To celebrate 25 years of the MyState Foundation, we’re putting the choice in your hands. Nominate and vote for a youth‑focused charity, and they could receive a one-off $25,000 grant to help young Tasmanians reach their full potential.
Think of a local group helping young Tasmanians reach their full potential - whether it’s creating safe spaces, opening up opportunities, or building skills. Your nomination and vote could help kick‑start new projects, reach more young people, or even shape an organisation’s future.
You see the impact they make every day. Now’s your chance to give back and help grow their reach across our community.
Guidelines
How to get involved
Nominate your chosen not‑for‑profit organisation supporting young Tasmanians through programs such as learning, wellbeing, community connection, development and more. To be eligible, organisations must:
Nominate and vote
Nomination form
Important dates
Nominations open:
From 28 May to 11 June 2026
Shortlisted organisations open to community voting:
From 22 June to 29 June 2026
Successful grant recipient announced:
1 July 2026
FAQs
General questions
What is the Community Choice Award?
The Community Choice Award is a special, one-off $25,000 grant to celebrate the MyState Foundation’s 25-year anniversary.
Who can take part?
Anyone in the community can nominate and vote.
Who is the award for?
This award is designed to uplift a Tasmanian not-for-profit organisation or charity that supports our young people. To be eligible, the organisation needs to have:
- Not-for-profit or charity status
- Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status
- A valid ABN
- Programs that directly support young Tasmanians
Eligibility questions
Which organisations can I nominate?
You can nominate any wonderful organisation that operates in Tasmania and delivers programs for young people, provided they are a registered not-for-profit or charity with DGR status and an ABN.
What kinds of activities count as "supporting young people"?
We know support comes in many beautiful forms. This might include programs focused on education, mental health and wellbeing, confidence and resilience, disability support, financial literacy, or community connection.
Can I nominate a sports club, school, or informal community group?
You can certainly nominate them, but only if they meet all the strict eligibility criteria, including having DGR status and an ABN.
What is DGR status?
DGR status means the organisation is officially recognised by the ATO to receive tax-deductible donations. It’s a requirement for this award. You can easily check an organisation's DGR status on the ATO or ACNC websites.
Can I nominate an organisation I work or volunteer for?
Yes, absolutely! We encourage you to advocate for the causes you care about deeply.
Do I need to tell the organisation I’m nominating them?
No. You can nominate them privately, and we will reach out directly to the shortlisted organisations.
What age bracket classifies as 'youth'?
0 to 25 years old.
Nomination questions
How many organisations can I nominate?
You can nominate as many different eligible organisations as you like.
Can I nominate the same organisation more than once?
An organisation only needs to be nominated once to be considered for the shortlist, so there is no need to submit multiple nominations for the same group.
What information do I need to provide?
We like to keep things simple. You’ll just need to share:
- Your name and email
- The organisation’s name and website (if known)
- A brief explanation of why you think they deserve the award and how the funds would help young Tasmanians
Will I hear back after I nominate?
You’ll receive a quick confirmation message on the website so you know we have received. After that, we will only contact the shortlisted organisations.
Voting questions
How does voting work?
Once nominations close, our team carefully verifies each organisation against this eligibility. We will feature the shortlisted organisations on our website, complete with a photo and a short story about how they plan to use the grant. You can then read their stories and cast your vote for the one you believe will make the most meaningful difference. You will use your name and email address to submit and verify your vote.
Can I vote more than once?
To keep the process completely fair for everyone, you may only vote once. We will remove any duplicate votes.
Can organisations encourage people to vote for them?
Yes, they absolutely can! We encourage them to share the voting link and rally their community for support.
Do I have to live in Tasmania to vote?
No, anyone is welcome to vote. However, the award itself is strictly focused on Tasmanian organisations supporting Tasmanian youth.
Process and outcome questions
How is the shortlist chosen?
Our team reviews every single nomination to confirm they meet the Foundation’s grant criteria (DGR, ABN, not-for-profit status, and a genuine youth focus).
How is the winner chosen?
The organisation that receives the highest number of valid, verified public votes will win the grant.
What happens if there is a tie?
If two amazing organisations receive the exact same number of valid votes, the MyState Foundation Chair will step in to make the final decision.
When will the winner be announced?
We will announce the winner after voting closes and all votes are carefully verified. We will share the wonderful news directly with the winning organisation and nominator, on our website, through our social channels, and in the media.
What can the winning organisation use the $25,000 for?
The funding must be used to support youth-focused work in Tasmania within one year. This could mean expanding an existing program, launching a new initiative, purchasing much-needed equipment, or delivering vital services.
Do they have to report back?
Yes. To ensure the funds create the intended positive impact, the winning organisation must provide a satisfactory project acquittal report no later than 30 June 2027.
Additional questions?
If you have any trouble nominating, voting, or just have a question about the award please reach out to the MyState Foundation team at foundation@mystate.com.au.
