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Bush Heritage, Bon Bon Reserve (Conservation Focus)
Image: Kate Taylor.
The Grant Programs
Granting Priorities
The Besen Family Foundation has four pillars for grant making: Arts & Culture, Jewish Community, Early Childhood Development and the Environment.
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Each program pillar has its own priorities and focus and utilises a range of strategies to maximise impact including funding advocacy to effect systems change for vulnerable cohorts as well as supporting place-based, locally led charities to achieve immediate positive impact on the ground where there is need.
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Grants are made to support the immediate and long-term needs of the wider community in Victoria and Israel.
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The Foundation aims to assist these communities to build capacity and community connection and to achieve long-term change towards a better quality of life.
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Grants are also made to assist innovative and creative arts projects that challenge the current boundaries of their given discipline.
Applications to the Foundation for funding are by invitation only.
Program Areas
Health & Welfare
The Foundation's Health & Welfare program focuses on Early Childhood Development for children aged 0-5 who may experience barriers to accessing health and education services due to geographic remoteness, diversity of language or resource constraints.
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The Besen Family Foundation has joined with other philanthropic foundations in establishing the Investment Dialogue for Australia's Children - with the goal of improving the wellbeing of children, young people, and their families, by working with Australian communities to reduce intergenerational disadvantage. Together, Government and philanthropy will invest in community-led innovation and reform efforts that make a positive difference for children, families and the communities in which they live.
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Toy Libraries Australia Toy Well Toy Library Program
Image courtesy Toy Well
Eva and Marc Besen Contemporary Artist Commission 2024 at the Jewish Museum of Australia
Image credit Jewish Museum of Australia
Jewish Community Grants
The Foundation aims to enhance the connection, resilience and development of the Jewish community in Victoria and Israel through grants that support the immediate and long-term needs of the community, build capacity and affect long-term change to strengthen community cohesion.
Grants are given to projects that aim to enrich the health and welfare of the community, cultural connection and support education.​​
Arts & Culture
The Foundation seeks to nurture the creative talents of Victorian artists and is deeply aware of the significant contribution that can be made by a dynamic and well-resourced arts sector.
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In the Arts & Culture program, the Foundation supports projects in Music, Theatre, Dance and Visual Arts with a focus on projects that are innovative in their art form and those that support the role of arts and culture as a vehicle for strengthening and enriching our community. Other areas the Foundation looks to support are through projects that:
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Provide equitable access to the arts
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Support innovation
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Develop diverse audiences and opportunities for youth engagement
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Build a sense of community
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Extend cultural opportunities to regional areas
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First Nations led
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Community cultural development
Australian Chamber Orchestra
Image credit: Nick Walker
Bush Heritage Volunteers at Scottsdale, Ngambri and Ngarigo Country, NSW
Image credit Philip Le Masurier
Environment
The Besen Family Foundation funds a range of projects through its Environmental Program which seek to conserve land and threatened species, to protect the integrity of water resources management and advocate for climate action.
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The Foundation is a member of the Australian Environment Grantmakers Network (AEGN) and co-funds projects that enable and empower communities and First Peoples, to protect land, threatened habitats, sites of cultural significance and ecosystems for a safe and livable climate.
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The Foundation was amongst a group of Australian trusts and foundations that established the independent think tank, Watertrust Australia.