Introduction
The Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation is an Australian philanthropic foundation established in 2003 to support charitable projects that improve the health, social wellbeing, and quality of life of people experiencing disadvantage across regional New South Wales (NSW). Created as a community contribution to mark the centenary of Newcastle Permanent, the foundation provides grants to eligible charities delivering practical, measurable benefits to local communities. Its current funding approach combines annual Grassroots Grants with longer-term partnerships for initiatives designed to create sustainable social impact.
The foundation focuses on helping organisations address barriers to healthcare, chronic disease, social isolation, digital exclusion, unsafe relationships, and the effects of poverty. It prioritises projects informed by community needs, evidence, collaboration, innovation, and the potential to deliver benefits beyond the initial funding period.
Its grantmaking is geographically focused on regional NSW, including the Hunter, Central Coast, Central West, Mid North Coast, New England, and Northern Rivers regions. Through its partnerships, the foundation aims to strengthen community organisations and help people access the services and opportunities they need to thrive.
Key facts about Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation
-
Established: 2003.
-
Country: Australia.
-
Primary geographic focus: Regional New South Wales.
-
Parent and associated group: NGM Group, which includes Newcastle Permanent.
-
Main beneficiaries: Eligible Australian charities and the communities they serve.
-
Core focus areas: Health, social wellbeing, healthcare access, chronic disease, preventative healthcare, safer communities, digital inclusion, and relief from poverty.
-
Main funding mechanisms: Annual Grassroots Grants, Grassroots Volunteer Grant, and invitation-based Multi-Year Partnerships.
History and Background
Establishment and Early Development
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation was established in 2003 as a charitable contribution to the community to mark the 100th anniversary of Newcastle Permanent Building Society. The foundation was created to provide long-term financial support for projects addressing disadvantage, marginalisation, and social isolation in regional New South Wales.
Its founding approach was based on the belief that charitable funding can deliver lasting benefits when it supports organisations with a clear understanding of local needs. Rather than focusing exclusively on short-term assistance, the foundation has supported projects intended to improve community health, strengthen social services, and create opportunities for people experiencing disadvantage.
Growth of Grantmaking Activities
Since its establishment, the foundation has expanded its support for charitable organisations across regional NSW. Historical reports document more than $25 million in funding by 2023, while a March 2026 announcement reported that cumulative grants had exceeded $27 million. These funds have supported projects delivered by charities and community organisations addressing a range of social and health challenges.
Over time, the foundation has developed a funding model that combines smaller, time-limited community grants with longer-term partnerships. This enables it to support grassroots initiatives while also investing in larger programmes that require sustained collaboration and organisational development.
Transition to a Partnership-Based Model
The foundation’s current model places greater emphasis on measurable outcomes, collaboration, and sustainability. Its annual Grassroots Grants support initiatives that can generally be delivered within 12 months, while Multi-Year Partnerships provide funding over two to three years for organisations selected through an invitation-based process.
This approach reflects the foundation’s intention to support both immediate community needs and initiatives that require longer-term planning to achieve meaningful change.
Mission and Purpose
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation aims to create positive, lasting change in regional communities by investing in eligible charities that improve health, social wellbeing, inclusion, and resilience.
Its approach is based on the principle that effective philanthropy should respond to community needs, strengthen the capacity of local organisations, and produce measurable benefits for people experiencing disadvantage.
Core Objectives
-
Improve access to healthcare: Support initiatives that reduce barriers to health services and improve health outcomes for regional populations.
-
Address chronic disease: Help underserved communities improve their understanding, prevention, and management of chronic health conditions.
-
Promote preventative healthcare: Fund initiatives that encourage early intervention, health education, and healthier lifestyles.
-
Build safer communities: Support respectful relationships, social connection, inclusion, and community resilience.
-
Advance digital inclusion: Help people access, afford, and use digital technologies and online services safely.
-
Reduce the effects of poverty: Support initiatives that address material hardship and create economic opportunities.
-
Strengthen community organisations: Build the capacity of charities, including organisations that depend heavily on volunteers.
-
Encourage sustainable solutions: Prioritise initiatives with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and the potential to continue delivering benefits beyond the funding period.
Funding Principles
The foundation uses five principles to guide its funding decisions.
-
Impact-focused: Projects should demonstrate meaningful and measurable benefits for people and communities.
-
Innovative: The foundation values new approaches that address persistent community challenges.
-
Collaborative: Projects should recognise the importance of partnerships and the participation of people closest to the issues being addressed.
-
Evidence-informed: Proposals should be grounded in community insight, lived experience, research, or a clear theory of change.
-
Sustainable: Initiatives should have the potential to deliver lasting benefits and strengthen community resilience.
Governance and Structure
Legal and Regulatory Framework
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation operates as a Private Ancillary Fund (PAF) under Australian law. It is subject to relevant requirements administered by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
The foundation provides grants to eligible Australian charities that meet its requirements for registration, tax concessions, and Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. In particular, organisations must hold the relevant Item 1 DGR endorsement and Tax Concession Charity status.
Board and Oversight
The foundation is governed by the NGM Group Foundations Board, comprising a chair and four directors. The board meets quarterly and is responsible for:
-
Setting and monitoring the foundation’s strategic direction.
-
Considering and approving funding requests.
-
Overseeing financial, risk, and investment decisions.
-
Ensuring compliance with applicable charitable and taxation requirements.
-
Monitoring the outcomes of funded projects and programmes.
Partnerships and Grant Administration
The foundation works with charitable organisations to identify community needs, develop funding proposals, implement initiatives, and report on outcomes.
Its Multi-Year Partnerships follow a structured process involving investigation, exploration, an invited application, partnership onboarding, and ongoing engagement. This process allows the foundation to assess the suitability of potential partners before committing to longer-term funding.
Funding and Grants
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation uses different grant mechanisms to support community organisations according to the scale, purpose, and duration of their proposed initiatives.
Annual Grassroots Grants
The annual Grassroots Grants programme supports community-led initiatives that improve health and social wellbeing across regional NSW.
For the 2026 funding round, the foundation aims to distribute approximately $500,000 annually through its grassroots funding programme. Eligible charities can request between $25,000 and $50,000, including GST, for initiatives that can generally be delivered within 12 months.
Supported projects may address healthcare access, mental health, disability inclusion, family support, social isolation, food relief, and other needs aligned with the foundation’s funding priorities.
Grassroots Volunteer Grant
The Grassroots Volunteer Grant provides a standalone award of $25,000, including GST, to an eligible charity that relies on volunteers.
The funding must be used to improve the volunteer experience and strengthen organisational capacity. Eligible activities may include:
-
Volunteer training and mentoring.
-
Volunteer programme development.
-
Recruitment and volunteer engagement.
-
Improvements to systems that support volunteer management.
-
Capacity-building initiatives that help organisations sustain their volunteer workforce.
The foundation introduced this grant format in 2025, building on its earlier recognition of outstanding volunteer contributions through the Chairman’s Medal.
Multi-Year Partnerships
Multi-Year Partnerships support initiatives that require sustained investment over two to three years. Unlike Grassroots Grants, these opportunities are not open to unsolicited applications.
The foundation identifies eligible charities whose work aligns with its funding principles and impact areas, invites them to explore a potential partnership, and then requests a proposal from selected organisations.
Funding levels depend on the initiative’s scale, needs, and intended outcomes. The foundation assesses proposals through a structured process that includes due diligence, board endorsement, and final approval.
Eligibility Criteria
To receive a grant, an organisation must generally:
-
Deliver the proposed initiative within the foundation’s designated regional NSW funding footprint.
-
Be registered with the ACNC or the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), as applicable.
-
Hold the relevant Australian Taxation Office endorsement for Tax Concession Charity status and Item 1 DGR status.
-
Demonstrate a clear charitable purpose and explain how the initiative will benefit its intended community.
-
Meet the applicable programme requirements, including budget, implementation, and reporting conditions.
The foundation’s geographic funding footprint includes the Hunter, Central Coast, Central West, Mid North Coast, New England, and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales.
Funding Exclusions
The foundation does not generally fund:
-
General sponsorships, fundraising activities, or disaster appeals.
-
Individual expenses such as personal travel, education, or medical costs.
-
Commercial activities that do not advance a charitable purpose.
-
One-off events without a clear link to lasting impact.
-
Projects outside its specified geographic area.
-
Activities that are the responsibility of government or local authorities.
-
Political or religious projects, including lobbying and litigation.
-
Retrospective funding requests.
-
Projects submitted under auspicing arrangements.
-
Large-scale capital appeals, although essential infrastructure costs may be considered in specific circumstances.
The exclusions are not exhaustive, and organisations should consult the official guidance to confirm whether a proposed activity is eligible.
Application Process and Deadlines
For the 2026 Grassroots Grants round, applications open on 1 October and close on 31 October 2026. Successful applicants are expected to be notified in March 2027, with grants paid in June 2027.
Applicants should prepare a project description, budget, evidence of community need, intended outcomes, and the supporting documents required by the foundation. Grassroots applicants must also provide two references: one from a previous funder or supporting organisation and another from a beneficiary of the charity’s services.
Applications are submitted through the foundation’s online grants portal. Funded organisations must complete a final report through the portal at the end of their initiative.
For Multi-Year Partnerships, interested charities can introduce their work to the foundation by emailing [email protected], including their ABN, purpose, location, and a brief overview of their community impact. This is an expression of interest rather than an open grant application.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Healthcare Access and Preventative Health
The foundation supports projects that reduce barriers to health services and help people obtain timely, appropriate care. This includes initiatives for underserved populations in regional areas, where distance, service availability, or other barriers can limit access to healthcare.
Its preventative healthcare focus encourages education, early intervention, and participation in activities that can improve long-term health outcomes.
Chronic Disease Prevention and Management
Chronic diseases can create long-term health and social challenges for individuals, families, and communities. The foundation supports initiatives that improve awareness, management, and outcomes for people affected by chronic illness.
Its funding approach encourages charities to combine evidence-based interventions with local knowledge and practical service delivery.
Safer Communities and Social Wellbeing
The foundation supports programmes that promote respectful relationships, social connection, and safer, more inclusive communities.
This area includes initiatives that help people experiencing isolation or disadvantage, strengthen family and community support, and improve the ability of local organisations to respond to social challenges.
Digital Inclusion
Digital inclusion is another area of impact. The foundation recognises that access to devices, affordable connectivity, digital skills, and online safety can influence people’s ability to access services and participate in modern society.
Projects in this area may help people develop digital skills, navigate online services, and overcome barriers to technology access.
Relief from the Impacts of Poverty
The foundation also supports initiatives that address material hardship and help people experiencing poverty access resources and opportunities.
Rather than focusing exclusively on immediate assistance, its funding principles encourage projects that can strengthen economic participation, improve access to services, and build long-term community resilience.
Volunteer Development and Organisational Capacity
The Grassroots Volunteer Grant recognises the importance of volunteers in delivering community services. By funding training, mentoring, recruitment, and improved volunteer-management systems, the programme helps eligible charities strengthen the people and processes that sustain their work.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Cumulative Community Investment
Since 2003, Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation has provided more than $27 million in grants to not-for-profit organisations and community groups across regional NSW, according to a March 2026 announcement. Its funding has supported projects designed to improve community health and wellbeing, reduce disadvantage, and strengthen access to essential services.
2026 Grassroots Grants
In June 2026, the foundation announced more than $800,000 in funding for 23 grassroots organisations across regional NSW. Supported initiatives covered healthcare access, mental health, disability support, family services, food relief, Indigenous wellbeing, homelessness prevention, and volunteer development.
This funding demonstrates the breadth of community needs addressed by the foundation and its commitment to supporting organisations working directly with local populations.
Support for People Affected by Domestic and Family Violence
In May 2026, the foundation announced more than $300,000 in funding to improve support for people affected by domestic and family violence through the Hunter Domestic and Family Violence Consortium. The initiative aims to improve access to important resources and support services for victim-survivors.
This example illustrates how the foundation can support collaborative responses to complex social issues that require coordination between organisations.
Mark Hughes Foundation: Volunteer Support
In May 2026, Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation announced its first Grassroots Volunteer Grant, awarding $25,000 to the Mark Hughes Foundation.
The grant reflects the programme’s focus on strengthening volunteer capacity and supporting the people who contribute to charitable activities. It also demonstrates how the foundation’s funding model can address organisational needs beyond direct service delivery.
Shedding Community Workshop Inc.
The foundation’s Multi-Year Partnership with Shedding Community Workshop Inc. supports the organisation’s efforts to expand its community impact, strengthen internal capacity, and diversify revenue streams.
The partnership also reflects an emphasis on hands-on learning and community wellbeing, demonstrating how longer-term funding can support an organisation’s development as well as its direct services.
Habitat for Humanity and HealthWISE
The foundation lists Habitat for Humanity among its Multi-Year Partnerships, supporting housing outcomes and economic opportunities for women experiencing disadvantage.
It also partners with HealthWISE to expand an Aboriginal Health Workers in Pharmacy model across the northwest region. These examples demonstrate the foundation’s interest in both social wellbeing and improving access to healthcare for underserved populations.
Measuring Long-Term Impact
The foundation’s approach places emphasis on meaningful, measurable outcomes rather than simply distributing funds. Its assessment process considers the need for the proposed initiative, the benefits for intended participants, the likelihood of successful delivery, and the potential for lasting change.
Funded organisations are required to report on their initiatives through the foundation’s grants portal. This reporting supports accountability and helps the foundation understand whether projects have delivered the intended outcomes.
Conclusion
Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation is an established Australian philanthropic organisation supporting charities and community initiatives across regional New South Wales. Since 2003, it has invested in projects addressing healthcare access, chronic disease, preventative health, social inclusion, digital participation, poverty, and community resilience.
Its funding model combines annual Grassroots Grants of $25,000 to $50,000, a $25,000 Grassroots Volunteer Grant, and invitation-based Multi-Year Partnerships lasting two to three years. Through these mechanisms, the foundation supports both community-led projects and organisations seeking to strengthen their long-term capacity.
Eligible Australian charities with the appropriate registration and DGR status can explore the annual grants programme, while organisations interested in longer-term collaboration can introduce their work directly to the foundation. Applicants should consult the official funding page for the latest criteria, deadlines, and application guidance.
For more information, visit here.
