Seaton Foundation

03/11/2026

If you’ve been keeping an eye out for our annual October Innovation Grant, things look a little different this year!

Rather than opening applications, we’ve invested this year’s funds into something designed to benefit as many organisations as possible. We’re working closely with a long-time partner to test a brand-new tool focused on building everyday capacity for small not-for-profits.

The pilot kicks off early next year, and we’ll be sharing updates along the way.

Watch this space—more news coming soon! 🚀

31/10/2026

📰 WANTED: 2027 Club Partners

Ambitious local business seeks football club for a long-term relationship. Must love the Northern Rivers. 🔴⚫

We’re opening Expressions of Interest for our 2027 partners. Shirt fronts, sleeves, training kit and pitch-side signage are all on the table.

Put your name on the region’s own football club and back the players, coaches and families who make it happen every week.

📩 Register your interest: https://bit.ly/4B2B7tj
📧 [email protected]

For the Region, We Rise. 🔥

15/10/2026

Celebrating 10 Years: Explore our first Impact Report! 👉

🎉We are thrilled to share the Seaton Foundation’s inaugural Annual Giving & Impact Snapshot. Over the past decade, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with extraordinary local leaders and non-profits driving community-led change across the Northern Rivers.

Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible—click the link below to read the full report!

Dear , Today marks a special milestone for us as we share the Seaton Foundation’s first Giving & Impact Report. Over the past decade, we’ve partnered with extraordinary local leaders and organisations across the Northern Rivers to support community-led change. This snapshot is a tribute to that ...

13/10/2026

We recently sponsored three individuals to attend the Social Impact in the Regions Conference. Hear below from one of our scholarship recipients about their experience:

It's difficult to identify one session or experience during the SIITR26 Conference in Stanthorpe as the most beneficial. The entire event brings different, but equally valuable experiences. Two sessions that impacted my work, particularly the planning side, were the Engaging Key Stakeholders session on Day 2 and the Place Based Research Forum on Day 3. These two sessions brought together some of the challenges in identifying the space you're working in (place-based research) and how to identify the stakeholders relevant to that space and engage with those stakeholders in an effective manner.

Our strategic planning has always included the identity of our stakeholders, however the combination of the two sessions allowed me to develop a more comprehensive picture of the 'our space/place' and stakeholders, and most importantly that developing a plan to maintain the relationship between our organisation and our stakeholders and to include this in our ongoing planning processes.

These experiences broadened my existing networks across the Social Enterprise sector and related fields, importantly enabling me to broaden and update my networks in South East Queensland where we've recently established the second site for The Mend & Make Do Crew Inc.

If you want to know more about our scholarships program visit our website here:

Investing in the future of the Northern Rivers. Explore scholarship opportunities from Seaton Foundation and see how we help local individuals grow and thrive.

07/09/2026

Building strong, resilient regional communities starts at the grass roots.

Last week, our team members Belinda and Kristy-Lee traveled to Stanthorpe, QLD, to attend the Social Impact in the Regions (SIITR) Conference.

Having supported SIITR in previous years, we were proud to continue that tradition by sponsoring three delegates to attend. Belinda and Kristy-Lee loved catching up with our sponsored attendees, connecting with local change-makers, and seeing firsthand the inspiring work happening across the sector.

Events like SIITR are so important—they shine a well-deserved light on the grassroots not-for-profits driving real, lasting change in regional Australia. We’re honored to play a part in supporting that mission.

28/08/2026

What a morning! 🌿 Two of our board members recently headed to the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary for the SECNA Breakfast for Good.

Not only is the sanctuary’s space breathtakingly beautiful, but our team also loved taking some time to explore—checking out the stunning new reptile enclosure, admiring the birds, and even spotting a gorgeous koala! 🐨

Beyond the amazing scenery, 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! 💚

30/07/2026

Tick-tock! ⏳ 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://form.jotform.com/262002101510027

21/07/2026

Have you heard about the Social Impact in the Regions conference? 🌾✨

Launched just a few years ago, SIITR is the only national conference in Australia specifically designed by regional practitioners, for regional communities. It moves to a new location each year, and this September 2–4, it’s coming to Stanthorpe, Queensland, exploring the vital 2026 theme: 'Regions in Transition.' It’s an incredible space for regional leaders to unpack everything from funding models and social enterprise to community resilience.

The Seaton Foundation wants to help get you there! 📢
We know how vital it is for our local leaders to connect, share ideas, and bring those insights home. That’s why we are offering FOUR scholarships of $2,000 each exclusively for individuals and organisations based right here in the Northern Rivers, NSW to help part-fund your attendance!

As a scholarship recipient, we would love for you to share your conference journey with our community. All we ask is that you provide either a short, blog-style social media post (with an image) or a brief 1–2 minute video within 14 days of the event, sharing your biggest takeaways and what the experience meant to your organisation.

⚠️ Applications open TODAY and close on Tuesday, 4 August. Because the conference is just 42 days away and accommodation in Stanthorpe fills up fast, we are fast-tracking the process and will respond to all applicants by Friday 7 August so winners can book travel early!

Ready to level up your regional impact?👉 Apply now: https://form.jotform.com/262002101510027

06/07/2026

Did you know that a Seaton Foundation scholarship can take local impact all the way to Los Angeles? ✈️✨

Our scholarship program is all about backing leaders who support young people in our communities. We are absolutely thrilled to share this incredible milestone from Human Nature following their participation in a major global summit:

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.

02/07/2026

"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 meals.

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.