The Snow family supports two major philanthropies; The Snow Foundation (snowfoundation.org.au), founded in 1991 and Snow Medical (snowmedical.org.au), the family’s more recent initiative to support Australian biomedical research through the Snow Medical Fellowship.
The Snow Foundation was founded in Canberra by brothers Terry and George Snow in 1991 to make a difference to people’s lives. Terry and Georgie had a pretty straightforward view – if you see someone struggling, you give them a helping hand. The Snow family’s commitment to helping individuals doing it tough began with supporting well-known community groups like Barnardos Australia, The Smith Family, the St Vincent de Paul Society, and St John’s Care. Initially, Terry and Ginette, together with some local business people, provided the community donations. In 2006, a new era began with Georgina Byron becoming CEO, and her siblings, Scarlett, Tom and Stephen, and their partners, joining Ginette and Terry on the board. As the Foundation grew, it deepened its commitment to the local Canberra region while also backing dynamic start-up and social entrepreneurs with bold national agendas.
From 2010, the Foundation expanded its commitment to social justice and backed some major social change projects, including marriage equality; the Raise the Rate campaign to reduce poverty and inequality in Australia; and major health initiatives that aim to eliminate rheumatic heart disease and crusted scabies in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The Foundation embraces a breadth of causes and programs, from grassroots entrepreneurial initiatives, to established for-purpose organisations, and stand-out individuals working towards social change, as well as catalysing community infrastructure in Canberra.
Underpinned by the values of humility, social justice, commitment, collaboration, empathy and transparency, the organisation’s strategic approach for giving comes under four pillars: Our Place (Canberra and key regions), Our Country (social entrepreneurs and key social justice issues), Our Sector (growing capacity of for-purpose organisations and philanthropy) and Our Family.
The Snow Foundation is committed to long-term and engaged partnerships with a focus on minority, vulnerable and neglected groups. ‘We address gaps and tackle some of the underlying causes that lead to inequality by raising awareness, meeting basic needs and contributing to systemic change,’ Georgina says. The Snow Foundation also assists organisations at the early stages of development. One of The Snow Foundation’s recent initiatives has been the Snow Entrepreneurs – fellowships for social change, honouring the entrepreneurial spirit of Terry Snow and formalising their long-term support to entrepreneurs. These fellowships back inspiring early-stage entrepreneurial leaders and teams whose innovative ideas address social problems.
The Foundation has become one of the largest philanthropic organisations in Australia, funding more than 470 organisations and 620 individuals. With an annual giving for 2022–2023 of $8 million, its total giving since inception is $80 million.
Read more about the Foundation here
