Seaton Foundation

Celebrating 10 Years: Explore our first Impact Report! Today marks a special milestone as we release the Seaton Foundation’s inaugural Annual Giving & Impact Snapshot. Over the past decade, our focus has been listening to, resourcing, and standing alongside community-led solutions across the Northern Rivers. Thank you to our non-profit partners and community leaders for your dedication and collaboration. Read the full snapshot here: https://wix.to/wffQial

Ending homelessness requires bold vision, real commitment, and strong collaboration. It’s inspiring to see Orange Sky Australia join forces with the Australian Alliance to End Homelessness to drive systemic change across the country.

Building strong, resilient regional communities starts at the grass roots. Last week, team members Belinda and Kristy-Lee traveled to Stanthorpe, QLD, to attend the Social Impact in the Regions (SIITR) Conference. As past sponsors of SIITR, the Seaton Foundation was proud to continue our support this year by sponsoring three delegates to attend. The event was a fantastic opportunity to stand alongside our sponsored attendees, connect with local change-makers, and experience firsthand the incredible momentum being generated across regional Australia. Conferences like SIITR are vital—they shine a dedicated spotlight on the tireless work of grassroots not-for-profits who drive real, lasting change where it’s needed most. Thank you to the organisers and every attendee working to make regional Australia thrive!

Last week, two of our board members attended the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA) Breakfast for Good, hosted at the incredible Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. Surrounded by such a stunning and peaceful space, the team even had the privilege of exploring the sanctuary's new reptile enclosure, observing the birds, and seeing a koala up close! 🐨🌿 The heart of the morning, however, was all about connection and impact. As a member-led peak body, SECNA does vital work representing, strengthening, and advocating for social enterprises across NSW and the ACT. The breakfast was a fantastic opportunity to connect with passionate individuals running incredible social enterprises across the Northern Rivers. Our board members had wonderful conversations hearing firsthand about their current challenges and exciting upcoming opportunities. We are proud to champion SECNA as they continue to connect, strengthen, and advocate for the social enterprise ecosystem. Together, we can help build a thriving community for social change! 💚

Only a few days left to secure your funding for SIITR2026! We know life in the Northern Rivers is busy, but we don't want you to miss out on this. Applications for our FOUR $2,000 scholarships to attend the Social Impact in the Regions conference in Stanthorpe close this Tuesday, 4 August. Whether you lead a grassroots community group, drive local social enterprise, or work to build regional resilience, this is your chance to connect with peers from across Australia and bring those big ideas back home. Because the conference is just around the corner, we are fast-tracking approvals so winners will hear back by Friday, 7 August to lock in travel and accommodation. Don't let budget constraints hold back your impact. Take 5 minutes to submit your application today! 👉 Apply now: https://lnkd.in/ehjpGAZx #NorthernRivers #SIITR2026 #SeatonFoundation #RegionalAustralia #SocialImpact #TownsInTransition

Have you heard about the Social Impact in the Regions (SIITR) conference? 🌾✨ Now in its fourth year, SIITR has quickly become one of Australia's most significant gatherings for regional changemakers, policy makers, and impact investors. Held in a different regional town each year, the 2026 conference is heading to Stanthorpe, QLD from 2–4 September under the timely theme: 'Regions in Transition.' To support local capacity building and ensure our region has a voice at the table, The Seaton Foundation is offering four (4) scholarships valued at $2,000 each to part-fund attendance for individuals or organisations operating exclusively within the Northern Rivers, NSW. Sharing the Insights: We want to help amplify your voice. Scholarship recipients will be invited to share their key takeaways with our network after the event—either through a short video or a brief written reflection and photo—highlighting what the experience means for their organisation or community. ⏱️ Timeline is fast-tracked: With the conference just 6 weeks away, applications close Tuesday, 4 August, and we will respond to all applicants by Friday, 7 August to ensure the winners have maximum time to secure travel and accommodation. Don't miss out on funding your attendance at one of the year's premier regional impact events. 👇 View the criteria and apply here: https://lnkd.in/ehjpGAZx #NorthernRivers #RegionalDevelopment #CapacityBuilding #RegionalLeadership #SeatonFoundation

Did you know that the Seaton Foundation provides scholarships designed to amplify community-led change? We recently supported Andy Hamilton, founder of Human Nature, to attend the exclusive Pinterest Impact Partner Summit in LA. As the only Australian organisation invited, they truly put regional youth mental health advocacy on the map. Read their inspiring update from the trip below: An update from Human Nature from our recent trip to LA, supported by the Seaton Foundation. Thanks to a generous scholarship from the Seaton Foundation, Human Nature founder, Andy Hamilton, was able to attend the Pinterest Impact Partner Summit in Los Angeles. In an incredible milestone for a regional non-profit, Human Nature was the only Australian organisation invited to attend this year. To put the scale of this opportunity into perspective, the Pinterest Impact Fund has distributed more than $40 million in funding over the past five years, creating a large global footprint that reaches roughly 55 million people—90% of whom are young people. At its heart, this global gathering was all about backing community-centered, founder-led organisations that are intentionally pushing against the status quo when it comes to youth mental health. Being in the room to connect, share knowledge, and begin nurturing some key relationships was an invaluable experience for Human Nature. Key highlights: ● The opportunity to connect and establish some new relationships whilst also getting the rare chance to connect face-to-face with a major global funder. Meeting members of their wider team and staff was incredibly invaluable, and we look forward to continuing to nurture and strengthen those relationships moving forward. ● Swapping ideas, sharing experiences, and navigating common challenges alongside an incredibly passionate and inspiring cohort of global impact partners. ● Presenting Human Nature’s story and our model in a close-knit peer advisory group. The session received wonderfully positive feedback and sparked inspiring discussions and some new connections. ● Being able to engage in a series of inspiring, thought-provoking masterclasses and discussions led by subject matter experts across a range of backgrounds. Thank you! This trip was a significant milestone for Human Nature, marking our very first time participating on an international stage of this nature. We are incredibly grateful to the Seaton Foundation for providing the scholarship that supported our participation in this event. Because of your support we are able to bring many invaluable insights, new perspectives and inspiring connections back home with us. This is all part of our ongoing commitment to deepen our impact. Thank you to the Seaton Foundation for continuing to believe in our work and for walking alongside us as we support young people in our community.

"More than a meal service—it is a vital hub of stability, dignity, and connection." 🍲✨ To wrap up our Food Security grant showcases, we are highlighting the phenomenal team at the Ballina Hot Meal Centre. Operating twice a week out of the Ballina Masonic Centre, their demand has more than doubled in recent years. Our funding will help support their core meal services, alongside the distribution of essential hygiene care packs and takeaway containers. Powered by dedicated volunteers (some with over 20 years of service!), the Centre serves over 500 hot, balanced meals every single week. This provides an immediate safety net for low-income families, individuals experiencing homelessness, and isolated seniors, offering them a safe, welcoming space to connect, build community, and reduce social isolation. To every volunteer making this happen in Ballina: thank you. #foodsecurity #northernrivers #communitykitchen #seatonfoundation

Food security isn't just about having food—it's about having the means to prepare, cook, and serve it. 🍳🎒 This week, we are highlighting The Mend & Make Do Crew Inc in South Grafton, a 100% volunteer-powered social enterprise doing unique and vital work in our region. We are thrilled to back their project, "Keeping Kitchens Kookin'". When families are relocated or individuals are sleeping rough, they often lack the absolute basics to cook a hot meal. This initiative funds the creation of Kitchen Starter sets and Camp Kitchen backpacks, which are distributed directly through local front-line crisis agencies. These practical toolkits enable vulnerable community members and rough sleepers to immediately prepare healthy meals, saving local front-line agencies money while giving recipients the tools they need to eat well with independence and dignity. We love this clever, direct approach to supporting household health! #foodsecurity #northernrivers #dignityfirst #seatonfoundation

Building long-term resilience means preparing for the unexpected. 📦🌊 We are proud to announce our partnership with Wardell CORE to support their Food Access and Crisis Support Program across the Lower Richmond region. In an area heavily impacted by past natural disasters and transport limitations, Wardell CORE is piloting an innovative concept: Food Shock Boxes. These boxes contain essential, shelf-stable food supplies designed to keep a household secure during short-term supply chain disruptions. Alongside their massive fortnightly subsidised fresh produce program that already feeds over 100 households, scaling these Food Shock Boxes will directly protect older residents, low-income families, and isolated rural households from sudden financial or climate shocks. Thank you, Wardell CORE, for keeping our communities prepared and proactive! #foodsecurity #northernrivers #communityresilience #seatonfoundation