Women’s Giving Circle | Northern Rivers Community Foundation

Give with impact, give locally

Our collective generosity transforms the lives of women and children in the Northern Rivers.

We are a collective of passionate women taking action to tackle local disadvantage. We welcome women connected to the Northern Rivers who want to join our community to create change. Your donation contributes to supporting grassroots change.

DONATE $1000 ANNUALLY

DONATE $20 WEEKLY

Empowering Women & Girls Grant

Amy Colli at the 2024 Women's Giving Circle Grant giving event

The NRCF Empowering Women & Girls Grant is an annual program supporting grassroots initiatives in the Northern Rivers that help women and girls overcome inequality and disadvantage. Grants provide seed funding to pilot new programs, expand existing services, or build the evidence needed to grow their impact.

Through the Women’s Giving Circle, members take part in the grantmaking process by voting to decide which projects are funded. This collective approach reflects local priorities and demonstrates the power of giving where you live. Past grants have helped support trauma recovery, reduce isolation, and strengthen cultural identity, and more - making a lasting difference for women and girls in our region.

Read about this year’s Empowering Women & Girls grant recipients and view the gallery of images here.

Our community needs your support

1,349

domestic violence related assaults
were reported to Police in the
Northern Rivers from Jan-Dec 2023.

2,310

women in the Northern Rivers sought assistance from a Specialist
Homelessness Service in 2022-2023.

10,000

people were displaced by floods and 1,800 are still living in temporary housing

How it Works

Our goal is to grow our giving collective of women donating $1,000 over each year, with 50% gifted each year to grassroots women and girls empowerment projects. The remaining 50% of pooled donations grows the Northern Rivers Women’s Fund - which guarantees projects will be supported each year into the future.

Each year, the members of the Women’s Giving Circle come together to hear from and learn about local, grassroots programs being undertaken in the Northern Rivers. Each member has the opportunity to vote on who will receive the pooled funds. You are connected with the leaders and recipients of your philanthropy.

JOIN THE CIRCLE

2025 Events

Join our collective giving force - share stories, spark change, and create lasting impact.

We gather regularly for engaging events and conversations - from celebrating the achievements of our grant recipients at the annual Grant Giving Night, to exploring topical issues affecting women and girls in our community with inspiring guest presenters, and ending the year with our much-loved Christmas Garden Celebration.

Our gatherings are open to everyone. If you’re not yet a WGC member but are curious about the connections we foster and the impact we make, we warmly invite you to join us - you’ll be welcomed with open arms and hearts.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Christmas Garden Gathering
Thursday 11 December, 2025
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Byron Bay, NSW

For Women's Giving Circle members.

Latest News

Women's Giving Circle - International Women's Day

Gathering for good: International Women’s Day

Women's Giving Circle Member Hedley Derenzie

Member Profile:
Hedley Derenzie

Reviving Sacred Birth Traditions on Bundjalung Country

Our goal

The Circle surpassed our aim of 100 members in 2024.

Our goal is to reach 250 members collectively giving to grassroots projects that transform our local community.

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

Who is NRCF?

Established in 2003, the Northern Rivers Community Foundation is a community-based philanthropic organisation that leads positive change across the Northern Rivers by empowering communities to thrive. We build healthy and resilient communities by supporting local not-for-profit and grassroots organisations who are tackling challenging social and environmental problems.

We connect our wonderful giving community of individuals, families, businesses, private and public foundations to local causes that matter. Through a network of over 350 community organisations, NRCF's evidence-based grant making supports a wide range of community-led projects.

2025-2026 Grant Recipients

Muli Muli Local Aboriginal Land Council - Nourishing Women, Nurturing Futures
2025 - 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant Recipient

Nourishing Women, Nurturing Futures is a culturally safe program for First Nations women and girls in the Muli Muli community that strengthens nutrition, wellbeing, and family resilience. Developed in response to needs identified by the LALC, it creates space for women to connect, share knowledge, and engage in meaningful “women’s business”. Participants will join cooking workshops focused on affordable, nutritious meals, take part in creative arts activities, and access health education. Guided by trusted local women and supported by Elders, the project promotes healthier choices, encourages access to health services, and deepens intergenerational bonds so women and girls feel more empowered and connected.

Iluka Community Organisation Planning for Emergencies (ICOPE) - Circle of Friends
2025 - 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant Recipient

Circle of Friends is a grassroots program supporting older and vulnerable women in Iluka who face social isolation, early-stage dementia, low vision, mobility challenges, or disability. Many live alone with limited social contact, and the weekly gatherings at Iluka Community Hall offer a consistent, welcoming place to connect. Activities include gentle chair exercises, dancing, craft, puzzles, workshops, guest speakers, and special events that build joy and intergenerational connection. The project reduces isolation, boosts confidence, and strengthens physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, creating a safe and supportive environment where women feel valued and have something meaningful to look forward to each week.

Kyogle Family Support Services - Cultivating Calm: Reclaiming Safety & Strength After Domestic Violence
2025 - 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant Recipient

Cultivating Calm is a free seven-week trauma-informed program for women in the Kyogle LGA who are recovering from domestic or family violence and living in safe housing. In a region with limited support services, it offers a vital pathway to healing through weekly sessions that combine embodied movement and nervous system regulation with practical workshops on trauma, boundaries, financial independence, legal rights, and essential life skills. The program builds emotional regulation, confidence, and self-trust, helping participants move toward greater independence and safety. Women will finish the program feeling more empowered and connected.

Country as Teacher - Muggi Dubay - Strong Women
2025 - 2026 Empowering Women & Girls Grant Recipient

Muggi Dubay – Strong Women is a two-year program supporting First Nations girls and young women in Byron Shire who are at risk of disengaging from school. The program offers sustained mentoring through monthly workshops led by female First Nations cultural experts in areas such as weaving, dancing, bush regeneration, plant medicine, bush foods, and hospitality. Participants will also visit Indigenous-led programs at TAFE and Southern Cross University to explore culturally aligned study and career pathways. The program builds motivation, cultural pride, and leadership skills, supporting more girls to stay engaged in education and move toward meaningful, culturally grounded careers.

Past Recipients

2024 - 2025
Human Nature Adventure Therapy EmpowerHer

Haus of Armour
Haus of Armour

Women Up North
Empowering Self Defence

2023 - 2024
The Returning Indigenous Corporation
Postpartum Care Program

Big Scrub Orchestra
Girls Rock!

2022 - 2023
Kyogle Family Support Services
Walking TALL

Northern Rivers Community Gateway
Older Women's Wellbeing Project

Give locally. Give with impact.

Join 100 like-minded women contributing to the well-being, safety, and empowerment of women and girls across the Northern Rivers.

JOIN NOW

Connect with us

Connect with the Women’s Giving Circle on Facebook and Instagram

If you would like to learn more about the NRCF Women’s Giving Circle please email Amy Colli,
the NRCF Women's Giving Circle Coordinator on givingcircle@nrcf.org.au.

FAQ

A: Giving as a group of friends or social group can make collective philanthropy more fun and meaningful – and we encourage that!
Under a group membership:

One member of your group collects all the contributions and makes the donation via our web page. The Tax-Deductible Receipt can only be issued in one name.
For Pitch Night, the Group membership has 1 allocated vote.
Of course, every member of your group can purchase a ticket to attend events.

A: No problem. There are other ways to contribute in a way that is comfortable:

Some people feel more comfortable with the $20/week subscription (we call it the 3 coffees approach) or the $85/month subscription.
Alternatively, the Northern Rivers Women’s Fund enables you to make a meaningful contribution to women and girl’s empowerment, at an amount that is comfortable to you. While this means you would not be a 'member' of the Women's Giving Circle, you are still more than welcome to get tickets and come to any of the events.

A: The original intent of the WGC was to create a safe and connected space for women to practice collective philanthropy – democratising the power of giving to local communities. We want to ensure that intent is honoured and respected.

We recognise that women and girl’s empowerment issues need to be worked on by all genders. Our NRCF CEO, Sam, has two young daughters and is passionate about ensuring the Northern Rivers is an equitable and just region for them to grow up in. He donates to the Northern Rivers Women’s Fund to support women and girl’s causes that matter through our community grants round.

Friends of NRCF Women's Giving Circle