Community Grants

Foster's Community Grants is an important initiative within our Community program, complementing the local nature of our employee-driven contributions and our community sponsorships.  Our Grants program supports high quality, viable community projects in Australia and North America. 

Organisations considering applying for a Foster’s Community Grant are encouraged to address one of three focus areas:  

wellness (both physical and mental health and responsible consumption initiatives); 
culture (artistic, sporting or educational activities);
environment (all aspects of the natural environment). 

Projects are principally assessed on the quality of the community benefit they propose to deliver within a local community and the long-term viability of the project.  Only incorporated not-for-profit organisations and charities are eligible for funding.

Foster's Community Grants program is guided by an Advisory Committee, chaired by General Peter Cosgrove AC MC and rounded out by Professor Kwong Lee Dow AM, former Olympian Andrew Gaze AM, Dr. Betty Churcher AO and Foster’s CEO Ian Johnston. 

Our 2010 granting round opens Tuesday 27 April 2010, with applications accepted via this website until Monday 31 May 2010.  Please note, applications will only be accepted via this website as the online assessment tool consolidates project information in a format suitable for evaluation.    

Grants Selection Criteria

Foster's Community Grant applications are principally assessed on the quality of the community benefit they propose to deliver.  Other relevant considerations are listed below.

• Only incorporated not-for-profit organisations and charities are eligible for funding;
• The project meets a community need and is based on sound research / methodology;
• The applicant has a capacity to deliver, or track record of delivering community outcomes and managing similar projects;
• The project has a sound strategy and project plan, which includes identified milestones (if appropriate);
• The benefit produced is viable / sustainable over the long term;
• The community and/or other key stakeholders support the project;
• The project outcomes are capable of evaluation; and
• A cost / benefit analysis suggests the project is highly worthwhile.

Grants Exclusions

In general, our Community Grants program will not support:

• Individuals, including Foster’s staff members
• General fund-raising
• Operational or capital expenses (unless part of the funded project)
• Political activities
• Organisations or groups who discriminate or limit membership based on race, gender, beliefs, class or cultural considerations

To give you an insight into our Grants assessment and evaluation process, a timeline has been included below.

2010 Foster's Community Grants Timeline

• 27 Apr 2010 – Applications open for Foster's 2010 Community Grants program
• 31 May 2010 – Applications close* 
• June – Aug 2010 – Assessment of all submitted applications and evaluation of short-listed projects
• Sept  2010 – Foster's Grants Advisory Committee meeting to review and award grants
• Sept - Oct 2010– Notification of successful applicants by phone; unsuccessful applicants in writing
• Nov 2010 – Communication of successful applicants and their community projects on this website.

* Applications will be accepted via this website until close of business Monday 31 May 2010 (Pacific Time, US & Canada).

View our most recent Foster's Community Grants awardees.

If you have any questions about Foster's Community Grants program that have not been addressed on this website, please email us at inthecommunity@fostersgroup.com and a member of our team will get back to you.

 Foster's Community Grants Q&A's (PDF, 60 Kb)

 Foster's Grants Committee Bios (PDF, 147 Kb)