Catalysing Impact

QBE Foundation Catalytic Funding & Support for Impact Enterprises

Following a successful inaugural year in 2025 that helped unlock AU$3.77 million in capital for participating enterprises, Catalysing Impact is back in 2026.

Applications for the next cohort are now open.

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What is Catalysing Impact?

Catalysing Impact is a QBE Foundation–funded initiative delivered by Social Impact Hub that supports impact enterprises and purpose-driven businesses working on solutions that advance climate resilience or inclusion.

The program combines:

  • Catalytic grant funding that helps unlock additional investment, and

  • Tailored capability-building support that strengthens strategy, financial resilience and investment readiness.

In 2025, QBE Foundation’s AU$1 million in grants supported a total capital stack of AU$3.77 million for funded enterprises.

The 2026 program builds on this proven model to help more enterprises scale their impact.

We’re looking for

A vision for a resilient and inclusive future

We’re seeking enterprises that are helping to address climate or inclusion issues – from community preparedness and emissions reduction to financial inclusion and equitable access to services.

A track record of innovation and ambition

Innovation can drive impact. We’re interested in enterprises with thoughtful, scalable solutions and a clear pathway for growth – whether you’re an early-stage venture or an established organisation ready to expand.

Investment readiness (or a clear path to it)

Catalysing Impact is designed for enterprises that:

  • Operate a social enterprise

  • Plan to raise capital between March and August 2026

  • Are actively engaging – or ready to engage – with investors and debt-funders

Please note that this program is not designed for charities seeking philanthropic funding or donations. Charities may apply, however all participating enterprises must be seeking investment or repayable debt to support a social enterprise operation with a focus on climate resilience and inclusion.

What Catalysing Impact offers

Access to catalytic funding

Unlock catalytic grant funding designed to make it easier for you to access investment and finance.

  • Catalytic grants – A pool of up to AU$1,000,000 in catalytic funding is available for selected enterprises, typically through grants of AU$150,000–AU$400,000 linked to external commitments you have secured.

  • Participation grants – Selected organisations receive AU$10,000 participation grants to support their involvement in the program.

Rather than simply “matching” funds, these grants are designed to be catalytic – helping you unlock additional investment and build a larger, more sustainable capital stack.

Tailored advisory & investment readiness support

Strengthen your organisation with bespoke support from Social Impact Hub’s Professional Impact Network.

You’ll receive:

  • An investment readiness diagnostic to identify strengths, gaps and priorities.

  • Tailored advisory and mentoring from Social Impact Hub’s professional network on:

    • Strategy and business model

    • Financial modelling and forecasting

    • Impact measurement and storytelling

    • Fundraising and investor engagement

    • Governance, risk and operations

In the first year of Catalysing Impact, enterprises overwhelming reported clearer business planning, stronger financial foundations and more confidence when engaging funders – with advisory and mentoring consistently identified as some of the most valuable elements of the program.

Engagement with QBE employees

Connect with QBE employees through:

  • Skilled volunteering projects

  • A one-day design-thinking hackathon

  • A live crowdfunding showcase event

QBE employees work alongside your team on real organisational challenges – from marketing and storytelling to financial analysis, risk and growth strategy – bringing fresh perspectives, practical solutions and new relationships.

In 2025, enterprises described these engagements as energising, practical and high-value, and QBE employees reported the experience as both professionally valuable and deeply meaningful.

The 2026 program will continue to broaden access to these opportunities across the cohort.

A holistic, two-stage journey

Catalysing Impact uses a structured, two-stage approach:

Stage 1 – Capability & Connections

Selected enterprises join a cohort and receive:

  • AU$10,000 participation grant

  • Investment readiness diagnostic

  • Tailored advisory & mentoring

  • Opportunities for skilled volunteering and hackathon participation

  • Peer learning and cohort-based sessions

  • A letter of support designed to make it easier to secure investment and finance

  • Guidance on funding strategy and, where appropriate, curated introductions to aligned funders

Stage 2 – Catalytic Funding & Showcase

Enterprises that demonstrate strong progress and fundraising traction can apply for Stage 2 support, which may include:

  • Catalytic grants (typically AU$150,000–AU$400,000) to build on external funding you have secured

  • The opportunity to pitch at a live employee crowdfunding event, delivered in partnership with The Funding Network and QBE Foundation

Who can apply?

Target enterprises

Catalysing Impact is open to social enterprises that are:

  • Australian-incorporated

  • At any stage – startup, early-stage or established

  • Working on solutions that address climate resilience and/or inclusion

  • Able to demonstrate readiness for growth and an appetite for capability-building

  • Seeking an investment or repayable finance.

    Please note that this program is not designed for charities seeking philanthropic funding or donations. Charities may apply, however all participating enterprises must be seeking investment or repayable debt to support a social enterprise operation.

Impact focus

We welcome enterprises across different sectors, provided your work aligns with QBE Foundation’s focus areas of climate resilience and inclusion.

Examples include (but are not limited to):

  • Climate resilience, disaster preparedness and recovery

  • Transition and net-zero solutions

  • Financial inclusion and economic participation

  • First Nations, LGBTIQ+, gender equality and other equity-focused initiatives

  • Vulnerable communities and economic safety

There is no cost to apply or for selected enterprises to participate.

Program structure & timing

Each cohort typically includes up to ten enterprises.

While exact dates may vary by year, the structure is:

Application Deadline: 30 January 2026

Stage 1

  • Diagnostic, advisory, mentoring, peer learning and support from QBE staff

  • AU$10,000 participation grant

  • Participants actively find and secure commitments for investment and finance

Stage 2

  • Participants are allocated grant funding (typically $150,000-$400,000)

  • Live showcase and crowdfunding event

Details, key dates and information sessions for the next cohort will be published on this page and via the Social Impact Hub newsletter.

FAQs

  • Yes. In fact, existing funding or investor interest can be an advantage, as it demonstrates traction and helps show how catalytic grants would leverage additional capital rather than replace it.

  • No specific sectors are prioritised, but all enterprises must clearly align with the program’s climate resilience and/or inclusion focus.

  • Tailored advisory involves working with highly skilled professionals from Social Impact Hub’s Professional Impact Network on the areas where support can have the greatest impact – typically informed by the investment readiness diagnostic.

    This may include:

    • Strategy and business model

    • Financial modelling and forecasting

    • Impact measurement and reporting

    • Fundraising and investor engagement

    • Governance, risk and operational improvement

  • Strong applications will:

    • Clearly align with climate resilience and/or inclusion

    • Articulate a credible theory of change and impact model

    • Demonstrate traction and a realistic plan for growth

    • Show readiness to raise additional funding and use grants as leverage

    • Convey enthusiasm for engaging in diagnostics, advisory, mentoring and QBE engagement opportunities

  • Catalysing Impact is for enterprises Australia-wide. While some activities may be in person, Catalysing Impact is designed to be accessible to enterprises across Australia, with many components delivered online.

  • No. There is no fee for selected enterprises to participate in Catalysing Impact.

  • If you have any additional questions that are not answered here please get in touch with us via the form on our contact page.

Ready to apply?

Leverage catalytic funding, tailored capability-building and deep corporate engagement to strengthen your enterprise’s future.

APPLY NOW

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