The Big Difference

Chobani Australia’s grants program backing community-led projects addressing food insecurity in Victoria

Applicant Pack

The Big Difference

Chobani Australia’s grants program backing community-led projects addressing food insecurity in Victoria

Applicant Pack

Food should be a source of connection, nourishment and dignity — not stress.

The Big Difference backs practical, community-led projects addressing food insecurity in Victoria, supporting work that improves food access and strengthens the systems behind it — from tools and infrastructure to scalable models and long term sustainability.

Key Dates

The Big Difference grants program is currently closed.

Stage 1: The Big Pitch

  • Applications open: Tuesday 14 July 2026 (9:00am AEST)

  • Applications close: Tuesday 25 August 2026 (5:00pm AEST) 

Stage 2: The Shortlist

  • Shortlisted applicants notified: Wednesday 16 September 2026

  • Questionnaire due: Tuesday 6 October 2026

Stage 3: The Interviews

  • Interview period: Early November 2026

The Finale

  • Successful applicants notified: November 2026

Applications for The Big Difference 2026 are now closed.

Want a quick overview of The Big Difference?

Watch our short explainer to see how a simple idea, backed with the right support, can spark powerful change.

Want a quick overview of The Big Difference?

Watch our short explainer to see how a simple idea, backed with the right support, can spark powerful change.

Ready to Apply?

Applications for The Big Difference 2026 are now closed.

Meet our 2025 Recipients

  • Capel Sound Community Hub

    Location: Capel Sound, Mornington Peninsula Shire (VIC)
    Grant: $20,000 — expand the community garden to increase fresh produce supply for the food pantry and community café
    Focus area: Build Capacity
    Impact proof: Supports affordable, nutritious food for 100+ families weekly

    We’re seeing more people in our community needing support as they navigate rising living costs and everyday life pressures. This grant allows us to grow fresh, seasonal produce right here at the Hub for our pantry and cafe, helping make healthy food more accessible. It also creates a space where people can come together, learn new skills and feel a sense of belonging.
    Isobel Parker, Community House Manager

  • Southern Peninsula Community Support

    Location: Rosebud, Mornington Peninsula Shire (VIC)
    Grant: $30,000 — pantry/kitchen upgrade to better meet demand and increase food support capacity
    Focus area: Build Capacity
    Impact proof: Supports 250–280 people per week with food and material

    Demand for food support is rising so quickly, and too often our region is overlooked. This grant is a big vote of confidence — it says Chobani believes in our community, and it gives us the chance to respond to a crisis level of need with solutions that actually last.
    Jeremy Maxwell, CEO

  • Outer East Foodshare

    Location: Wantirna (Knox) + servicing Outer East incl. Yarra Ranges, Knox, Maroondah
    Grant: $30,000 — establish a new food hub in the Yarra Ranges, improving food collection and distribution across the region
    Focus area: Scaling proven models
    Impact proof: Delivered 264 tonnes of food (over 1 million meals) last financial year

    This grant helps us bring forward our plans to open a second hub in the Yarra Ranges. Demand for food relief across the Outer East continues to grow, and expanding our hub model will make it easier for local agencies to access food without travelling long distances. The funding gets us closer to reaching more people with consistent, reliable support.
    John Csorgo, Chair

  • Echuca Neighbourhood House

    Location: Echuca, Campaspe Shire (VIC)
    Grant: $50,000 — install a cool room and freezer; increase storage capacity to triple fresh food output and reduce waste by up to 30%
    Focus area: New Ideas & Programs

    We’re seeing more people in our region needing support — and food insecurity isn’t always visible. This funding gives us the infrastructure we’ve needed for a long time: a cool room and freezer so we can accept and store more fresh food, reduce waste, and respond more reliably when demand spikes. It also helps us launch our community cooking program, bringing schools, clubs and local businesses together to prepare meals for people doing it tough. It’s about more than food — it’s about dignity, connection, and making sure people don’t fall through the cracks.
    Sarah Peake, Manager

Keen to know more?

The Big Difference is a new way Chobani is showing up for communities. Through targeted grants of up to $50,000, we’re helping local organisations address food insecurity in innovative, lasting ways — from building capacity to scaling what already works. This is our way of using food as a force for good.

You’re eligible to apply if:

• You’re a not for profit, social enterprise, or non distributing co operative
• Your project directly addresses food insecurity and will be delivered fully within Victoria
• You have an active ABN and an Australian bank account in the organisation’s name

Download full eligibility guide

Applications for The Big Difference 2026 are now closed.

We’re focused on long-term impact, not short-term food relief.  Your project must align with at least one of the following focus areas:

  • Build Capacity: Strengthening systems, tools, training or ways of working that help your organisation better address food insecurity.
  • New Ideas and Programs: Testing a new idea or approach, piloting new work, or expanding an early-stage initiative that your organisation hasn’t tried before.
  • Scaling Proven Models: Growing or replicating a program that is already working well and demonstrating impact.
  • Organisational Sustainability: Creating sustainable improvements that help your organisation thrive long term.

We actively encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander -led organisations, and programs that address food security in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, to apply.

Applications for The Big Difference 2026 are now closed.

Ready to make a BIG difference?

Ready to make a BIG difference?

Application Guidelines
FAQs
Terms and Conditions

Need more information? Contact us at bigdifference@chobani.com.au