Australian organisations receive Airbnb Community Fund donations

Airbnb is pleased to share the latest recipients of Airbnb Community Fund donations, which include more than 160 organisations making a difference in 30+ countries across six continents.

Launched in 2020, the Airbnb Community Fund is a $100 million USD initiative to directly support local communities and the people who live there. Each year, Airbnb donates to organisations that are supporting and strengthening communities around the world, including donations made in partnership with local hosts in many of these communities.

Each year, we’re proud to partner with hosts to identify important issues and many of the non-profit organisations to receive donations. Airbnb hosts are deeply connected to their communities and by involving them in this process, we aim for the Fund to drive meaningful local impact. As in previous years, hosts helped direct a majority of the donations.

Airbnb Community Fund Recipients

This year’s Community Fund grants were directed to organisations focused on three issue areas identified by the Airbnb Host Advisory Board as important to the global host community: economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and ending abuse and exploitation.

Organisations receiving donations in Australia include:

• Flourish Australia to enhance its Women and Children’s Program, providing assistance to mothers facing homelessness;
• The Great Barrier Reef Foundation to support their work on conservation education in indigenous communities alongside efforts to improve the resilience of coral reefs and ocean habitats

Globally, members of local Host Clubs, which are led by volunteer hosts, nominated local, community-based non-profit organisations making a difference in their communities and then helped select the finalists. Members of 85 Host Clubs – nearly double from last year – representing more than 30 countries selected organisations to receive donations.

Organisations throughout Australia receiving donations include Women’s Legal Service NSW, Catherine House, Launceston Women’s Shelter Inc (Magnolia Place) and Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc.

Mark Orr AM, Chief Executive Officer, Flourish Australia

“The generous donation from the Airbnb Community Fund will significantly enhance our Women and Children’s Program. This will provide comprehensive support, including mental health and parenting assistance for mothers living with mental health challenges, facing homelessness, and at risk of their children being placed into care. 

“By helping them build the confidence and the skills to maintain a home and keep their families together, this partnership strengthens our mission and brings us closer to achieving our goals.”

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand said, “We are delighted to be able to provide this valuable support to organisations through our Airbnb Community Fund to support their valuable work. 

“When hosts on Airbnb open their doors to travellers from around the world, they welcome their guests into their communities, too. In Australia this means helping organisations that make a difference in our community by helping vulnerable families find a safe haven and assisting them in getting back on their feet.

“Last year we also announced a $1 million AUD donation, as part of the Community Fund, to support HOPE Housing’s mission to help essential workers realise their home ownership dreams.” 

The Airbnb Community Fund in action

To date, the Airbnb Community Fund has distributed more than $36 million USD to non-profit organisations in nearly 70 countries, with hosts providing input each year. 

In Australia last year, Airbnb donated to The Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Take 3 for the Sea, Rotary Adelaide, WISE Employment and Asylum Seeker Resource Centre  helping support the efforts of a diverse range of organisations to make a difference in their community.

Through these initiatives, Airbnb continues to invest in the communities where we operate, empowering our hosts and supporting causes that matter most to them. We look forward to continuing this work in the years to come.

To learn more about the Airbnb Community Fund and this year’s recipients, please visit the Airbnb Community Fund website.

This year’s Airbnb Community Fund donations were distributed from July 2024 through early 2025. Airbnb works with partners to support due diligence and facilitate payment to many of the recipient organisations.