$300K - ABC Foundation Future Fund

Let’s start with what matters most: the funding!

The ABC Foundation Future Fund offers substantial, multi-year funding — often in the $300,000+ range — to support Indigenous-led organisations delivering long-term, community-controlled outcomes. This isn’t a short-term project grant. It’s designed to back organisations that are building sustainably, governance strength, and independent income over time.

Why this fund exists (and why that matters)

For me, there are two really important aspects to this funding.

First, this fund is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led organisations. It is designed to support Indigenous leadership, community control, and long-term sustainability.

Second, even if this isn’t an opportunity you can apply for, there is still a lot here worth paying attention to. Such as ... the way this fund is structured — what it values, what it rewards, and what it quietly deprioritises. These are signals I want you to take note of as you're navigating the broader funding landscape.

So let’s unpack what’s happening beneath the surface.

What immediately stands out

At a glance, the Future Fund looks straightforward. But structurally, it’s doing a few things differently. It places weight on organisational strength, not just project delivery. It takes a longer view of outcomes, rather than demanding fast, visible wins. And it treats funding as a partnership, not a transaction.

I can hear you saying, so what ... 

Well, because this program reflects a broader shift in how experienced funders think about risk, impact, and sustainability. For women founders who’ve been conditioned to believe funding is about pitching harder, moving faster, or doing more with less, the ABC Foundation model quietly challenges that narrative.

Who this model is designed to support

This fund is designed for organisations that are established and community-controlled, with enough maturity to demonstrate governance, accountability, and delivery capability over time. It favours organisations that can show how funding strengthens the organisation itself — not just a single project or initiative.

The signal here is subtle but important: maturity in your organisation is not a disadvantage. Lack of readiness, clarity, and stewardship are.

Who should think twice (and why)

One of the strengths of this fund is what it does not reward. It’s unlikely to suit organisations that are still testing their core delivery model, heavily reliant on one short-term income source, or unable to demonstrate governance and financial reporting capability. It also won’t suit groups looking for a fast, transactional injection of funding without a clear sustainable pathway.

For you who are reading this, the takeaway isn’t about this fund specifically. It’s about discernment. Not every opportunity is meant to be pursued and you can save yourself months of effort by recognising that early.

What’s actually being funded

Rather than tightly prescribing activities, this fund backs work that strengthens organisations and communities over time. In practice, it often supports things like independent income development, social enterprise models, leadership and governance uplift, and delivery approaches built around continuity and accountability.

In other words, it is not about ticking boxes. It’s about backing organisations that clearly understand their role, their responsibility, and their future.

How decisions are likely being made

Based on how programs structured like this are typically assessed, a few patterns tend to show up.

Assessors usually look for evidence of governance and leadership that is real, documented, and active — not aspirational. They pay attention to how clearly the funding request connects to strategy, delivery, and sustainability. They look for financial realism: budgets grounded in actual operating costs, with an awareness of risk and a plan to manage it. And they look for community alignment that goes beyond intention, showing accountability to the people being served.

This is assessment through a maturity lens, not a perfection lens.

Process and timing reality

The Future Fund operates without a fixed application round, which changes the dynamic of the application process. Rolling programs tend to favour organisations that are prepared — not organisations scrambling against a deadline. Documentation, governance, and clarity matter more than speed.

For founders watching from the sidelines, this reinforces an important lesson: funding readiness is built long before an application is written.

A quiet readiness check

Whether or not this fund is relevant to you, it’s worth asking a few questions as a mirror for your own funding strategy:

• Do you have governance structures that stand up to scrutiny?

• Can you explain how funding strengthens your organisation beyond one project?

• Is your budget grounded in reality, not just ambition?

• Do you understand what a funder is likely to see when they assess your application?

If any of those gave you pause, that’s useful information. A Readiness Review can help you understand where you’re already strong — and where a bit of work now could save you a lot of frustration later.

Looking beyond eligibility

This fund isn’t designed to be chased by everyone. That’s why it’s worth studying. It shows what intentional funding design looks like. It shows how clarity protects both funders and applicants. And it shows that long-term thinking is being rewarded. 

These are signals that matter — even when the opportunity itself isn’t yours to pursue.

About Lisa Erhart

Lisa Erhart is the founder of Funding4Growth, strategist, and advocate for women and diverse founders building financially strong businesses.