Commonwealth Bank grants double to $3.5m in 2024

Commonwealth Bank has announced that its staff foundation has raised $3.5 million in 2024 to donate to 175 charitable organisations around Australia. CONTENT PARTNERSHIP

Commonwealth Bank has doubled its financial grants to charitable organisations this year distributing $3.5 million into the community.

CommBank’s Community Grants program, which is funded by fortnightly staff salary donations and matched by the Bank, will help 175 organisations, giving each of them a much needed $20,000 in funds just before Christmas.

This year, grant recipients have come from a wide field, supporting mental health, regional communities, victims of domestic violence, First Nations Peoples, education, children’s health and migrants and refugees, to name a few.

For many organisations, the help couldn’t have come soon enough with the cost of living crisis forcing more people to turn to charity for help, said head of community investment at Commonwealth Bank, Nathan Barker.

Nathan Barker is head of community investment at Commonwealth Bank.

“It’s a really tough fundraising environment and it’s hard for charities to get the money they need to continue their important work,” he said.

“These charities are there to help people who need it most and cost of living issues have shown that people who weren’t previously vulnerable are suddenly finding themselves in a vulnerable cohort.

“Our community grants program has surfaced some really local organisations who are stepping in and helping out. We’re seeing the huge impact they are making.”

The CommBank Staff Foundation has been operating since 1917 when care packages were sent to Australians fighting in World War One. The Foundation has continued to operate since then and launched the CommBank Community Grants program 17 years ago, increasing their support during the pandemic.

But this year’s grants are the largest distributed by Commonwealth Bank staff.

Many of the recipients are small operations who may not have much of a profile or opportunity to make widespread appeals for funds, Barker said.

Commonwealth bank general manager Sunil Thomas volunteers his time as a pilot with Angel Flight. Picture: Toby Zerna.

“It’s a case that these types of grants can help the charities that may not have a big profile or big annual fund raising events,” he said.

“So the community grants look to help those more grassroots, local charities. And it’s definitely something we think is really important. Our staff nominate them, and are often personally connected to the charity.

Some recipients are national, like Angel Flight, which is a charity that coordinates free, non-emergency flights helping rural Australians access specialist medical treatment. Angel Flight was nominated by Commonwealth Bank general manager, Sunil Thomas, who has volunteered as a pilot with the charity for several years, completing 36 flights across NSW since 2015.

“Over the years I’ve carried passengers across the full spectrum of society – as young as a few weeks old to the elderly, First Nations Peoples, immigrants, those from disadvantaged communities and those that just need some help at a time of incredible stress,” Thomas said. “In all cases, the relief we bring to these families is palpable. It is an incredible privilege and joy to help Angel Flight with their important purpose.”

Students Tiffany 7, Kain 7 and Reubin 11, KickStart For Kids’ Ian Steel and Zandra Martin. The charity has received a $20,000 grant. Picture: Kelly Barnes

Other local and national organisations receiving funds this year include:

Brainwave which supports children and young people with brain illnesses and injuries, as well as their families.

Head Above Water – which builds mental fitness to reduce the suicide rate.

Safe Haven Community – which helps women fleeing nonviolent domestic abuse with accommodation in homes offered by members of the community and hotels and supports them to make a new life for themselves.

Kickstart For Kids which gives the most disadvantaged children with meals, takes them on excursions during school holidays and supplies them with new clothing.

“We want to make sure these grants have the most impact on local organisations doing amazing things in their communities,” Barker said

See all 175 recipients here.

Originally published as Commonwealth Bank grants double to $3.5m in 2024