The Trustee for Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation

Low

Corporate Foundation|ABN 65879884450|isnfoundation.org.au ACNC Register →

Compare with Snow Compare with PRF Compare with Minderoo Compare with Ian Potter Compare with ECSTRA Open compare surface

Annual Giving

$500K

Grant Range

$10K – $5.0M

Programs

Tips for Applicants

Start conversations with the foundation by sharing your 'moonshot' - the bold, innovative vision for change rather than incremental improvements. The foundation values authentic, high-trust relationships and expects partners to know their own success metrics. They prefer multi-year funding commitments and are comfortable with risk. Visit the Newcastle headquarters at 437 Hunter Street where multiple funded partners are co-located. Focus on vulnerable populations, Indigenous communities, and programs addressing housing as a foundational need for better mental health, employment and social outcomes.

Giving Philosophy

High-trust, partner-led approach where funded partners define their own success metrics rather than conforming to donor-imposed KPIs. The foundation seeks 'moonshot' projects and is willing to take risks on innovative programs. Multi-year funding commitments (2-5 years) are preferred, allowing partners to focus on delivery without constant reapplication. The foundation practices relational philanthropy through site visits and direct engagement, and its board is explicitly willing to 'go where other funders may fear to tread' on novel approaches.

Notable Grants

■$500,000 to From the Heart (Yes Campaign) for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition over 2 years

■$204,000 to NRL Cowboys House for Year 13 Tertiary Pathways Program over 5 years

■$193,500 to FISH (Family Inclusion Strategies in the Hunter) for Peer Workers over 3 years

■$190,740 to Souths Cares for Wellbeing Program over 3 years

■$150,000 to LIVIN for Mental Health Program Delivery

■$130,000 to Bayley House for Arts Hub

■$100,000 to Aussie Heroes Foundation for Camp Courage

■$96,096 to Footpath Library for Service Delivery over 2 years

■$50,000 to Food Ladder for glass house systems over 3 years

■$50,000 to Connecting Country for tree biodiversity over 3 years

■$40,000 to Roundabout Canberra over 3 years

■$20,400 to Hunter Adults Financial Collaborative for Mentoring Program

■$23,000 for Under Cover Film on housing crisis for women over 50

■$20,000 for Murrumbidgee Big Water documentary sizzle reel

ACNC Financial History

Year	Grants Given	Revenue	Total Assets	Net Assets
FY2023	$2.5M	$11.3M	$12.2M	$9.8M
FY2022	$4.0M	$5.3M	$3.6M	$1.2M
2yr total	$6.5M	Source: ACNC Annual Information Statements

Programs & Opportunities (1)

0 open · 1 closed · sorted by deadline · last checked 27 April 2026 (11 days ago)

Environmental Grants Program (EGP)

Grantclosed

This program called for Expressions of Interest from eligible organisations for environmental projects. Grant amounts were between $5,000 and $50,000 per project and could be multi-year (up to three years).

$5K – $50KCloses 31/03/2022

Grants in Database (1)

Environmental Grants Program (EGP)

Grant

$5K – $50KClosedfoundation_program

Focus Areas

Geographic

AU-NSW

Financial Details

Source of Wealth

Inherited retail wealth from the Norman family, specifically Ian and Shirley Norman who built the Norman Ross retail chain followed by Harvey Norman. Karen Norman (daughter) pledged $20 million over 5 years to kickstart the foundation. The family continues to grow the corpus through diversified investments including ASX shares, commercial and residential property, and term deposits.