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How we invest

The Phillips Foundation directs its resources – financial, time and expertise – through three investment streams.

More information on our discretionary grants program, strategic funding program and systems change investment can be found below.

To learn more about the types of programs, projects and organisations we work with, please review our current partner profile.

Discretionary Grants

Eligible charities (endorsed as DGR1 status) can apply for up to $50,000 for one year funding. Projects are typically assessed on their impact and service delivery outcomes.

  • Discretionary Grants Expressions of Interest (EoIs) open from 1 February to 31 March each year.
  • Shortlisted EOIs will be invited to submit a grant application.
  • We also consider applications in response to disaster relief and respond to EoIs out of cycle in these circumstances.

Strategic Grants

The Phillips Foundation works closely with a portfolio of strategic funding partners whose programs and projects are mission aligned with our strategic focus areas outlined below. Applications are via invitation only.

Access to Education

Achieving Personal Potential

Systems Change

The Living Ripples initiatve that seeks to improve the resilience and self-confidence in the children at your school. Partnership opportunities should be directed to the Living Ripples team.

How we monitor, evaluate and learn from our partnerships

Our MEL framework is designed to ensure we are working collaboratively with partners, and remain outcome focussed. We also want to share partnership learnings to inspire others to support children and young people feel hopeful about their future and be empowered to achieve their full potential.

Monitor
Evaluate
Learn

MEL Workshop

Initial workshop to benchmark and assess program impact.

Annual Survey(s)

Online survey on the annual anniversary of the execution of the grant agreement to monitor program progress.

Final Report

At the conclusion of our partnership's term, we will request additional information regarding the program, incorporating outcome questions relating to the client's experience.

Evaluation data capture

We work with you to identify how to evaluate partnership outcomes, where possible utilising the Childhood Hope Scale.

Partner annual check in

A member of the Foundation Team will check in following the completion of the annual survey.

Site Visit

Where possible a Foundation representative will try to make an annual site visit to understand partner outcomes, progress and meet with participants and community.

Learning Forum

The Phillips Foundation conducts an annual forum in February which convenes strategic partners and other sector stakeholders to discuss a theme relating to strategic focus areas. The Annual Forum is held in Melbourne each February.

Case Studies

The Phillips Foundation seeks to profile it partnerships through case studies. These case studies are promoted by our website.

Images taken by Paulyn, School for Life's Marketing/Communications Coordinator

Enabling education

School for Life helps disadvantaged primary and secondary school aged school students in the Mpigi District of Uganda access an education. Currently working in partnership with two local primary Government schools, School for Life delivers practical support. This ranges from teacher training to meals to enable students to come to class and engage in their learning. Through this support, and growing demand, over 1,000 children will be in the program in 2024.

Permission from Learning on Country Program

Mimal Learning on Country

In the remote community of Bulman in the Northern Territory, First Nations students are learning about their culture and how to care for their country from the Mimal Women Rangers. The Learning On Country program, funded by the Karrkad Kanjdji Trust, is a partnership between Mimal Rangers and the local school. The On Country lessons are a regular and formal part of the curriculum. The effect is seeing school attendance rise and new opportunities for local employment and further education.

Coober Pedy Term 4 2021

Clontarf Foundation

The Clontarf Foundation works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys and young men during their secondary school years. The goal is for all First Nations boys and men to feel supported, capable and confident in all areas of their lives. How this is done is through a comprehensive in-school program delivered throughout the year. With 23 years of results, growing demand as more boys and young men decide to stay at school and increasing program locations, Clontarf’s academies help lasting change happen.

© Stars Foundation

Belief, recognition and action

Helping First Nations girls and young women achieve their full potential in all areas of their lives is what drives the programs and services of the Stars Foundation. With over 2,900 students in more than 50 primary and secondary schools across Australia involved with mentoring and support, it is changing lives. Attendance rates at school are up as are the number of students successfully completing Year 12 and moving into work and further study.

© IFAW

Next-gen stewards

Students in the Hwange and Tsholotsho Districts of Zimbabwe live and learn side by side with wildlife with the country’s largest protected area, the Hwange National Park. This experience directly impacts every aspect of their lives and their families agro-based livelihoods as they learn to co-exist with the wildlife industries of conservation and tourism. Helping bring understanding and practical strategies to balance these considerations is one of the IFAW’s programs for primary age students, the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP. Working in partnership with ZimParks and local schools, IFAW brings resources and activities that support and equip children’s learning now and for the future.

Community Service Outreach © Orkeeswa

Commitment, courage and community

At the Orkeeswa School in Tanzania, a comprehensive and locally led outreach program for Maasai students is creating significant and lasting impact. Faced with few school resources and a history of poor academic performance, primary-age students from eight schools are being supported with new skills, mentoring and leadership opportunities. The goal, to increase retention in school, improve academic results and for girls to continue their education beyond the early years. And it is working.

Blessing, FMNR Kenya Project © World Vision Kenya

Securing our futures

Central Rift Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) is agricultural and community development program for farmers to help sustainably improve productivity. Delivered in partnership with World Vision Australia, local and international governments and farmers in the Rift Valley of Kenya the aim is to improve access to food and increase resilience for 10,000 households with 10,000 hectares under regenerative management. FMNR is a practice that is growing across Kenya, supported by policy and government arrangements to improve the livelihoods of all farmers and the community.

Interventions at the school © World Vision Rwanda

Transforming lives through water

Inclusive WASH is a practical program to improve access to clean water in Rwanda and it is transforming lives. Delivered by World Vision Australia, Inclusive WASH installs water systems, water filters, builds latrines and shower facilities and provides community education programs. In cooperation with local government and providers, Inclusive WASH has assisted over 110,000 people, around half of them children. Its impact continues to ripples in all areas of the community, especially for children.

Photo credit: Oliver Eclipse

Remote Pools Program

In remote communities, pools play a vital role in community wellbeing, especially for children. Pools are the focus of the YMCA’s Remote Pools Program, a locally led and culturally appropriate partnership supporting First Nation children and their families. With locally engaged staff, and the program’s ‘yes school yes pool’ rule, children meet, swim and play at the pool and learn the importance of good health. And it is making a real difference.

Ganbina Primary School participants with cultural artefacts, Ganbina Photography

Equity, Education and Employment

For young Aboriginal people from the age of five to 25 years, helping them start work and stay strong is how Ganbina’s long term program Jobs4U2 delivers sustained results. The program tackles generational disadvantage through education, leadership and community. By having this continuity of care and connection for the region’s young people throughout these important years, school attendance, Year 12 completion, tertiary education and employment rates are significantly higher than state and national averages.