On 21 November the Northern Rivers Community Foundation celebrated two decades of community-driven impact, marking $10 million distributed across more than 645 projects since its inception.

Hosted at Elements at Byron, the milestone event brought together over 220 donors, grant recipients, and community leaders to celebrate the power of community giving and to announce this year’s Community Grants recipients.

“This anniversary celebrates the profound impact of community giving,” said NRCF CEO Sam Henderson. “From humble beginnings, we’ve witnessed the extraordinary capacity of our region to come together and create meaningful change. Tonight is about honoring our journey and those making a difference on the ground.”

Introducing the 2024/25 Community Grants Recipients

The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the 2024/25 Community Grants Program recipients, who exemplify the diverse and inspiring work being undertaken across the Northern Rivers.

From ecocultural fire training and community emergency hubs to supporting families with neurodivergent children to prepare for natural disasters, empowering changemakers, and preserving cultural heritage, these initiatives reflect our commitment to creating positive, lasting change.

This year’s grant recipients are: Zero Emissions Byron, Autism Camp Australia, Positive Change for Marine Life, Resilient Uki, Resilient Byron / Plan C, Byron Bay Community Benefit Fund, Numulgi Memorial Hall, Nimbin Aquarius Foundation, Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue, Agape Outreach Inc., Northern Rivers Women’s and Children’s Services, Lower Clarence Community Garden, Northern Rivers Performing Arts, Ballina Hot Meal Centre, RiverTracks, Mullumbimby Sustainability Education & Enterprise Development, Gummyaney Aboriginal Preschool, Woodenbong Community Men’s Shed, Tweed Coast Youth Service, Zephyr Education and Mental Health Support Group.

Read more about this year’s Community  Grants recipients and their projects here.