What would happen if Indigenous businesses could access funding needed to thrive?

The search for the answer predominantly drives the work of Woor-Dungin, one of 12 recipients of Bank Australia's annual Customer Community Grant program.

The First Nations organisation primarily strives to connect Indigenous communities and service providers with philanthropic organisations.

Woor-Dungin CEO Shaun Middlebrook said the $20,000 grant would help it host three on-Country visits and one city gathering, connecting Indigenous businesses with philanthropic organisations for networking, sharing, and learning sessions.

A proud Wiradjuri and Yuin man from New South Wales, Mr Middlebrook said the grant would also help facilitate programs to build capacity and skills of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations in Victoria, including training in areas such as grant writing, acquittals, and project evaluation for funding applications.

In addition to its grant-funded activities, Woor-Dungin helps facilitate a decolonised approach to philanthropic engagement with First Nations peoples, with its recent "Decolonising Wealth, Cultural Audit Toolkit" workshop helping create a more inclusive and equitable philanthropic landscape for First Nations communities.

"The grant will help our organisations share and understand experiences, and also educate on how they can access funds," he said.

"It will also help us provide opportunities for organisations to make personal connections with philanthropy from the ACO sector and start building relationships."

Mr Middlebrook said just 0.5 per cent of philanthropic funding went to First Nations communities.

"So this is a good opportunity to actually create some events within the philanthropic sector … and recognise the reason philanthropy exists in Australia is because it was created on stolen land," he said.

"You know, there's not only a duty here; there's a responsibility for philanthropy to actually create, and as you know, First Nations communities don't want to be reliant on state or philanthropy funding.

"They want to create their own wealth."

Established in 2004 as a training program for Aboriginal organisations, Woor-Dungin has since honed its focus on philanthropy, helping businesses best placed to deliver culturally-appropriate and effective programs and services get funding.

"We cultivate connections between First Nations communities and like-minded philanthropists, bringing them together on Country," Mr Middlebrook said.

"We hope it leads to better access to funding, so that it leads to unique opportunities to experience Indigenous culture."

Rebecca Sloan, a First Nations advocate and founder at Upbeat Health, has benefited from Woor-Dungin's support, which contributed to the organisation's Grandmothers Against Removals project recently.

"Throughout this year when I've needed support, I've been able to reach out and ask if they could come find the time to lend an ear and have a coffee," she said.

Bank Australia head of impact management, Jane Kern, said the impact grants had on organisations like Woor-Dungin was evident and crucial to their work.

"Banking can be used to create a world where people and organisations thrive, and our Customer Community Grants program is one way of doing that," she said.

The Customer Community Grant program launched in 2016 and has since funded almost 150 projects with more $2 million.