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We are thrilled to share the six outstanding nonprofit Finalists for this year’s Melbourne Women’s Foundation Changemaker grants.

Each are proposing or already delivering innovative, grass-roots responses to empower Melbourne women and families need.

We invite you join us to hear from each Finalist directly as they take centre stage at our 2025 Changemaker Awards event this Thursday, 23 October.

Who will MWF members vote to receive the two major grants?

This is much more than an awards night – it’s the power of collective giving in action. 

Tickets on sale now

Our sincere thanks to event sponsors, Bendigo Community Bank Elwood and the JLL Melbourne Women in Property Transactions network, for their ongoing and generous support of this event.

And the Finalists are…

$45,000 Enabling Grant Finalists

Big Group Hug – delivering tailored Safety and Wellbeing Packs to mothers and children escaping family violence and homelessness.

Fitzroy Learning Network – creating pathways for newly settled women to build employment experience and micro-businesses in a supportive community.

National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, Victoria – strengthening and scaling the Caring Mums perinatal mental health support program for culturally diverse women.

$80,000 Capacity Building Grant Finalists

Centre for Women’s Economic Safety (CWES) – expanding the Melbourne Money Clinic to support 180 women experiencing economic abuse with financial counselling and capability building.

DV Safe Phone – providing free repurposed phones and connectivity kits through new family violence agency partnerships and collection points across Melbourne.

Left Write Hook – growing its peer-led trauma recovery program for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse by embedding clinical expertise and governance for safe, scalable delivery.

The four runner-up Finalists will each receive a Spotlight Award, ensuring all are recognised and supported. 

Learn more about our 2025 Changemaker Finalists and their initiatives seeking funding.

About Melbourne Women’s Foundation Grants

Our grants are shaped by our community:

• Innovative & immediate – reaching grass-roots organisations and initiatives.
• Rigorous – sound applications and shortlisting processes and governance.
• Democratic – a voice and vote for every member in our granting purpose and our grant recipients.
• Educational – members and friends gain insights into pressing issues how they are being addressed in the community.
• Impact-focused – helping nonprofits to access more of the funding they need to meet their missions with resilience and confidence.

This year, we are especially proud that our Enabling Grant is untied, giving the recipient organisation flexibility to put their funding to work where it’s most needed.

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