YWCA Canberra and its partners are once again supporting women and girls in the Canberra region to bring their dreams to life through the Great Ydeas Small Grants Program, with applications opening this week.
With the support of business and philanthropic partnerships, this year’s grants program will offer a pool of $16,000 in funding for local women and girls, including female-identifying people, and non-binary people, to pursue their passions and improve our community.
Frances Crimmins, YWCA Canberra’s Chief Executive Officer, said she is thrilled that ongoing partnerships facilitated three targeted grants this year, in addition to the $10,000 available through YWCA Canberra’s own funding.
“With the support of our partners, Beyond Bank, Canberra Innovation Network and Sustineo, we have demonstrated the collective social impact that is possible when corporate, philanthropic and community organisations connect.
“Our Great Ydeas program began in 2010, in celebration of YWCA Canberra’s 80th anniversary,” Ms Crimmins said. “We were proud to announce at our 90th anniversary in 2019 that we are continuing the program for another ten years.”
“Although we unfortunately had to cancel the program last year due to the COVID-19 crisis impacts on our organisation, we are thrilled to offer them again this year, at a time when our community needs Great Ydeas more than ever,” Ms Crimmins said.
Since 2010, Great Ydeas grants have helped more than 60 local women and girls to progress projects including establishing a podcast, launching a public awareness campaign, running empowering programs for girls, attending a conference and launching a social enterprise.
“Our past recipients have gone on to achieve amazing things. We’ve seen local musician Vendulka represent our region on the Voice. And Kate Crowhurst’s ‘The Money Bites’ financial literacy podcast has helped women around the region to manage and make the most of their finances.”
YWCA Canberra will also be hosting an online information session on 4 March where potential applicants can find out more and ask questions of previous recipients.
Recipients of the 2021 YWCA Canberra Great Ydeas Small Grants will be announced at the annual YWCA Canberra Breakfast. The event is also an annual celebration of World YWCA Day and a fundraiser for YWCA Canberra’s housing initiatives for vulnerable Canberrans.
Great Ydeas applications close on Wednesday 31 March. Grant application forms and YWCA Canberra Breakfast tickets are available via www.ywca-canberra.org.au.