The IMB Bank Community Foundation has announced and celebrated 58 not-for-profit organisations sharing in over $700,000 in grants. These projects support vital community initiatives and create enduring, positive impacts in our communities across NSW, the ACT and in Melbourne.
Three celebrations – at IMB Bank’s head office in the Illawarra, its Glen Waverley branch in Victoria, and at the National Art Gallery in Canberra – showcased the ingenuity and community spirit of the recipients from across IMB’s footprint.
Across the events, heartfelt presentations were delivered by diverse projects from the 2025 cohort of recipients. These include Creating Chances (Illawarra), Emerge & See (Sydney), The LIVEfree Project (Newcastle), Canberra Choral Society (ACT) and Southern Women’s Group (NSW South Coast).
This year's recipients meet diverse community needs, touching the lives of many who need it most. Initiatives include expanding free CPR training across Australia, planting 10,000 native trees in Sydney, improving hospital stays for ill children with hero-themed garments, providing food for the disadvantaged and vital support for women and children seeking refuge from domestic and family violence, to providing musical instruments and manuscripts for community ensembles. And many more.
Robert Ryan, IMB Bank Chief Executive, said receiving a record number of applications in 2025 is evidence that direct, localised funding, such as the IMB Bank Community Foundation grants, are as important as ever to help our community heroes continue their important work.
“Each year we witness firsthand how this funding supports not-for-profit organisations and the wonderful people giving their time and energy to create lasting, positive change in our communities. Recipients of the 2025 IMB Bank Community Foundation grants are delivering diverse initiatives that are saving and improving lives, revitalising our environment and helping those in need. We are proud to play our part in supporting this vital work to improve our communities,” he added.
In Sydney, two key projects to receive funding were the Fair Fight Foundation ‘Supertee’ Project and Redfern-based indigenous-led social enterprise Wildflower Gardens for Good.
Jason Sotiris, Founder and CEO, Supertee, said: “Receiving this grant means a great deal to us. It helps us bring more comfort, imagination and strength to children in hospitals through our Supertee medical garments which are designed to look like costumes so kids can feel brave during treatment. They remind families that they are not alone.”
Commenting on behalf of Wildflower Gardens for Good, Balunn Jones, said: “Receiving IMB’s support means we can continue expanding our native planting and biodiversity programs across urban Sydney. The funding will go directly towards planting 10,000 new native species – restoring habitat and strengthening local ecosystems.”
Illawarra recipient, the Dave Winner Foundation’s ‘Saving Lives One Beat at a Time’ project, is an example of an initiative helping to ease pressure on emergency services and hospitals.
“We’re delighted to receive these vital funds which will help save lives as we work towards training one million people in CPR by 2030,” said Dave Winner, himself a survivor of a surf accident at Coalcliff Beach thanks to CPR administered by bystanders.
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In Melbourne, innovative homelessness charity 300 Blankets was delighted to receive funding.
“With IMB’s support, 300 Blankets can expand the impact of our Soul Kitchen community by offering a Health and Wellbeing program which aims to empower people to regain control over their lives and move towards greater stability and self-reliance,” said 300 Blankets President Peter Royce.
Pegasus Riding for the Disabled in the ACT also received a grant to develop their team capability. Jo Kennedy, Relationship and Event Manager, said: “Pegasus is thrilled to receive this funding. The grant will give us the ability to improve our services in many ways. We will be able to offer all of our volunteers autism spectrum disorder-specific training given autism affects 60% of our cohort of participants.”
In the Newcastle Hunter region, Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie’s ‘Seconds Count’ project was a successful recipient. The Foundation grant will buy a new jet ski to save lives.
“We’re thrilled to receive these funds which will be used to purchase a brand-new jet ski watercraft for our fleet, capable of saving multiple lives at our busiest time of year,” said Jim Wright, Unit Commander at Marine Rescue Lake Macquarie. “The jet ski is fast and agile, with a sled on the back so it can save many people at once when they are in life threatening situations,” he said, adding, “Our unit is the busiest jet-ski unit in NSW.”
Over the last 26 years, the IMB Bank Community Foundation has funded 1,100 projects, with almost $13 million in grants to local not-for-profit organisations. The breadth of support provided by the Foundation’s grants extends along the East Coast of Australia from Newcastle to Sydney and from the Illawarra and NSW South Coast to Canberra and Melbourne.
Explore all the 2025 IMB Bank Community Foundation recipients.
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