Regional & Local Communities

Vibrant, resilient and connected communities are an essential part of life.

When people are connected, they share information, support neighbours, strengthen local economies and protect culture, language and place. Across Australia, TFN backs grassroots initiatives that put local people at the centre of decisions – funding organisations that know their communities best and deepening connections through live collective giving events and ongoing Alumni support.

We partner with organisations on the ground to deliver the TFN model in major cities and regional centres, and support regional affiliates to run their own events in places like Geelong, Ballarat and Wagga Wagga.

The same principles guide our support for Australian-led global initiatives. Since 2021, TFN and the Australian International Development Network (AIDN) have run three crowdfunding events, raising over half a million dollars in catalytic funding for organisations embedded in communities around the world.

Watch the highlights from our Local Communities event in Canberra, 2025.

Alumni include Forever Projects, Tender Funerals, Canberra, Cambodian Rural Students Trust, Bright Futures Child Aid & Development Fund Australia, The Cova Project, Classroom of Hope, Eureka Mums, Grass Skirt Project, Ocean Mind, The Power in You and Bendigo Foodshare

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Behind the Pitch: Alumni Stories

Tender Funerals

Local & Regional Communities, 2024

At Tender Funerals Canberra Region, a funeral isn’t a product but a community-built rite of passage, where cost never stands in the way of meaning. Backed by TFN supporters through a Pay It Forward fund, more families in financial stress are able to create honest, hands-on farewells, showing how shared care can gently reshape grief and restore confidence in what communities can do together.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters Tumut

Local & Regional Communities, 2024

Big Brothers Big Sisters Tumut is transforming young lives in regional NSW through one-on-one, friendship-based mentoring for vulnerable young people. Through TFN’s Pitch Up Wagga Wagga event, the program raised $21,000 to create six new mentor–mentee matches and gained long-term community supporters who will help sustain its impact.

Pitch Up Wagga Wagga

Local & Regional Communities, 2023

7NEWS covers Pitch Up Wagga Wagga, our first live crowdfunding event in the region, harnessing the power of community to keep grassroots charities thriving. Meet the three local non-profits pitching to create positive change for people in Wagga Wagga.