Annamila First Nations Foundation supports
First Nations led initiatives by gifting and bringing people together.
About us
Our vision is for a people at home with their identity and place.
Our purpose is to promote and support the sovereignty of Australia’s First Peoples so that Australia can free itself of discrimination of all kinds, especially the harmful ongoing effects of its colonial heritage.
Our program streams are:
• Country And Culture
• Healing And Wellbeing
• Truth And Justice
Our History
Annamila First Nations Foundation founder, Julie Kantor AO commenced her philanthropic activities more than 26 years ago.
Her first giving was in her own name and made anonymously to organisations.
As Julie‘s philanthropic interests expanded, she decided to give under the name of Annamila – a name that recognises the importance of her parents, Anne and Milan Kantor.
In the early years of Annamila, Julie was drawn more and more to supporting the First Nations Peoples of Australia.
In 2013, Julie asked a long-standing friend and colleague, Ian Roberts to chair Annamila.
While on a trip to Yuendumu in the Northern Territory to inspect a swimming pool that the Kantor family contributed in the memory of son and brother Tom who was greatly loved by the people of Yuendumu. Julie and Ian decided that Annamila should concentrate support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. They also made the crucial decision that the governance of Annamila should be conducted by a new board that comprised 50% women and 50% First Nations directors.
A new strategic plan was developed with the new directors and an expanded range of funding initiatives were implemented.
Following a review of its activities after three years, it was decided that the Board should progress to majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation.
With this significant development the Annamila First Nations Foundation came into existence in 2020.
Our people
From bottom Left to Right: Founding Director Julie Kantor AO, Secretary Ian Roberts, Co-Chair Belinda Duarte AM, CEO Jade Colgan, Co-Chair Prof. Wesley Enoch AM and Director Aunt Prof. Doseena Fergie OAM
Founder - Julie Kantor AO
Julie is a non-Indigenous woman with a background in philanthropy and arts and cultural organisations
Board Member - Aunt Prof Doseena Fergie OAM
Aunt Doseena is a Wuthathi, Mabiauag Island and Ambonese woman with a background in education, nursing and health.
Co-Chair - Belinda Duarte AM
Belinda is Wotjobaluk and Dja Dja Wurrung woman with Polish and Celtic heritage with a background in elite sport, social equity and First Nations led solutions.
Co-Chair - Prof. Wesley Enoch AM
Wesley is a Quandamooka man, background in theatre, writing and directing.
CEO - Jade Colgan
Jade is a Barkindji woman, with a background in senior management, First Nations led solutions, strategy and community engagement.
Deputy Chair Company Secretary - Ian Roberts
Ian is a non Indigenous man with a background in writing, theatre, arts administration and philanthropy
Camp Dogs - Harry (RIP) & Walu
Always Ambassador Award
Annamila First Nations Foundation recognise you as a powerful Ambassador for the sovereignty of Australia’s First People. Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed, and we recognise you as a vigorous advocate for First Nations expertise, leadership, and knowledge, genuinely upholding First Nations’ principles of self-determination and terms of reference. We recognise your tireless support of your community and the nation so that Australia can free itself from discrimination, especially the harmful effects of its colonial heritage.
Djapirri Mununggirritj 2023
Prof. Gregory Phillips 2023
Services
The Annamila First Nations Foundation provides charitable services by Contributing, Convening and Influencing.
• By Contributing we mean gifting financial support and wherever possible relational support to individuals and organisations.
• By Convening we mean that our founder, board and staff use our collective strength to bring energy and focus to the challenges and opportunities that we feel strongly about. This will most often take the form of hosting/co-hosting safe spaces for robust and action-driven awareness and collaboration.
• By Influencing we mean informing and or impacting policy and decision makers in relation to Annamila themes, values, knowledges & ways of working. We see our strength is the ability to be timely & agile if required.
Our three program streams are
Country And Culture
Projects in this stream must have as their main outcome a sustainable benefit related to caring for Country, supporting cultural practice, renewal or cultural education and or development of First Peoples art forms.
Healing And Wellbeing
Projects in this stream must have as their main outcome/focus in First Peoples personal and/or collective healing and wellbeing. Projects in this area must also be potentially able to be scalable and/or of national significance.
Truth And Justice
Projects in this area must, as their main priority, speak on or address nationally significant matters.
Seeking Support
Expressions can be made under our program streams.
Commonly once off individual grants are in the range of $5 to $30 thousand. Multiyear allocations of significant amounts are not being currently considered.
There is a priority preference for funding only Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander led organisations and projects.
We assess applications in February, June and October of each year.
COUNTRY AND CULTURE
Our thematic priorities for 2025/26 are projects & or initiatives that:
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focus on cultural knowledge transfer and practices. How knowledge is being passed from one generation to another, for the benefit of young people.
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target truth telling, in an historic or contemporary context.
HEALING AND WELLBEING
Our thematic priorities for 2025/26 are projects or initiatives where:
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truth telling leads to healing and wellbeing.
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focus is on social and emotional wellbeing for young people
TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Our thematic priorities for 2025/26 are projects or initiatives that:
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tackle incarceration, as well as First Nations led dialogue on truth and justice.
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specifically tackle youth incarceration and youth justice.
Please note: Applications need to clearly address how your project, work or initiative links to a stream and current thematic priority for that stream. Not just a link to an overarching stream..
Partners
Friends
FAQ
What does your name mean, Annamila?
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This name recognises the importance of our Founder, Julies parents, Anne and Milan Kantor = Annamila
What type of things do you fund / contribute to?
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We only support activities which align with our key areas and themes.
What are you currently supporting?
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Our partners are listed on our website
How can I apply?
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Applications can be sent to us via our website. Please email admin@annamila.com if you can’t find how to apply.
When can I apply?
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You can apply at any time via the website. However, applications are only assessed three times per year. In February, June and October of each year.
How much can I apply for?
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Our website will have information provided about the likely maximum amounts available at any given time. Please take time to look at this and apply accordingly.
Do you do multiple year funding?
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We do, but this is periodical and doesn’t come up as often.
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Our website will have information provided about the likely maximum amounts available and if we are currently considering multiyear or only one-off contributions. Please take the time to look at this and apply accordingly.
How long does it take for applications to get looked at?
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Typically, applications can take up to 4-8 weeks to be processed and responses around outcomes can take longer.
Do I need to make note of the thematic priority in my application?
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Yes, each year, our overall program streams have a specific Thematic Priority and this needs to be addressed in application.
Do I need to be specific about what the funds will go towards in my application?
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It is best if you can be specific about how the funds would be used / what they will go towards. This helps us in our decision making.
What do I do if my project crosses two of your Program Streams and or Thematic Priorities?
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Choose the one which best suits your project and talk to that. You can / should also make mention of the other stream / priority that relates.
Can I still apply if my project doesn’t neatly fit to one of your Streams and or Thematic Priority?
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Yes, you can, however please note, the Board is most interested in projects and work that meet our streams and priorities. These will take priority and or may mean your project is deemed ineligible.
What do you mean by; ‘There is a priority preference for funding only Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander led organisations and projects?
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We mean that we preference and generally only support organisations & or projects that are entirely or majority Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander run and led. Their governance, staff & or business structures.
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Organisations and or projects where self-determination is central, practiced and core.
Can I reapply if I have been supported by Annamila First Nations Foundation previously?
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Yes, you can.
Can I apply if I have applied previously for another project and been unsuccessful in that application?
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Yes, you can
What do you mean by Convening?
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We mean that our founder, board and staff use our collective strength to bring energy and focus to the challenges and opportunities that we feel strongly about. This will most often take the form of hosting/co-hosting safe spaces for robust and action-driven awareness and collaboration.
What is an example of Convening you have done?
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From time to time, we convene round table discussions on matters relating to our key areas and themes.
What do you mean by Influencing?
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We mean informing and or impacting policy and decision makers in relation to Annamila themes, values, knowledges & ways of working. We see our strength is the ability to be timely & agile if required.
What is an example of how you have Influenced?
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Roundtable discussions with other philanthropic organisations wishing to support First Nations peoples.