Future2 Make the Difference! Grants

KEY DATES

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

Recipients Notified: End October 2025

Make the Difference! Grants Program Proudly Supported By

2025 Grant Guidelines

Building Stronger Financial Futures

At Future2, we believe that improving financial wellbeing has the power to change lives. That’s why we’re committed to supporting community-led initiatives that build stronger financial futures for Australians in need.

Since 2007, through our annual Make the Difference! Grants Program, Future2 has awarded over $1.8 million to more than 180 grassroots programs across Australia. We focus on supporting grassroots initiatives where funding makes a significant and lasting difference for Australians in need.

2025 Grants Program

In 2025, Future2 will award one-year grants of up to $15,000 to eligible programs that strengthen financial wellbeing for Australians in need.

To be considered, applications must align with at least one of the following categories:

Grant Categories

Financial Wellbeing for Young Australians:
Financial literacy and education programs for people under 25.
Financial Wellbeing for Australians in Need:
Initiatives for people experiencing hardship — including those impacted by mental health challenges, social isolation, domestic violence, homelessness, or poverty, as well as First Nations peoples and those from refugee or migrant backgrounds.
Financial Wellbeing for Women:
Programs that promote and improve financial literacy for women facing disadvantage across Australia.
Financial Wellbeing for Regional and Remote Communities:
Programs that support financial literacy in regional and remote Australia.

Who Can Apply

Future2 welcomes applications from a wide range of community organisations, including not-for-profits, charities, and local programs. You don’t need to be a registered charity or have DGR status to apply.

Eligibility Criteria

Your organisation must have annual revenue under $5 million.
No more than 15% of your total income may come from government sources.
Your program must be nominated by a financial services professional who has a genuine connection to the cause.
The applicant and nominator must reside in the same state or territory, or provide a clear explanation of the working relationship if not.
Priority is given to grassroots programs with direct, lasting impact.

How Grants Are Assessed

Future2 is committed to a fair, transparent, and impact-driven grants process. Each application is assessed by our Grants Committee against a clear framework that considers the project’s alignment with our purpose, potential for impact, and the capacity of the organisation to deliver outcomes. We also consider geographic and demographic spread to ensure funding supports a diverse range of communities across Australia.

Additionally, applications will be evaluated based on:

A strong, genuine connection between the nominator and the program.
Alignment with one or more of the grant categories.
Clear potential to improve financial wellbeing and deliver measurable outcomes.
Opportunities for Future2 community involvement (e.g. volunteering or fundraising).
Identify and deal with the cause of a problem, not simply treat the after-effects.
Long-term sustainability beyond Future2 funding.
Potential for the project to grow or be replicated.
Evidence of collaboration or community partnerships.
Sound financial management and budgeting.

Note: Previous recipients may apply again; however, there will be a weighting in the judging criteria towards those who have not received a Future2 grant in the last 5 years.

How to Apply

All applications must be endorsed by a financial services professional. Each application includes two parts:

Application from the cause and/or program
Application from the nominator (financial services professional)

You can start either part first — the system will prompt the other party to complete their section.

Please note, the nominator does not need to be a member of a specific industry association.

Application Steps

Review the eligibility and criteria.
Register for an account on the application portal.
Complete your section of the application.
Submit your part and await the nominator/cause to complete theirs.

For questions or support, please contact maddie.catlin@future2foundation.com.au

Ineligible Applications

Future2 generally does not fund:

Individuals
Government bodies or wholly government-funded organisations
Organisations with revenue over $5 million or more than 15% government funding
Religious groups, except where funding supports a non-religious purpose.
Programs located outside Australia.
Capital works, building projects, or operational overheads.
General appeals, conferences, or study programs.
Programs seeking 100% of funding without demonstrating future financial support.
Research (except in special cases at the Board’s discretion)
Travel (unless integral to program delivery).
Retrospective or commercial funding requests

More information about Future2 and the Make the Difference! Grants process

Future2 is the foundation of the financial services profession in Australia. As a registered charitable trust with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, Future2 is committed to supporting Australians experiencing necessitous circumstances through the power of financial literacy and opportunity.

Future2 Foundation Ltd is a company limited by shares and guarantee, empowered to use the income and assets of the trust to benefit individuals in necessitous circumstances. The Board has resolved to make grants to community-based not-for-profit organisations and charities that assist Australians in need.

All grants are made at the sole discretion of the Future2 Foundation. Shortlisting is based on the evaluation of each application, the judging criteria, and the availability of funds. Future2 reserves the right not to award a grant for any reason — or for no stated reason — regardless of how deserving a project may be or how closely the application aligns with the guidelines.

Rejection of an application does not imply a lack of merit. Future2 may, at its discretion, choose whether or not to provide feedback or enter into correspondence regarding the outcome of individual applications.