You weren’t expecting that heading from an accounting firm specialising in the Not-for-Profit Sector! Well, what is even more interesting is that through our specialisation, we have the opportunity to work with inspiring organisations that have an enormous impact on the lives of others. The Blackbird Foundation is one such client doing incredible work with young people. By investing in talented young people, they help their mission: “Creativity is at the heart of what it means to be human” endure, progress, and become a movement rather than a slogan.
The organisation is the brainchild of the founders of Blackbird Ventures. A unique company that successfully invests in start-ups, particularly in the technology space in Australia and New Zealand. The synergy is easy to spot. Investing in start-ups as a commercial enterprise is a savvy business model, and using that experience and skill set to charitably invest in the ideas and passion of young people to help them “start up” and ignite their dreams makes complete sense.
These guys keep creativity alive through their charity, which they exclusively fund through the success of the commercial start-ups they support. It is a flywheel, and their charity works the same way. They don’t advertise. The participants come to them and present their ideas through word of mouth from other participants.
It is a community that builds on itself, and creativity can be found anywhere. It may come from STEM platforms to cooking recipes or a project in which a young graduating doctor produces an illustrated children’s anatomy book to help kids understand how their body works. Whatever the idea, the Blackbird Foundation team will take a look. It only needs to fit the storytelling brief to get a fair hearing and, from there, possible funding.
“Creativity isn’t a talent for the few — it’s a skill everyone can grow, and the Blackbird Foundation is here to spark it.”
The mission is simple but effective: They believe young people should dream big, think freely, and explore without constraint. Creativity is curiosity with possibility; unlocking it is the first step toward a more inclusive, exciting future. The Blackbird Foundation uses three pillars: Giving, Backing, and Storytelling, which are combined through direct grant making, indirect grant making, and storytelling.
The Protostars program fuels young dreamers. The Foundation gives $1000 microgrants to young people, 18–25 years old in Australia and New Zealand, to explore their passion projects. Projects are only limited by imagination. Science, art, technology, or culture, so long as it tells a story. To give you an example, some of the projects the foundations have seen come to life include:
Then there are the Believers: The foundation backs organisations with $50K per year for 3-5 projects.
So far, these grants have believed in:
Not bad for an organisation that only started in 2022.
Joel Connelly is the creative director at Blackbird Ventures and heads up the Blackbird Foundation, splitting his time between the two. “My passion for the foundation trickles into my job at Blackbird Ventures. The ideas, energy, and sense of making the world a better place that the young people bring are infectious. It rekindles what community means, which is what our business model was initially built on. Running the foundation is more than a passion, but I’ve never been deeply immersed in the numbers. The team at Accounting For Good fills the gap. Their advice is invaluable, and their knowledge of governance, the regulatory frameworks, and most importantly, the financial strategy they impart, ensures I can keep the balls in the air.”
We feel privileged to work with many amazing Not-for-Profits and Charities all over Australia. While our role is financial and we use our skills to ensure they can continue to keep their mission alive, we firmly believe in what our clients do, making the world a better place for those they support.
At Accounting For Good, we work with NFP organisations with a turnover of $1M or more.
Contact us for a free consultation if your organisation needs expert financial guidance. Let us handle your accounting needs so you can focus on what matters most—serving your community and driving positive change.
The Blackbird Foundation is built on the belief that creativity is a fundamental human skill — one that unlocks potential, builds confidence and empowers young people to explore new ideas.
Through programs like Protostars (microgrants for young individuals) and Believers (grants for groups and organisations), the Foundation funds a wide range of creative and community-focused projects.
From STEM initiatives and digital art to community gardens and inclusive performances, the grants support broad creative expression — proving there’s no single definition of creativity.
By sharing the journeys and achievements of grant recipients, the Foundation inspires others, builds community and highlights the value of creativity across Australia and New Zealand.
For many years, WJN maintained all their accounting processes in-house, but when their finance manager left the organisation in 2019, they realised that they needed a new solution.
For many years, WJN maintained all their accounting processes in-house, but when their finance manager left the organisation in 2019, they realised that they needed a new solution.
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We wrap the right team around your organisation – from bookkeeper to CFO – so you get tailored support that fits your mission.
A back office team of qualified financial professionals dedicated to strengthening your organisation from top to bottom
From financial strategies to reporting and regulatory compliance we supply the function and governance of a expert CFO
A predictable, collaborative finance cycle. A team based approach offering continuity, scalability and support
We work solely with charity and NFP organisations. Expertise and specialisation is why the sector choose us for their financial management
Individuals aged about 18–25 (through its Protostars micro-grant program) for personal creative or passion projects.
Organisations and groups via larger grants (the “Believers” program) for creative, community or social-impact projects.
We work with charities and not for profit organisations. Our specialty as an outsourced partner is with organisations of around $1-10million turnover. If your organisation is seeking professional, customised accounting support and services, we’d love to hear from you. Complete the contact form, and one of the experienced team members will contact you shortly.
If you want to establish a charity or NFP, please read our article “Thinking of starting a charity or NFP.” Accounting For Good cannot assist new entities or start-ups at this time.
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