Timeline

Terry and George Snow, the founders.

Terry Snow, “The Snow Foundation was founded in Canberra by my brother George and me in 1991. We started it to make a difference to people’s lives in the community of our origins. George and I had a pretty straightforward view; see someone struggling and give them a helping hand.”

We honour Terry and George for taking the initiative to start the Foundation. It was a pioneering move, challenging the usual pathways at the time to establish a foundation, so we’re thankful for their vision and perseverance.

The only service in Canberra (formally Open Family) providing dedicated outreach workers; support from 1991 and ongoing. Given $758k

Up until 2000, supported the living skills transition program. 2000 to now, the Kids in Sport program. More recently, Queanbeyan Gatherings, an Aboriginal after-school care program

Breakfast at Ainslie Primary School through St John’s Care, ongoing. Stasia’s Soup Kitchen and OzHarvest, 2006. Early Morning Centre in the City, 2008. St Phillips Anglican Church, O’Connor, 2009. 2012, Gungahlin Community Centre Food Pantry and Canberra High School Breakfast Club, ongoing

Malkara School. Over time: Black Mountain, Malkara, Cranleigh, Harrison, Woden. Then: Canberra College Cares, Queanbeyan High School, Melba Copland School, Wanniassa School, Wilcannia School, Galilee School, Mulwaree High School Goulburn. Recently: YWCA Computer Club at Richardson Primary School

Lifeline in 1995. Others followed in 2003: Mental Health Foundation, 2008; Messengers Program, Boys to Men in Cooma (YMCA), 2013: Menslink, 2015: Mental Illness ACT and Uplifting Australia

Therapy treatments for children and a family liaison officer. Over 19 years, $540K, benefiting 1000 families

L’Arche Genesaret, ACT Down Syndrome Association, Koomari, Pegasus Riding for the Disabled and YMCA’s RAID Basketball, still support today

Ongoing support to Karinya, a home and outreach program for mums and bubs, total $530k over 19 years

Community bus provided for
community groups to use, upgraded bus twice, recently in 2021

Purchased a bobcat for at-risk Indigenous youth. First time public about giving

Construction of a Palliative Care Unit at Brindabella Gardens in 2005. Provided $173K

Terry hands over CEO role to daughter Georgina. Corpus doubled, increasing our capacity to give. Commenced closer engagement with community. Held community morning teas to connect and celebrate the work

Beautiful partnership formed to get a loving HOME built and running. Largest grant yet, $400K over 4 years, helped catalyse Govt funding and others. Continued support, $622K to date

Queanbeyan High School from 2007, Country Education Foundation from 2010, Royal Agricultural Society from 2013, all ongoing and growing. The Pinnacle Foundation from 2014 and Companion House from 2015

Brought this life-changing family educational program to Canberra, partnering with ACT Government and Uniting Care Kippax. Generational change for 100+ families. Program ceased in 2020, $623K given over 12 years

Over-time disability grew: Music for Everyone, Abbeyfield Goulburn, TADACT and Monaro Early Intervention Service

Research to cure or prevent MND by generating zebrafish models of the disease, at Medical Research at Macquarie University. Commitment of $2M over 11 years

Five year commitment to develop ACT
Social Enterprise Hub – 20+ social enterprises, created 150 jobs / income streams. Supported many enterprises directly

Supported Violet from the early days to bring to Canberra, and to validate the on-line guides to support those caring for dying loved ones. In 2018, accelerated support, given $1.2M to date

Input into the development of Canberra’s community foundation, including inaugural board member. This significant relationship continues to flourish and together we support the Canberra region collaboratively and thoughtfully

New to Canberra, provided two portable studios in response to young people at risk of becoming homeless due to extreme conflict or overcrowding

Initially supported education/employment programs for women and families in Western Sydney. Funding increased significantly from 2017

Permanent supportive housing for 40 homeless or low-income residents. A first for Canberra. Provided seed funding in 2010 then $420K over 5 years which helped catalyse Government funding

2011 Beautiful
2012 20 Years: 20 Stories
2013 Gayby Baby
2014 10 Stories of Single Mothers
2015 Take Heart – Rheumatic Heart Disease
Later The Hunting Ground, Happy Sad Man

Initially helped establish the team in East Arnhem Land, as their first funder. Increased funding as its impact expanded across NT. First time giving outside Canberra region. $2.2M over 11 years

Support started in Ulladulla and Batemans Bay: disability, homelessness, education. Hope House 2011, Muddy Puddles 2014, Ulladulla High School Student Wellbeing Officer 2017, Eurobodalla Riding for the Disabled and Jindelara Disability Service

Delivers an innovative model of early intervention legal work and social work for individuals and families often experiencing domestic abuse. 12 years, $330k

AIME – funded feasibility study to bring to Canberra. Launched in 2014; ongoing support. $500K over 11 years

CareerTrackers – In 2017 supported expansion into Canberra

2012, Beryl’s Refuge and Dad’s Place. Then, Toora Women, Women’s Community Shelters, Everyman Australia, Tara Costigan Foundation, the Silence Kills documentary. Later: Quest for Life, Care Financial, NSW Rape & Domestic Violence

Seed and operational funding to develop H4H. $540k over 6 years. Within the Snow family business, H4H was endorsed, and Denman Prospect became the first suburb to implement H4H across 2,000+ dwellings

Started our social impact investment portfolio, beginning with SEFA and Zambrero, continued to grow to now 27 social investments

Built the Snow Centre, to develop excellence in Chinese and Asian Studies for the next generation of future leaders in Australia. In 2019 Terry committed $20M to transform the campus with a new auditorium, library and learning centre

Founding funder in 2013, dedicated to helping women achieve financial independence and developing their businesses. Total commitment to 2024 $1.4M

Initially funded the IT platform, some operational costs. Then led a philanthropic collaboration (8 funders) to secure $1.5M over 3 years, which continued into a second round. Ongoing support and Board member, given $1.2M over 7 years

Began solid support to LGBTIQ+ through Gayby Baby documentary film and Pinnacle Foundation scholarships.

Kicked off support via Take Heart documentary and an awareness and education campaign in Indigenous communities. In 2017, brought Penny (lived experience) to Canberra to speak to politicians. 2017, RHD research into a vaccine.

Held round tables with mental health leaders, police, users. Funded MIACT’s Stress Better program for Years 11 & 12, and Uplifting Australia, a well-being program for students, families, teachers, introduced to some Canberra primary schools

A social housing development offering home ownership for people with an intellectual disability. Properties built in Harrison and Latham with a third underway in Phillip. Total contribution $714K, includes $150K loan

Celebrated 25 years with family and community. Began next growth phase and added to the Snow Foundation team, to make three – Georgina, Lorraine, Trisha

A loan program for those escaping violent situations and needing urgent financial assistance. Catalysed the initiative and collective that gave $250K. It won the 2018 Philanthropy Australia Small
Grants Award

2016 Ghosthunter, Big Bad Love
2017 Happy Sad Man, Beautiful Minds, 2040, Hunting Ground
2020 The Final Quarter, In My Blood it Runs
2021 Firestarter, Incarceration Nation, Unbreakable, The Dreamlife of Georgie Stone

Co-hosted three live crowd-funding events in Canberra 2016, 2017, 2019 each raising $80 – $100K for 10 social enterprises. 2016, development of white-label service. 2020, program to engage children in philanthropy.

Introduced The Big Issue Classroom to ACT, providing school groups with a real life lesson about homelessness

Supporting social entrepreneurs in the ACT through the GRIST development program and, later in 2021, a social entrepreneur in residence

Backed the Marriage Equality Campaign from the beginning as major founding cornerstone $1M. A yes vote resulted in December 2017

Nationally: AbilityMade, Getaboutable, Bus Stop Films, The Shepherd Centre. Canberra/South Coast: Muddy Puddles, Rotary for Powerchairs, Eurobodalla Riding for the Disabled and Jindelara Disability Service

Grew support with multi-year core funding to Philanthropy Australia and Documentary Australia Foundation

Significant multi-year commitment to support more programs, core operations and Sydney Women’s Portrait research reports (2018, 2021). $755 over 11 years

Funding for residential, aged-care home in Darlinghurst for homeless or at risk of homelessness. 2020 Official opening of the 42-bed complex

Canberra: 2018 introduced new hybrid laundry/shower van to Canberra, with The Independent Property Group Foundation and Icon Water.

Maningrida, NT: 2019 supported the pilot, van and operations; now considered a gold standard service. Given $420K

2018: launched first Vital Signs Report, with Hands Across Canberra, providing a snapshot of Canberra’s strengths and challenges.

2021: launched Vital Signs Canberra 2nd publication

$2M funding to increase 8 palliative-care beds, including development of administration and clinical space. Close working partnership with Government who committed $4M. Completed June 2021

Connects Canberrans who are struggling to find an affordable home with investment property owners. $300k over 3 years

More advocacy: Co-hosted landmark event and campaign at Parliament House

Community-led action: supported Maningrida (NT), Gunbalanya (NT), Doomadgee (Qld). Funded Orange Sky laundry van to Maningrida

Increased commitments to Good360, The Violet Initiative, Global Sisters, One Disease

Following our advocacy on raising the rate of the welfare payment (Newstart) for single mothers in 2014, joined forces with a collective of philanthropists to greater support the campaign with ACOSS

Three year agreement to help renovate and repurpose accommodation for women participating in the restorative program who are recovering from substance abuse

Early supporter, backing Indigenous Law Centre at UNSW and joining 60+ philanthropic partners to sign a collective response to support the statement. Recently supported From the Heart in their advocacy

Progressed ‘Vital Signs’ Research, findings holding ‘Vital Conversations’ to address youth homelessness. Outcomes: support to Mowershed #2 and PCYC mobile café

Increased support with multi-year commitment to Equality Australia, $600k over 3 years. Also support to AIDS Action Council in ACT, Pride Cup, Pride Foundation and Pinnacle Foundation scholarships

Part of the early group with founding members, Reichstein and Australian Communities Foundation, to develop a collective of giving with many philanthropists supporting a fair democracy, ongoing today

$2.5m over 5 years to FRRR for Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Nowra. Scholarships growth, $1m over 5 years: Country Education Foundation; Royal Agricultural Society Foundation. Added: Ulladulla High School Student Wellbeing Officer

Sober in the Country – support to help people in the bush to reduce their alcohol intake

Umbo – online speech therapy

Jigsaw – training and employment for people with a disability

New strategy launched to address
the growth and guide giving. Added two staff members, now a team of six; Georgina, Lorraine, Carolyn, Jo, Alex, Lucy

Palliative Care research – two reports with KPMG on the need for greater investment. Supported end of life stories for ACT residents

Tender Funerals – committed to bringing to Canberra

Canberra – supported Canberra charities to adapt their businesses. Sydney – supported Sydney Women’s Fund’s charities. Nationally: Supported digital education in 5 local languages for First Nations communities

Social Impact Hub – helped co-design and launch Reimagine Impact to upskill for-purpose leaders.

Mill House Ventures – increased support

Raise Foundation Together 4 Youth Collective – joined seed funding group to coordinate mental health in schools

2020, Uplifting Australia successfully handed over the family connect wellbeing program to Relationships Australia, enabling huge reach and impact. A great outcome and milestone

More community action: Deadly Heart Trek project, to listen, learn, diagnose and treat RHD affected communities. 2021: Supporter (and Executive Producer) to Take Heart Deadly Heart film sequel

Major research program to better understand diagnosis and treatment pathways for patients suffering from potential tick-borne diseases. $1m funded to the research over 5 years. Launched June 2021

Captured the spirit of the Foundation for future generations and years to come via a short film and a coffee table book. Celebrated with 150 partners, colleagues and family on the 1^st June 2022, delayed due to Covid.

To celebrate 30 years, launched the Snow Entrepreneurs – fellowships for social change. A celebration of our entrepreneurial beginnings, and those of founder Terry Snow

In 2022 we collaborated with the John James Foundation and Hands Across Canberra to form The Canberra Foundations Collaborative, to
offer a centralised grant round for organisations in the ACT and greater
regions, understanding that community organisations already have limited resources and time for grant writing.

The collaboration focused on addressing needs and building capacity in Canberra’s community sector. Almost $1.5M in grant funding went to 71 projects to help support people who experience economic and social disadvantages.

The Deadly Heart Trek was developed in 2020 as an opportunity to listen, learn, educate, diagnose and treat Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities affected by rheumatic heart disease.

The Trek is governed by a National Steering Committee of leading paediatric cardiologists, an Aboriginal cultural engagement lead, social justice Aboriginal lawyer and The Snow Foundation.

Following the warm-up Trek in the Northern Territory in 2021, six communities in QLD invited the Trek team to visit in August 2022. Dr Robert Justo and Dr Ben Reeves co-led the teams alongside Dr Bo Reményi, visiting the Cape and Torres Strait regions over two weeks.

Take Heart: Deadly Heart, the sequel to Take Heart (the 2015 documentary film and advocacy project), launched on Close The Gap Day, March 17, 2022, and has since screened over 200 times across the country as part of the ongoing campaign to end RHD. The event screenings have taken place at public and private cinemas, schools, universities, workplaces, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-controlled organisations and health services, government departments and
remote communities.

The mission of One Disease since its initiation in 2010 was to work towards the elimination of Crusted Scabies as a public health concern in Australia by 2022. They have made an important and significant impact in that time and will voluntarily wind down in early 2023 – their program empowering communities and individuals to continue managing the fight.

In 2022, we made a $1M commitment to support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the campaign for a First Nations Voice protected in the Australian Constitution. The first $500K was distributed to two significant partners, the Indigenous Law Centre at UNSW (Megan Davis and her team) and From the Heart (Dean Parkin and his team), with the remainder pledged and to be allocated once the “Yes” campaign launches.

As a family, we have been directly impacted by tick-borne disease and this unique study in partnership with the NORTH and leading doctors aims to build crucial evidence of how to diagnose and tailor treatment for those that suffer from chronic tick-borne illnesses.

Applications for individual grants doubled to 120 in 2022, with most of the applications coming from refuges for women, with immediate financial needs such as relocation costs and utility and phone bills.

Responding to the increase in need, we held a roundtable with community representatives to discuss how we could add to our support. Following the success of a domestic violence brokerage funding with YWCA in 2021, we have extended this funding model to Beryl Women, Care Financial and Toora Women, each with a small grant to help meet the immediate needs of their clients.

A group of highly experienced multi-disciplinary doctors, paediatric cardiologists, health workers, Aboriginal leaders and the local community have gathered in Alice Springs to launch the third major leg of the ‘Deadly Heart Trek’ through Central Australia.

Two dedicated teams of 8 will visit 22 communities with the aim of educating, treating and diagnosing local Aboriginal communities affected by rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

On the Central Australia Trek, the teams will undertake a range of activities, including:
• Undertaking heart checks for children – echocardiographic (echo) screening to detect RHD
• Doing skin checks and promoting skin awareness – to understand skin sores, scabies and
their link to RHD
• Undertaking education for the community, health workers and schools on RHD

We want to acknowledge the two experienced Trek teams volunteering their time to make this Trek happen, as well as the Heart Foundation, HeartKids, GE Healthcare, AMSANT, Take Heart and The Snow Foundation for their support.

In April 2023, we joined an alliance of some of Australia’s leading philanthropic foundations to declare our support for Voice. A combined $17 million pledge from the philanthropic sector to the Yes campaigns, with more funding to come.

Thirty-one of Australia’s leading philanthropic foundations and funders today unveiled a philanthropic pledge, all calling for the need for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to have a say in the matters that affect them through an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

A partnership between Hands Across Canberra, the Snow Foundation, and the John James Foundation, announces the successful recipients of its 2023 grant round.

With a funding amount of nearly $1.3 million, 57 separate projects across various sectors have been awarded grants. Twenty-one out of the funded projects are multi-year initiatives, with a total associated funding of $1 million.

Co-hosted by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy and The Snow Foundation

On August 9 we joined members from remote communities, Aboriginal leaders, and other #endRHD advocates at Parliament House to discuss the stark reality of First Nations people living with rheumatic heart disease, successful community initiatives in place and opportunities for improvement.

Terry Snow was presented the 2023 Canberra Philanthropy Award by Chief Minister Andrew Barr for his “outstanding lifetime dedication to improving the lives of those in need”.

In November 2023, CEO Georgina Byron and Executive Advisor Brenton Um attended the World Heart Federation Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) World Congress in Abu Dhabi, with 450+ people across 52 countries.

In the ‘Snow’ symposium, we shared our collaborative support to eliminate RHD, in particular the Deadly Heart Trek and Champions4Change.

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and The Snow Foundation partner to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to prevent acute rheumatic Fever (ARF) and tackle rheumatic heart disease (RHD).

NACCHO is the national peak body representing 148 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across Australia.

Snow Foundation partners with the University of Canberra to launch the Snow Scholarship Program, a $20 million, 10-year commitment offering 160 scholarships to support higher education access for underrepresented groups.

“This is a visionary program in the Australian higher education landscape. People talk about life-changing opportunities a bit too often, but this really is one of those opportunities. It’s about inclusion and it doesn’t matter whether you are Indigenous, growing up in a household with low income, or hundreds of kilometres away in the bush – this program gives you the opportunity to become part of an extraordinary community.” Professor Maree Meredith, Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, University of Canberra

Working alongside partners including the ACT Alliance for Evidence-Based Education and Equity Economics, Snow Foundation supported sector advocacy that informed the ACT Government’s approach to literacy and numeracy.

Reforms include a centralised approach to curriculum, assessment and teacher development, with a focus on early identification and support for students. Key recommendations—reflected in research commissioned by the Foundation—include evidence-based reading instruction, professional learning for educators, consistent assessment tools such as the Year 1 Phonics Check, and a multi-tiered system of support for students.

Lead the Way leadership program co-designed and delivered by Snow Foundation and Social Impact Hub is launched. A program for CEOs and senior leaders from Snow Foundation existing partnerships.

Tender Funerals opened a new facility in Fairbairn through a collaborative partnership with The Snow Foundation and Capital Airport Group. Tender Funerals is a not-for-profit organisation with the mission to ensure every Australian has access to meaningful and affordable funerals.

The fifth Deadly Heart Trek to provide education and critical early diagnoses and treatment for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Together with the local health workers and schools, this strengths-based work supplemented current services which are underfunded and under-resourced, improving access to health services and building community resilience and self-determination.

Over 2 weeks, we visited 12 communities in the Katherine and Big Rivers Region, and delivered education sessions and activities to approximately 1,000 community members at schools, health clinics and community gathering places.

The third cohort of Snow Entrepreneurs, The Bunyas, is selected. The three-year program provides funding and wraparound support, including mentoring, assessment, advisory services, masterclasses, and a strong peer network.

Reflecting years of shared commitment and collaboration, the old Canberra PCYC site in Turner is being transformed into a 55-unit housing development, delivering 45 affordable rental homes for key workers and 10 social housing units for young people aged 16 to 24.

Delivered in partnership with CHC Australia, Canberra PCYC, and the Snow Foundation, with completion expected in early 2027.

The first cohort of Snow Scholarship recipients from regional NSW and the ACT start at the University of Canberra. Selected from a pool of 246 initial Expressions of Interest, many of the Snow Scholars are first in family to attend University. Five of the inaugural recipients come from First Nations families, including Birra Gubba, Torres Strait Islander, Kurnai and Gunditjmara communities.

The program is the result of a 10-year commitment from Snow Foundation of over $20 million dollars, which will support 160 Snow Scholars over the decade.

In March 2026, leaders from across Parliament, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, the health sector and philanthropy came together at Parliament House for the launch of the Parliamentary Friends for Ending Rheumatic Heart Disease.

The group, co-chaired by Matt Smith MP, Julian Leeser MP and Allegra Spender MP, provides a bipartisan platform to strengthen national attention, coordination and accountability on RHD.

The launch marks an important milestone in a long-standing, collective effort to end RHD in Australia. It reflects years of advocacy and partnership — particularly with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) — and reinforces a clear national message: community-controlled, community-led solutions are central to progress.

Snow Foundation joins a coalition of major Australian philanthropic funders committing an initial $32.8 million over three years to support community-led solutions in a coordinated effort to drive greater impact for women and children.

The coalition will focus on two priority areas:

Women leading in place: investing in community-led leadership and local solutions

Ending family violence: including prevention, and supporting women and children in their recovery and long-term safety

Snow Foundation and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) co-hosted Every Heart, Every Voice: Lessons for Ending Rheumatic Heart Disease, an official side event at Women Deliver 2026 in Melbourne (Naarm). One of the world’s largest global conferences on gender equality, health and human rights, Women Deliver brought together more than 6,000 leaders, advocates and changemakers from across the globe.