MinterEllison partners with philanthropic organisations to support social enterprises

1 minute read  05.07.2023

MinterEllison has partnered with leading Australian philanthropic organizations to establish the Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) Grant Program.

MinterEllison has joined a collection of leading Australian philanthropic organisations to establish a pioneering grant program that supports social enterprises in accelerating growth and impact while creating job opportunities for Australians facing barriers to employment.

The newly established Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) Grant Program will support social enterprises in creating job opportunities for Australians facing barriers to employment to accelerate their growth and impact, including supported employment pathways for people with disability, mental health issues, long term unemployed, youth at risk, refugees and migrants and people coming out of the prison system.

Seven of Australia's leading philanthropic organisations have created the WISE Grant Program. The founding partners are Lord Mayor's Charitable Fund, English Family Foundation, Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Westpac Foundation, Macquarie Group Foundation and Minderoo Foundation. Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation will act as the 'host' of the WISE Grant Program, distributing grants to eligible social enterprises. 

MinterEllison provided pro bono legal support to the Founding Partners, led by National Pro Bono & Social Impact Partner Keith Rovers, with support from Rachel Johnston (Senior Associate) and Lizzy Enright (Associate). 

The MinterEllison team provided advice on all aspects of the WISE Grant Program, including on how the alliance between the Founding Partners should be structured, regulatory requirements (including ACNC and tax requirements) and preparing the key documents to establish the WISE Grant Program, including the Memorandum of Understanding and Steering Committee Terms of Reference for the Founding Partners. MinterEllison also assisted in the legal review of the agreements between each of the Founding Partners and the Lord Mayor's Charitable Fund as the 'host' of the WISE Grant Program.

The MinterEllison team also included valuable support from the Tax Practice Group, including Rhys Guild (Partner), Garry Beath (Senior Tax Counsel) and Julia Brosnan (Senior Associate). 

Keith Rovers said, "We are delighted to support the WISE Grant Program and the collaboration between Australia's leading philanthropic organisations. The Grant Program is a major achievement for the social enterprise ecosystem and a great collective impact project.

It is a powerful model demonstrating how collective giving can maximise social impact and ultimately create jobs for Australians facing barriers to employment. It demonstrates the depth of experience of the MinterEllison team in advising on social impact initiatives and our ongoing commitment to breaking entrenched cycles of disadvantage in our communities."

The two-year grants range in value from approximately $200,000 to $500,000, depending on the stage of the social enterprise.

Expressions of interest for WISE Grants are open from 3-21 July 2023

For more information, visit lmcf.org.au/apply-grant/grant-opportunities/wise-grant.


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