For the past decade, a remarkable grassroots movement has been quietly transforming Newcastle through small acts of generosity that collectively amount to a significant impact. Awesome Newcastle, a local chapter of the global Awesome Foundation, has reached an impressive milestone: distributing $100,000 in community grants since its establishment in 2015.
A Decade of Diverse Community Support
The organization's impact spans across virtually every aspect of community life in the Newcastle region. Since 2015, we've funded not-for-profits, for-profits, tourism initiatives, street art, bike DJs, card games, dog days, surf mornings, podcasts, theatre productions, books, art exhibitions, gardens, public artworks, fishing lures, social programs, cooking programs, healing programs, entrepreneurship programs, swimming programs, aged care programs, community events and men's sheds, reveals Andy Howard, one of the original Awesome Newcastle board members.
Every project that receives funding must share a common goal: advancing the culture or wellbeing of the Newcastle community. This simple yet powerful criterion has allowed the organization to support an incredibly diverse range of initiatives over the years.
How the No-Strings-Attached Funding Works
The model operates with beautiful simplicity. Each month, ten Awesome Newcastle board members contribute $100 from their own pockets to create a $1000 micro-grant. They gather to hear three community members pitch their ideas, with each presenter given exactly three minutes to make their case.
The board then debates and discusses the proposals before selecting one winner who takes home the entire $1000 in cash, completely free of obligations or reporting requirements. This no-strings-attached approach sets the foundation apart from traditional grant systems.
Lois Donaldson, who jokingly refers to herself as an original gangster board member, has been involved since the beginning. She expresses her enthusiasm for the unexpected nature of their work. You never know what you're going to get. Every time we meet, there's some part of Newcastle or something about the people you never knew about. There's always something new, Donaldson shares.
The People Behind the Passion
Board member Adrienne Donnelly finds particular satisfaction in supporting emerging businesses through the Awesome Newcastle platform, drawing from her own experience as a local business owner. Meanwhile, Emma Levine, another long-standing member, emphasizes the genuine nature of their mission.
People think there must be a catch, but there's not, and that's what makes it so good. We just get to give money away to great ideas, Levine explains. There's technically only one winner each month, but it's so inspiring listening to all three finalists pitch their amazing ideas.
The organization has developed traditions over the years, including a special annual event each November where three standout finalists from previous months return for a second chance at funding. This culminating event opens its doors to the entire Newcastle community, transforming the grant process into a public celebration of local innovation.
Recent Success Stories and Future Impact
The most recent final event took place on Wednesday, November 9, 2025, at the Young Street Hotel. Three returning finalists competed for the $1000 prize: Larissa Elliott with her Under the Same Sun initiative, Chris Jones representing the nonprofit LiveFree Project, and Valerie Watson's Arts in Recovery at The Creator Incubator.
Ultimately, Elliot secured the grant by a single vote for her project supporting families navigating mobile work arrangements. She plans to use the funding to develop an online connection group where mothers dealing with the challenges of mobile work can come together and support each other.
The event also featured previous winner Karen Livesey, who now serves as a timekeeper for pitches. Her ghost fungus tours in Glenrock Reserve, scheduled for 2026, became possible through her Awesome Newcastle grant. It's given me a lot of confidence that my idea is not rubbish, Livesey acknowledges. I'm signed up for a meeting with NSW National Parks next week to get our agreement under way.
As Awesome Newcastle looks toward its next decade of community support, the organization continues to welcome new board members and grant applications. Their proven model demonstrates how small investments in big ideas can collectively create substantial community transformation, one $1000 grant at a time.
