Fellowships

Snow Entrepreneurs – Fellowships For Social Change

(Enquiries closed on 8 November)

These fellowships are a celebration of our own entrepreneurial beginnings, and those of our founder Terry Snow AM, as well as our commitment to backing inspiring leaders and teams with innovative ideas to address social problems.

The Snow Foundation has backed many social entrepreneurs from the beginning of our journey to see them grow and become significant social change initiatives – such as Good360, Global Sisters, One Disease, just to name a few. As some of these partnerships mature, we are now looking for a new generation of entrepreneurs that we can assist on their path to success.

What we are looking for

We are looking for entrepreneurial social change leaders who are tackling disadvantage in new ways.

The fellowships are an opportunity for 3-5 inspiring leaders to receive funding and wrap-around support for their early-stage social change initiatives.

Initiatives must benefit people in our key regions: Canberra and surrounds, NSW South Coast, Rural and regional NSW and/or Sydney AND address one of our focus areas:

  • Economic Justice and Safety: homelessness, domestic violence
  • Education and Employment Pathways: education, life skills, employment pathways
  • Health: addiction, disability
  • Sector capacity: for-purpose capacity

In the first year, each Snow Entrepreneur will receive:

  • Grant funding of up to $100k
  • Professional wrap-around support program, including:
    • A mentor matched to their needs
    • A diagnostic session with a consultant, identifying strengths and areas for development
    • Expert advisory services to address specific challenges (minimum two days)
    • Informal support and connections

The wrap-around support program will be coordinated by the Social Impact Hub.

Our intention is to build long-term, trusting partnerships to help bold ideas become reality.

Selection Criteria

Addressing disadvantage: Initiatives that address disadvantage in our key regions.

Need and potential for impact:  Initiatives that address a gap (demonstrated community need that few others are addressing or that is less visible) and have the potential to benefit many people’s lives (scale), by a great amount (depth).

Inspiring people:  Strong, capable and credible leaders and teams who are passionate and persistent in pursuing their goals.

Innovative ideas:  Early-stage initiatives that explore new solutions, or bring an approach to Australia or our key regions that has been proven elsewhere

Consultation and collaboration: Initiatives that consult affected communities and collaborate with others across different areas.

Community-led decision-making: We prioritise initiatives that involve affected communities in decision-making positions.

In addition, we look for:

Alignment with The Snow Foundation values: Humility, Social Justice, Collaboration, Commitment, Transparency and Empathy

Strong community backing

Commitment to learning and sharing

A realistic vision for growth and sustainability

Eligibility

  • The initiative must address disadvantage in Australia in new ways
  • Initiatives must be developed (not pure ideas stage), but have been operating for less than 5 years
  • Revenue for your initiative must be less than $1m p.a. (self-generated revenue is a plus, but not a requirement)
  • Open to individuals aged 18+ and for-purpose organisations in Australia (DGR status is not a requirement)
  • Must not be an existing Snow Foundation partner (please talk to us instead!)

We do not accept applications for initiatives where the primary purpose is environment, art, animal welfare or international development.

Applications are now closed.

Invited applicants can log into The Snow Foundation Grants Portal to manage their application.

Click here to download the Application Guidelines

Application Assessments

The Snow Foundation team will review all full applications against the selection criteria.  This will involve conversations with you and your referees as part of the shortlisting process.  We will also seek input from various subject matter experts as relevant.

Shortlisted candidates will also be interviewed by an external expert panel, including:

  • Fiona Higgins, Specialist Advisor, Giving – Australian Philanthropic Services and Executive Officer – Eisen Family Private Fund
  • Andrew Tyndale, Chair – Payton Capital
  • Craig Fitzgerald, Executive General Manager International Operations & CSR – Aspen Medical and CEO – Aspen Foundation
  • Anthony Millet, Global Partner and Co-head, Antler Capital – Antler