YWCA Canberra

Get Involved

Great Ydeas Small Grants Program

About Great Ydeas

YWCA Canberra’s Great Ydeas Small Grants Program provides funds to local women, including female identifying and non-binary people and girls, to pursue a professional development opportunity, pilot a project, kick-start a business idea, or address a need in the community.

The program was launched in 2010 in celebration of YWCA Canberra’s 80th anniversary. Since then, more than 50 women have received grants of up to $2000 each. In the past, Great Ydeas grants have been used to fund education or training opportunities, launch social enterprises or community-based projects, seed funding for small business establishment or professional development opportunities. Priority is given to projects that empower women in our local community, and that have the potential to grow beyond the initial funding provided.

Applicants must be a full financial member of YWCA Canberra to apply.

Funding available:

There are a range of grants available, including:

  • YWCA Canberra’s Great Ydeas Grants ($8,000 available for grants of up to $2,000 each)
  • Microsoft Great Ydeas STEAM Grant ($2,000)
  • CBRIN Great Ydeas Innovate Grant ($2,000)
  • EY Great Ydeas Creativity Grant ($2,000).

You can read about the grants on offer below. If you have any questions, get in touch at caf.team@ywca-canberra.org.au. You can also review our frequently asked questions page here.

—

Great Ydeas – General grants

Each year, YWCA Canberra offers four grants of up to $2,000 each to support women’s empowerment and leadership. These grants are available to women of all ages to help fund a start-up, new project, professional development, or more.

Eligibility requirements

  • You must be a full financial member of YWCA Canberra. If you are not a member, join here.
  • Your grant project/opportunity must take place after 10 May 2018, and be completed by 31 May 2019
  • You must be female-identifying to apply.
  • You must reside in Canberra or the immediate surrounding region.
  • You must fill in the entire application form
  • Your application must be received by 11:55 pm on 13 April 2018 to be considered.

Applications have now closed.

—

Microsoft Great Ydeas STEAM Grant 

The Microsoft Great Ydeas STEAM grant will provide will provide a grant of $2,000 to a girl or woman of any age to pursue an idea in the science, technology, engineering, arts or mathematics arena.

Eligibility requirements

  • You must be a full financial member of YWCA Canberra. If you are not a member, join here.
  • Your grant project/opportunity must take place after 10 May 2018, and be completed by 31 May 2019
  • You must be female-identifying to apply.
  • You must fill in the entire application form
  • Your project must be relevant, or connected to science, technology, engineering, arts and/or mathematics.
  • Your application must be received by 11:55 pm on 13 April 2018.

Applications have now closed.

—

CBRIN Great Ydeas Innovate Grant

The CBRIN Great Ydeas Innovate Grant will provide a grant of $2,000 to a girl or woman of any age, who is pursuing an entrepreneurial activity, such as a social enterprise start-up, or other small business idea.

Eligibility requirements

  • You must be a full financial member of YWCA Canberra. If you are not a member, join here.
  • Your grant project/opportunity must take place after 10 May 2018, and be completed by 31 May 2019
  • You must be female-identifying to apply.
  • You must fill in the entire application form
  • Your project must be relevant, or connected to innovation, small business, or entrepreneurship.
  • Your application must be received by 11:55 pm on 13 April 2018.

Applications have now closed.

—

EY Great Ydeas Creativity Grant

The EY Great Ydeas Creativity Grant will provide a grant of $2,000 to a girl or woman of any age support a project, artwork, production, or business idea focusing on architecture, dance, visual arts, literature, film production, music, or theatre.

Eligibility requirements

  • You must be a full financial member of YWCA Canberra. If you are not a member, join here.
  • Your grant project/opportunity must take place after 10 May 2018, and be completed by 31 May 2019.
  • You must be female-identifying to apply.
  • You must fill in the entire application form
  • Your project must be relevant to or connected to architecture, dance, visual arts, literature, film production, music, or theatre
  • Your application must be received by 11:55 pm on 13 April 2018.

Applications have now closed.

—

Successful recipients will be announced at the YWCA Canberra Great Ydeas Innovation Breakfast, to be held at QT Canberra on Wednesday 2 May.