Our Grants

Contributing to Society

Funding goal

Increasing young people’s agency by building their capacity and opportunities to drive change on the issues that matter to them most

*Agency is the ability to act, to be actively involved in shaping one’s future. Agency is what young people have when they feel in control of the things that happen around them. When they are able to make choices and decisions to influence events and have an impact on their world.

Funding outcomes

More organisations genuinely embed youth voices in their work
Young people are equipped and connected to shape better futures
A greater diversity and representation of young people influence decisions that affect and matter to them

WHY ‘Contributing to Society’?

Young people want to make a difference and see their impact on the world. However, they often feel undervalued and sidelined from decisions on the policies and practices that affect their lives. The young people most impacted by compounding challenges and government policy are traditionally the groups that are most under-represented.

By recognising young people as experts in their own lives, we value and encourage their contributions to society. Moreover, evidence tells us that when communities and institutions listen to and engage young people’s expertise, they do a better job of keeping up with the rapid pace of change and design more fit-for-purpose services and practices.

However, youth-led organisations that seek to increase the visibility and capacity of young people are chronically under-funded and typically rely on teams of passionate young volunteers balancing work and study commitments. Youth-focused organisations and services need resources and systems in place to listen and respond to the needs and priorities of young people.

We see real opportunity in building young people’s skills, capacity and networks to create change and increase their representation and participation in all aspects of society. To enable young people to tell their own stories, engage their peers and lead their communities, meaning young people’s voices have more power and impact.

We seek to prioritise work that is youth led, co-designed and/or actively incorporates the voices of young people from design to delivery. We value initiatives that take a strengths-based approach and harness young people’s insights and lived experience.

We particularly seek to build representation of young people from rural and regional, culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nations backgrounds.

The following are examples of the types of activities that VFFF supports in this funding area to achieve priority outcomes:

Resourcing organisations to better listen and respond to young people’s concerns and ideas
Giving young people a ‘seat at the table’ within decision-making bodies
Supporting peer-to-peer leadership programs
Connecting young people to tackle issues that affect and matter to them
Increasing young people’s democratic engagement and civic participation
Creating space for young people to tell their own stories and use their voice.

VFFF does not accept unsolicited applications. We are currently giving priority to the funding pipeline that has developed through our strategic review consultation process.

“In strengthening a spirit of unity - in the family, the nation and beyond - young people have an essential part to play, and their enthusiasm needs to be used to the full. To help them appreciate their responsibilities to society, both in work and in leisure, and to guide their enthusiasm towards improving the quality of life, not only for themselves but also for others and for future generations, will serve well the whole community and the nation.”

Sir Vincent Fairfax
94th Annual Meeting of the Boys’ Brigade (Inc.), 3 December 1976

Case Studies

Q&A: Madeleine Buchner OAM, Little Dreamers

In June 2022, VFFF approved $900,000 over three years to build Little Dreamers’ capacity to respond to increased demand. In this Q&A, we spoke to Maddy about Little Dreamers, her recent experience at the 2022 Philanthropy Australia Conference, and what it is like being a young leader guiding an organisation through a significant growth period.

Q&A: Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good

In February 2022, the VFFF Grants Committee approved $49,500 towards rental property costs for Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good. Their vision for a 'DIYDG Home' is to create a safe space for young people living in the Cairns region.

Foundation for Young Australians – Building Young People’s Civic and Cultural Engagement

Our Impact The Foundation for Young Australians – Building Young People’s Civic and Cultural Engagement It is fitting that VFFF’s largest grant in the first year of Backing Young People should support youth leadership and civic participation – an area of interest for Sir Vincent and Lady Nancy Fairfax. The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) backs young people with the trust, resources,…

Current Grants

Blacktown Youth Services Association - Core Operations and Capacity-Building

The Foundation for Young Australians - Civic and Cultural Engagement Pillar

Australian Youth Affairs Coalition - Core Operations Funding

Little Dreamers - Building Capacity to Respond to Increased Demand

Youth Insearch - Strengthening Youth Insearch's Young Leaders Model

Ethni - Building Ethni's Organisational Capacity and Long-term Sustainability

Young Change Agents - Core Operations Funding

Outloud Inc - Capacity-Building Support

The Nest Community - The Nest Exchange Project

Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good - The DIYDG Home

Youth Action - The Youth Action Throughcare Initiative

The Man Cave - Supporting Healthier Masculinities NSW

Traction - Building Young People's Capacity for Leading Self Leading Others