We’re building a philanthropic movement where young people don’t just learn about giving circles – they practice it, amplifying positive local impact collectively.
Schools for Impact is part of the global philanthropic movement Impact 100. Our mission is to inspire youth to become philanthropists by bridging classroom learning with real world community needs.
We give students the agency to decide where donations go, transforming their communities.
“Young people have a lot of ideas to create change, they just need the platform.”
SAXON — STUDENT
"Meeting the charities and then voting with real money made me realise how much impact we have when we work together. It wasn’t just a project, it actually changes lives"
SARAH — STUDENT
LEARN
Our flexible lesson plans were co-designed with Teachers and reviewed by the University of Sydney to integrate into Stage 4 and 5 curriculum (Commerce, Society and Culture, PDHPE, Geography). They can also be used as extra-curricular activities, informing students of current needs in the community and the charities working to make a difference.
FUNDRAISE
Schools receive tools to support fundraising efforts. Every dollar raised by students is pooled with funds from other participating schools, increasing the overall impact and empowering students with agency to drive positive community change.
ENGAGE
The Schools for Impact Summit takes place annually in Term 4. Hundreds of students gather across NSW with their combined contributions and the chance to meet local charities through live presentations. Every student has an equal opportunity in deciding where their individual donations go on the day to drive impact.
JOIN
1000
STUDENTS
CO-DESIGNED
WITH
TEACHERS
3
YEARS OF
IMPACT
Bandu is a majority First-Nations-led social enterprise who are committed to supporting young indigenous people as they work towards their life and career goals. They walk with participants on their journey in higher education, providing ongoing commitment and cultural safety. Supporting Indigenous students with care as they navigating employment pathways.
"We are unrecognisable from last year, we have grown from helping 74 kids to over 200. The funding has accelerated our growth to provide our care model to more kids."
Edward Morgan (Managing Director) Bandu
67% of Australian youth want to make a difference but lack pathways to lead & impact, while 61% feel unheard on community issues. Through Schools for Impact giving circles, students don’t just learn about change — they fund it, lead it, and see their collective power transform communities
Research shows that engaging in philanthropic practice builds capacity for future leadership.
Key skills students can expect to develop include:
✓ Leadership
✓ Critical thinking
✓ Team collaboration
✓ Community engagement
Join the Schools for Impact Summit — where school giving circles come together to invest in local charities and decide on funding decisions that create real-world community change.
Watch the 2024 Schools for Impact Summit highlights.
“The program taught our students to look beyond themselves and see the needs in their community, while discovering that their voices matter.”
TEACHER
Want to speak to someone? Contact Angela Guestrau at ange@sydcf.org.au
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Schools for Impact is a registered charity under Sydney Community Foundation Tax Deductible Fund ABN 77 528 860 176 |
52 Victoria Street, Paddington, NSW 2021 | © All Rights Reserved.