IMPORTANT: Please read the following guidelines before applying.

The following information is provided to help you ascertain whether your project is in line with our core values. We know your time is precious, so please read these guidelines carefully before applying. If you have any questions that have not been answered here, please email mara@tuckerfoundation.org.au

Please note that we are unable to provide advice about what project to apply for or give an indication of the chances of success of any application.  We receive many more applications than we are able to fund. The grant process is competitive and each year the Foundation weighs all the applications that we receive against each other. As long as you meet our eligibility criteria and the proposed project addresses at least one of our aims and objectives, you are welcome to apply.

AVAILABLE FUNDING

The Foundation’s funding has been made available through the estate of the late Albert and Barbara Tucker, as per their wishes. You can read Albert Tucker’s environmental statement here.

• Grants of up to $25,000 will be considered.
• Grants are available to organisations with income tax exemption and ACNC registration for local, regional or national projects anywhere in Australia.
• We are unable to fund organisations that are based overseas, however Australian organisations seeking funding for projects undertaken overseas may be considered.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. The support, promotion, development and advancement of public art galleries and museums.
2. The relief of poverty and the suffering of children.
3. The provision of or support for scholarships to disadvantaged children or young adults up to the age of twenty-five years (25) to enable them to pursue their education at primary, secondary or tertiary institutions.
4. The protection of women from abuse, assisting women in these circumstances to further their education and providing support to women in these circumstances.
5. The initiation and support of social change which goes towards increasing the equal treatment and social acceptance of all persons in the community.
6. The protection of wildlife and habitat, and to preserve natural reserves of forest, oceans and wilderness and for the rehabilitation of flora and fauna.
7. The prevention of cruelty to animals and the promotion of animal welfare.

 ELIGIBILITY

• Any charitable organisation which is entitled to be exempt entities as defined in Section 995-1 (1) of the lncome Tax Assessment Act.
• Current registration with the ACNC (Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission).
• Applications must be for projects that address at least one of the Foundation’s Aims and Objectives.
• If an applicant intends to be auspiced by another organisation it is the responsibility of the Applicant to find an auspicing organisation. Contact information for both organisations must be provided in the application form. Information about auspicing can be found here: https://www.nfplaw.org.au/auspicing.
• Organisations who were successful in a previous application whose project is not yet due for acquittal are welcome to re-apply but will be required to include a brief project update with their application.
• Organisations who were successful in a previous application whose acquittal report was received late or is overdue are ineligible to re-apply.

OUR PRIORITIES

• Given the current environmental and humanitarian crises facing our planet, our dedication to supporting groups involved at the grassroots has never been stronger. As a result of this, we tend to prioritize projects that deal with their response in a practical and clear way. Examples of this include: Purchases of vital equipment, such as vehicles for wildlife rescue, purchase of plants for revegetation projects, or funding of projects that qualify vulnerable women to begin paid employment.
• Much of our funding is allocated to small scale, grassroots groups that are well placed to make a real difference but have limited resources and often struggle to find funding. We prioritise groups who are entirely or predominantly run by volunteers. If an organisation is in the fortunate position of having many supporters and corporate sponsors or can secure mainstream funding such as government grants, their application will likely be unsuccessful.
• We are looking for an honest and transparent breakdown of how the funds we provide will be put to work. If your application is too long or provides little or no real transparency about how the funds are to be allocated, your application will likely be unsuccessful.
• The Foundation’s support extends both to organisations that have demonstrated success and to those seeking to make well-considered innovations.  The Foundation favours programs that are preventative in nature and seek to address the root causes of disadvantage.
• We prioritise applications for projects that:
  • Are in line with one or more of the Foundation’s aims and objectives;
  • Work towards an equitable, inclusive and diverse world;
  • Focus on root causes;
  • Identify specific goals and objectives that can be effectively measured to evaluate success;
  • Include a clear budget including any funding from other sources and in-kind/pro bono etc;
  • Include a clear methodology, aims and outcomes;
  • Demonstrate a capacity to achieve stated outcomes;
  • Are for the benefit of the Public.

WE DO NOT FUND

• Retrospectively for projects that have already been completed. 
• Projects that are considered the responsibility of State or Federal Government.
• Projects with the goal of promoting religion.
• Applications that are solely for attending forums, workshops or conferences.
• Advocacy or political lobbying work.

Please see Tucker Foundation’s previous grants awarded page to see our funding at work.

 SELECTION PROCESS

• The allocation of grants is at the discretion of the Trustees of the Foundation and will be based on alignment with the Foundation’s aims and objectives, merit, need and benefit to the community and environment.
• If necessary, the Trustee may seek further information to assist with the selection process.
• We aim to treat all applications equally. Decisions are based on the content of the application form.  In each year’s funding round, we aim to strike a balance across all our aims and objectives and a range of geographic areas.
• Once grant recipients have been selected, the nominated contact person for each application will be contacted to advise them of the outcome.

 GRANT TIMING

• All applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application within 3 months of the closing of the grant round.
• Successful applicants must complete a grant agreement prior to disbursement of funds.
• Funds will be disbursed in late 2024.
• A tax receipt acknowledging that the funds have been received must be provided within one month of the transfer of the grant funding.
• For grants over $2000 an acquittal report must be provided within one month of the project’s completion date.