What we do

We fund work that creates new models of inclusion, where people with disability take up valued, contributing roles in communities of their choice. We fund organisations and individuals with great, new and disruptive ideas, supporting their innovation from start-up stage through to scale up. We support new ideas generated by the disability community, and customising and adapting proven models to new contexts.

We want our work to have influence beyond the direct impact of our grant. This means we look for innovations in inclusion with the potential to influence the policy and practice of other agencies. We also understand the need for systemic advocacy, to address the barriers to inclusion that are inherent in policy and systems. We support our sister organisation, JFA Purple Orange, with funding for their policy and advocacy work.

We are interested in working with other funders, to develop best practice in inclusive grant making processes, and to amplify the impact of our resources by co-funding initiatives with other funders.

Why we do it

In late 2023, we asked people with disability what was important to them, and what barriers they experience in building a life of their choosing. They spoke to us about community attitudes and how negative perceptions of disability effectively excluded them from full and equal participation in all aspects of community life. They gave us examples of school teachers stopping them from using assistive technology to communicate and study, of difficulties securing work, of being forced into shared housing arrangements and shared support services and lack of access to community facilities, including issues with accessible transport, physical access to public places and lack of digital access. They talked about challenges securing the supports they need under the NDIS. People with disability also gave us examples of good practice – including in tertiary education, where bespoke access plans and regional hubs supported them to study; technology that supports them to navigate public spaces; and community venues where staff had been trained in supporting visitors with disabilities to fully access facilities and participate in activities.

We reviewed research studies on disability philanthropy that identified only 4% of Australian philanthropic funds go to disability, despite people with disability representing 20% of the Australian population. The research identifies social exclusion as the key driver of social and economic inequality, but of the limited philanthropy going to the sector, the majority of it is directed to welfare services and medical research, not to including people with disability in communities of their choice.

Our funding reflects the needs identified by people with disability themselves, and research studies. It also reflects our organisational values of personhood, citizenhood and capacity building. Our funding operates within the purposes described in our governing document – our deed of settlement.

Over a two-year period to June 2024 we funded:

  • Megaphone icon
    4 new projects to set up
  • Three people with arrows expanding out icon
    2 projects to expand or 
scale up
  • Data and communication icon
    3 original research projects
Acknowledgement of Country

In the spirit of reconciliation we acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures today.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website may contain images or names of people who have passed away.