Backing the Future - 2026

Backing the Future is a unique philanthropic initiative from the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) that recognises the power of passionate individuals to drive meaningful change for young people in rural and regional communities.

Each year the program offers up to 10 grants of $50,000 to individuals or groups of individuals in both QLD and NSW. These grants enable recipients to develop and test early-stage ideas that support young people aged 12-30 in one or more of the following areas:

• Access decent work;
• Care for the environment;
• Contribute to society; or
• Explore Christian faith and values.

The program was designed in response to feedback from VFFF’s current innovators and changemakers, who shared that the most difficult part of their impact journey was securing initial support. Backing the Future addresses this challenge by reducing the red tape often associated with grant funding and instead creating space for individuals to explore new ideas and discover what they can achieve.