Backing Young People
Foyer Foundation
Approved in 2025
$11.4m
approved *
31
grants
$1.15m
average VFFF Board
grant size
84%
in multi-year grants
69%
to regional areas
22%
to core and capacity grants
24%
Queensland
47%
New South Wales
29%
National
* A total of $12.6m in grants were approved, with $1.2m of grant commitments cancelled or returned in FY25
Backing Young People
Year Four Reflections
The Backing Young People strategy provides a framework for VFFF to focus grantmaking across four areas being Decent Work, Caring for the Environment, Contributing to Society, and Exploring Christian Faith and Values, while remaining responsive to the evolving landscape of young people's needs and aspirations. In FY2025, $11.4 million in new grants were approved to organisations working for and alongside young people to advance their independence, social purpose, and future security. $22m has been distributed over the four years of this strategy.
A grantmaking focus on young people is relevant to the family’s young people and importantly, allows the Foundation to harness the youngest generations’ experiences and perspectives and encourages intergenerational engagement. This year VFFF was pleased to see younger members of the family getting involved in various capacities such as joining the Board as a director, participating on the VFFF Grants Committee, becoming a VFFF Member, attending the AGM, volunteering with VFFF partners, attending the Rising Gen learning opportunities hosted by the Family Office and sparking family conversations prompted by the quarterly ‘Philanthropy at the Dinner Table’ articles.
“Mum and Dad would be thrilled with what VFFF has achieved and what it is doing. To see the younger generations getting involved would also give them great satisfaction.”
John Fairfax AO
The VFFF team bring a curious and learning mindset to this work to ensure VFFF are playing the most useful role they can in their grantmaking. At this point in the strategy, VFFF is proud to reflect on the progress made, building on the lessons learned from 60 years of family informed grantmaking; the importance of listening deeply, supporting organisations that elevate the voices of young people, collaborating with peers to deepen impact, the role of core and capacity funding and maintaining a genuine commitment to rural and regional communities across NSW and QLD.
VFFF is committed to funding youth-led and youth-informed initiatives, and supporting organisations to strengthen, at their pace, youth participation practices. VFFF has seen powerful examples of elevating youth voice, building youth agency, and enabling young people to influence the issues that matter most to them. VFFF recognise that embedding meaningful youth participation takes time, reflection, and a willingness to evolve. VFFF are focused on identifying effective ways to share best practices and support organisations who are keen to grow this area of their practice. VFFF's goal is to help build a sector where young people are consulted, and shape the decisions that impact their lives.
As we enter the fifth and final year of this strategic period, VFFF will thoughtfully develop the next evolution of VFFF’s grantmaking strategy, ensuring that Sir Vincent and Lady Nancy’s values and intentions are front of mind.
Backing the Future
Now in its third year, the Backing the Future program continues to grow as a cornerstone of VFFF’s commitment to rural and regional changemakers. Cohorts Five and Six were approved in the past year, with 19 individuals receiving $50,000 each to pilot bold ideas that support young people aged 12–30 across rural and regional NSW and QLD.
From regenerative agriculture and creative writing hubs to youth-led film projects and cultural camps On Country, the diversity of ideas funded reflects the richness of rural and regional Australia. These projects are innovative, grounded in place and in the lived experiences of young people.
VFFF values the expertise and understanding that our delivery partner, the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) brings to Backing the Future. With FRRR’s support, the program has reached new communities and empowered changemakers to amplify their impact through capacity-building initiatives.
Backing the Future demonstrates VFFF’s intergenerational approach to philanthropy and its commitment to incorporating youth voice in our work. The Grants Committee, composed of third-generation family members, assesses and approves each grant, drawing on the shortlist compiled by the Youth Advisory Group (YAG). This year marked the launch of the VFFF podcast Stories of Giving & Receiving, founded and hosted by Emilia Kefford, a third generation family member. The podcast series showcased grantee stories and shared stories of philanthropic best practice.
Backing the Future brings to life the spirit of Legacy in Motion. This is a program shaped by the wisdom of past generations and captures the energy of those to come. It is a testament to VFFF’s belief that when locals are trusted and resourced, they create lasting change for young people and their communities.
Ongoing Grants
Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal, $230,000 distribution ($450,000 total)
VFFF Board approved grant to collaborate on the delivery of Backing the Future
VFFF 2025 Grants Committee
Cohort Five - NSW
$450k
approved
9
grants
Daniel Souza
Green For Youth - A new generation of composters
Addressing the critical gap in opportunities for young people to engage in regenerative agriculture.
Emily Blackburn
Ag Journey Australia
Piloting an Ag Trade Field Day in Central West NSW and utilising this experience to develop a program for Ag Trade Field Days across NSW.
Erifili Davis
Inspire & Ignite: Creative industry development for young people
Empowering young creatives by providing the resources and support needed to develop their own projects.
Holly Ahern
PUBLIC PLAYGROUND
Empowering young people by giving them the tools, mentorship, and platform to transform public spaces in their communities.
Jake Dempsey
Bega Valley Video Game Nights
Building back community connectedness and brood resilience in young people.
Jen Goodwin
More Than Quirky: Rural & Regional Empowerment Program
Working with families of neurodivergent children to empower neurodivergent young people to thrive in education, employment, and society.
Kal Glanznig
Blue Minds Youth Ocean Leadership
Tackling eco-anxiety among young Australians by providing them with practical mental health tools and inspiring them to take environmental action.
Lewis Jonker
Art & Truth: Sharing Faith Through Creative Expression
Mentoring 12 young people from the Central Coast, helping them to share their story of Christian faith through creative works.
Miica Balint
Northern Rivers Independent Press
Spring-boarding young writers into creative fields with an annual printed magazine to bring the voices of our ever-growing collective into a tangible piece of art.
Cohort Six - QLD
$500k
approved
10
grants
Nicholas Marchesi
Goods - Reimagining and Reinventing Household Goods
Transforming waste materials into durable, fit-for-purpose household goods, empowering remote communities through local design, manufacturing, and maintenance of essential items.
Sarah Tedder
Torres Strait Ride Revolution Project
Inspiring a generation of active and engaged youth through the power of sustainable mobility and bicycles as a vehicle for social cohesion, climate justice and community resilience.
Lachlann Carter
Story Mountain - Co-designed centres of creative writing
Kickstarting the development of a multi-hub creative writing organisation that supports young people to develop creative learning skills, literacy and confidence to express themselves.
Prue Button
Future Grass Growers Forum
Empowering young people of Western QLD in agriculture with knowledge, skills, and networks to build successful careers and strengthen the future of regional primary production.
Ashley Burgess
Reel Voices: Amplifying Regional Stories Through Film
Equipping regional young people with the tools to capture and share their lives through film, transforming personal challenges into powerful, relatable stories.
Irene Stanley
Try-a-Trade (Indigenous youth) pilot program
Offering a safe environment for young Indigenous people to gain hands-on experience and insights into various trades in the industry.
Brodie Germaine
CAMPFIRE: Empowering Indigenous Youth
Providing Indigenous young people with camping experiences On Country, fostering resilience, identity, and improved health and social outcomes through traditional practices and mentoring.
Jody Brown
Regenerative Youth Camp
Developing young people's knowledge of fundamental regenerative principles to build sustainable, ecologically robust systems by camping on a cattle station in the rangelands.
Jack Smith
Faith Over Fear: Empowering Youth to Overcome Struggles
Empowering young people in rural areas to overcome struggles through faith, by motivational speaking, rap, and community support, fostering resilience and Christian values for lasting transformation.
Joey Laifoo
Next Gen Islanders
Using traditional island ways of teaching young people about cultural and modern experiences focusing on young people as the next generation of community leaders and workers.
VFFF Youth Advisory Group
The opportunity to contribute to adapting and evolving the Backing the Future program has been a valuable experience, with the work resulting in increased effectiveness in reaching and connecting with young people. Through the Youth Advisory Group meetings, we have been exposed to innovative and inspiring approaches to supporting young people in rural and regional communities across NSW and QLD, and having the ability to support these projects has been really empowering"
Harrison Garlick, VFFF Youth Advisory Group member
As the Backing Young People strategy took shape, so did VFFF’s Youth Advisory Group (YAG). Complimenting VFFF’s grant making approach of supporting organisations to empower young people, the YAG was established to embed youth voices into VFFF’s practice.
Three years on, and with two cohorts recruited, the YAG plays a vital role in strengthening VFFF’s youth participation approach. Over the year, YAG members collectively reviewed 74 Backing the Future applications, drawing on their lived experience to shortlist the 32 that best addressed the needs of young people in rural and regional communities.
VFFF sees youth participation as a reciprocal process. While YAG members contribute invaluable insight and leadership to VFFF’s work, the Foundation is equally committed to providing each member with opportunities to learn, connect and influence change.
YAG members represented VFFF at events including the Philanthropy Australia Conference, contributed to sector publications, attended stakeholder meetings and refined the Backing the Future process.
VFFF continues to learn from young people and remains committed to evolving its youth participation practices in partnership with the YAG, to empower young people and respond to their needs with authenticity and purpose.
We thank Charlotte Watson, Elise Lane, Harrison Garlick, Gabe Francis, Kieran Lonergan, Samantha Barton and Taje Fowler for their invaluable contributions this year. Your thoughtful input, leadership and commitment continue to help shape VFFF’s approach and strengthen our ability to respond to young people with authenticity and purpose.