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The IMB Bank Community Foundation has been empowering communities for 25 years, supporting grass roots local heroes who commit their time, energy, and expertise to make our communities more prosperous and sustainable.
Since 1999, we’ve donated over $12m to over 900 transformational grassroots projects and witnessed the remarkable and positive impact on our local communities.
Applications for 2024 grants are open until 14 June. Read on for criteria, types of projects we value, exploring past recipients and applying for your grant.
What we fund
Each year, we fund a wide variety of important projects across six key themes:
Social
Educational
Community Development
Environmental
Cultural
Community Connection
Here’s the six things we value when we choose who to fund:
We seek high-impact projects that deliver measurable benefits in communities where our members live and work, with evaluation plans in place.
We invest in enduring initiatives that build and transfer skills and knowledge and provide economic and social benefits in communities that deliver long-term, measurable benefits.
We love fresh, ‘new to community’ ideas with potential for breakthrough impacts and opportunities to partner with entrepreneurial organisations.
We look for initiatives with strong community support with wide-reaching benefits.
We favour applicants who have, will, and are able to continue to commit their time, energy, expertise, and physical and financial resources to their initiative.
The initiatives and organisations we fund need to be not-for-profit. There’s more detail on that below.
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ACT
Far
South Coast
Newcastle
Illawarra
Shoalhaven
Sydney
Melbourne
Southern Highlands
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The Foundation supports projects that support the communities we’re a part of. To receive funding, your project will need to serve communities in these regions, and you’ll need to be able open an IMB Bank Account in one of our branches.
What | When |
|---|---|
Applications Open | 01 May 2024 |
Applications Close | 14 June 2024 |
Projects assessed | July 2024 |
Meetings with shortlisted projects | August 2024 |
Recipients announced | October 2024 |
Be sure your project meets the eligibility criteria and that you’re familiar with the types of projects the Foundation is looking for.
Make sure you have a Microsoft account to apply for funding, you’ll need a Microsoft account to use the online application form. If you don’t already have one, getting one is easy and free. Click here for a step-by-step guide to opening a Microsoft account.
If your project meets the eligibility criteria and you have your Microsoft account details ready to go, you can start your application. Applications close 5pm, Friday 14 June. If you need help, reach out to our Foundation team at Foundation@imb.com.au
Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive an email confirming we’ve got it along with a PDF copy of your application. We’ll assess applications after the closing date, and we’ll reach out to all applicants on whether they’ve reached the shortlist for further assessment. This usually happens in August.
1. The IMB Bank Community Foundation may consider funding for professional fees and wages for trainer or instructor related costs where the project is dependent on such positions to be successfully completed, and where the project is otherwise able to demonstrate that it is sustainable.
2. The Committee closely assesses each application before anything is ruled out on these grounds. It is accepted that either type of expenditure may well be an integral part of a whole project.
If your application is successful, your organisation will be required to have open a current bank account with IMB for the purpose of direct transfer of funds. If there are extenuating circumstances, e.g. local government organisation procedures, etc.., we will discuss with you the possibility of specific alternative arrangements.
