People supporting young people in remote, rural and regional New South Wales can now apply for a one-off grant of up to $50,000 to deliver new youth-focused initiatives.
Funding is available through the Backing the Future program, an initiative of the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). The program enables people aged 18 and over to pilot or develop innovative ideas that improve the lives of young people aged 12–30 in regional NSW.
A key feature of the program is that grants are awarded directly to individuals leading early-stage initiatives. Applicants do not need to establish a charity or hold deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, removing a significant barrier to accessing philanthropic funding.
VFFF Foundation Manager Claire Mannion said the Foundation was keen to support new and innovative ideas that might otherwise struggle to attract philanthropic funding.
“We know that it’s often really hard to get funding for an idea that isn’t proven. But as a Foundation, we are keen to take a chance and back good ideas, to see what’s possible. To date, we’ve invested in 38 recipients in NSW, providing $1.9 million in grants, which has helped to bring to life some incredible initiatives that enhance the lives and wellbeing of young people across the state.
“For example, the Young Regional Storytellers program helped young people build the skills and confidence to write for media publications. This project was in the very early stages of development, and that’s exactly what the Backing the Future program is about – supporting the recipient to bring their idea to life, as they shape, refine and iterate.”
Past recipient Kal Glanznig used a Backing the Future grant to pilot and expand his Blue Minds Youth Ocean Leadership program, delivering environmental leadership workshops for young people in rural and regional NSW.
“Backing the Future gave me the opportunity to take Blue Minds from an idea to a nationally recognised program and reach more young people in regional communities. The funding enabled us to engage thousands of students, refine our workshop model, build partnerships with organisations such as Orygen and Cool.org, and lay the foundations for long-term impact. Most importantly, it helped young people facing the realities of climate change feel hopeful, empowered and equipped to make a positive difference in their communities,” Glanznig said.
FRRR partners with VFFF to deliver the Backing the Future program, combining VFFF’s commitment to supporting early-stage ideas with FRRR’s extensive reach across regional NSW.
FRRR Youth Futures Manager Lauren Ryan said the combination of funding and mentoring helps people turn ideas into initiatives that make a meaningful difference for young people in rural and regional communities.
“Seeing the breadth of work made possible through Backing the Future has highlighted the remarkable impact this program is having. Not only for young people but also for the changemakers creating positive outcomes in their communities. I’m excited to see the new initiatives and opportunities that come forward in this funding round and to work alongside recipients over the coming year as they bring their visions to life and make a real difference for young people across NSW,” she said.
Applications are open to people aged 18 and over with an idea that will benefit young people in rural and regional NSW. Applications close on 19 August 2026.
For more information or to apply, visit https://vfff.org.au/backing-the-future/.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to discuss their ideas and eligibility with FRRR Youth Futures Coordinator Steph Pearson by calling 1800 170 020 or emailing youthfutures@frrr.org.au.
FRRR and VFFF will also host a webinar at 12 noon (AEST) on Monday, 27 July 2026, to provide more information about the program and answer questions. Register via the FRRR website or directly at https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/beb1f7c2-c573-44e0-a9eb-22621101ad86@41c48c03-2f83-4e87-9e8d-0b83a9628c2a.
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