed down since time immemorial. The stories are told in a mix of English and their original languages. Bennelong Foundation is proud to be part of this effort.