Cowboys Community Foundation

What Cowboys Community Foundation does

Cowboys Community Foundation is the registered trading name of Cowboys Charity Limited, an Australian nonprofit charity established in 2015 as the official charity arm of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NRL rugby league franchise. The Foundation delivers a portfolio of community programs serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students from remote North Queensland communities and disadvantaged individuals across the region. Its flagship is NRL Cowboys House, a culturally sensitive boarding facility in Townsville with separate Boys (opened 2017) and Girls (opened 2019) campuses, complemented by the Try for 5! school attendance program partnering with 18 schools across 9 Northern Queensland communities and the Dream, Believe, Achieve vocational training initiative delivered with TAFE Queensland and Allara Learning.

Name

Cowboys Community Foundation

Legal name

Cowboys Charity Limited

Website

https://cowboysfoundation.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cowboys Community Foundation is an Australian nonprofit charity delivering boarding, education, and employment programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and disadvantaged North Queenslanders, funded through donations, corporate partnerships, and game-day fundraising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Education and Community Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Indigenous student boarding
• Community charity fundraising
• Youth education programs
• Vocational training services
• School attendance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Railway Estate, Queensland

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting community programs. Includes regular giving, single gifts, and major donor contributions.
2. Corporate Grants and Partnerships: Multi-year grant partnerships with organizations like Macquarie Sports for NRL Cowboys House Career Transitions Program, and presenting partnerships with companies like Bravus Australia for Girls Campus.
3. Raffle Sales: 50-50 Charity Raffle at Cowboys home games where ticket buyers have chance to win cash prize while Foundation receives 50% of sales. Also YETI charity raffles hosted by partners.
4. Container Recycling Program: Containers for Change program where community recycles eligible containers and proceeds support Foundation programs. Member number C10158306.
5. Merchandise Sales: Sale of NRL Cowboys House polo shirts and merchandise with proceeds supporting life-changing programs. Polos sold at $59 each.
6. Bequests and Legacy Gifts: Gifts in Wills allowing donors to leave tax-deductible bequests to support Foundation programs in perpetuity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cowboys Community Foundation is the registered charity arm of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys NRL team. It operates NRL Cowboys House, a culturally sensitive boarding facility in Townsville for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students from remote North Queensland communities, alongside Try for 5! (school attendance program) and Dream, Believe, Achieve (accredited vocational training and employment pathways). The Foundation funds these programs through tax-deductible donations, corporate partnerships, government grants, raffles, container recycling, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

The Cowboys Community Foundation operates as a unified platform of community programs and fundraising initiatives, all unified under the NRL Cowboys House as the flagship initiative. The core offering includes NRL Cowboys House (a culturally sensitive boarding facility for Indigenous secondary students), Try for 5! (school attendance program), and Dream, Believe, Achieve (vocational training and employment program). Supporting these are community engagement programs including Adopt-a-School, Community Corner, Cowboys for Community, Cowboys in Capes, Field of Dreams, Obe Geia Challenge, and Try Time!. Fundraising is facilitated through 50-50 Charity Raffle, Containers for Change, YETI Charity Raffles, DreamPlace bed donations, Pave Your Legacy pavers, Show Your Colours Day, and merchandise sales including the annual Indigenous-designed NRL Cowboys House polo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NRL Cowboys House Best-practice, culturally sensitive boarding facility in Townsville for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander secondary students (Year 7–12, ages 12–18) from remote communities across North and Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands, providing a safe home away from home, wraparound education, wellbeing, cultural connection, career transitions, and Year 13 graduate support.
• Dream, Believe, Achieve Training and employment program providing accredited vocational training (Hospitality and Engineering pathways), personalised mentoring, and work placements with local employers to help disadvantaged North Queenslanders build skills, gain confidence, and move into meaningful employment. Delivered with training partners Allara Learning and TAFE Queensland and presented by Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
• Try for 5! School attendance program partnering with 18 schools across nine Northern Queensland communities (Mount Isa, Normanton, Doomadgee, Weipa, Mapoon, Cooktown, Cairns, Palm Island, Townsville) to improve student attendance through structured challenges, Cowboys ambassador visits, attendance tracking, and incentive campaigns such as Earn Your Paint.
• 50-50 Charity Raffle Game day raffle operated at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on North Queensland Toyota Cowboys home game days, where 50% of ticket sales go to a cash winner and 50% supports Cowboys Community Foundation programs. Tickets sold at the stadium and online in the lead-up to home games.
• DreamPlace (Bed Donation Program) Bed donor subscription program allowing individuals and organisations to support a student's place at NRL Cowboys House for one school year. 1 Bed Donor: $1,500 annually or $125/month; 2 Bed Donor: $3,000 annually or $250/month. Includes an inspirational quote plaque on the bedroom door, listing in the annual Yearbook, and a student-led House tour.
• Containers for Change Container recycling fundraising initiative where supporters donate their eligible 10-cent container refunds (aluminum, glass, plastic, steel, and liquid paperboard containers between 150ml and 3L) through Queensland and Western Australia Containers for Change programs, with proceeds supporting Foundation programs. Foundation member number C10158306.
• YETI Charity Raffles Self-contained raffle programs where organisations and community groups can host Cowboys YETI prize pack raffles to raise funds for Cowboys Community Foundation programs.
• Pave Your Legacy (Captains Walk) Legacy recognition program where donors receive an acknowledgement paver installed at the Captains Walk in the southern precinct of Queensland Country Bank Stadium, with custom engraving (maximum 3 lines, 16 characters per line) and the Cowboys logo. Paver price $1,500.
• NRL Cowboys House Polo Annual Indigenous-designed polo shirt sold to raise funds for Cowboys Community Foundation, with proceeds supporting life-changing programs. 2024 design 'Nhinhinhi Gurra Bamawi Guugu' by Bradley Michael. Sold at $59 each.
• Show Your Colours Day Annual fundraising day encouraging schools, workplaces, and individuals to wear their favourite team jersey or colours for a gold coin donation to support Foundation life-changing programs.
• Adopt-a-School Flagship community program connecting Townsville and District schools with their adopted North Queensland Toyota Cowboys players, building relationships between players and school communities.
• Cowboys for Community Program that provides support and resources to community organisations and groups across North Queensland through player appearances and donations.
• Dream, Believe, Achieve Award Entry Crowboys Community Foundation's Dream, Believe, Achieve program was awarded Community Training Initiative of the Year at the 2026 Queensland Training Awards, recognising its success in helping disadvantaged North Queenslanders build skills, gain confidence and move into meaningful employment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 101 graduates since 2017 with 100% of students who remained through to Year 12 graduating
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Chubb Fire & SecuritysupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Friend of the Foundation expanding from Bed Donor since 2024. Supports annual NRL Cowboys House Career Day and provides exposure to apprenticeships in fire and security industries. Regional ES Manager based in Townsville enabling connection with communities students come from.
• Bravus AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 May 2026Presenting Partner of Girls Campus at NRL Cowboys House. Long-standing partner since 2019, initially supporting Try for 5! and Adopt-a-School programs. Committed to creating opportunities and pathways for regional Queenslanders, connecting students with careers in mining, rail and port sectors through their Carmichael mine, North Queensland Export Terminal, and Bowen Rail Company operations. Invested over $700,000 in local community grants since 2019.
• Dulux AustraliasupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 July 2025Friend of the Foundation partnership including donation of 1,000 litres of paint to support community initiatives. Proudly supported Earn Your Paint campaign for Try for 5! schools, rewarding attendance targets with painted feature walls. Paint donation also enhances other Foundation programs including NRL Cowboys House.
• Downer GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2022Naming partner of NRL Cowboys House Boys Campus, building on existing relationship through Waanyi Downer Joint Venture. Supports meaningful employment pathways for students transitioning into sustainable careers. Indigenous design mural installed at Boys Campus entrance. Provides work experience opportunities including positions at Defence Base.
• Maurice Blackburn LawyerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProud presenter of Dream, Believe, Achieve program. Long-standing support for the training and employment initiative helping disadvantaged North Queenslanders.
• Allara LearningsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited training partner for Dream, Believe, Achieve program delivering vocational training alongside TAFE Queensland.
• TAFE QueenslandsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccredited training partner for Dream, Believe, Achieve program delivering vocational training alongside Allara Learning.
• 50-50 FoundationsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLicensed and operated 50-50 Charity Raffle platform for Cowboys home games. Australian charity and sports fundraising platform, ACNC registered charity.
• National Rugby League (NRL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative partner in NRL Cowboys House alongside Queensland Government, Australian Government, and North Queensland Cowboys.
• Variety - the Children's Charity of QueenslandsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting children's charity initiatives in Queensland.
• Green Energy TechnologiessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProudly presenting partner of the 50-50 Charity Raffle program at Cowboys home games.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Melbourne Storm Foundation: NRL club community foundation with comparable structure delivering education, inclusion, and Indigenous engagement programs funded through corporate partnerships, donations, and game-day fundraising.
• Stars Foundation: Australian nonprofit focused on supporting Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to stay in school, comparable in mission, residential support model, and youth education outcomes focus.
• Clontarf Foundation: National nonprofit operating academies within schools to improve education, employment, and life outcomes for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, with comparable beneficiary focus and education-to-employment pathways.
• Brisbane Broncos Community Foundation: Charity arm of another NRL Queensland club (Brisbane Broncos), operating as a sports-affiliated community foundation focused on youth, education, and Indigenous programs with similar donation, partnership, and game-day fundraising models.
• Sydney Roosters Community Foundation: NRL club-affiliated charitable foundation delivering youth education and community programs with similar donor and corporate partnership revenue streams.
• Penrith Panthers Community Foundation: Community foundation linked to the Penrith Panthers NRL club operating education, Indigenous, and youth programs funded through corporate partnerships, government grants, and donations.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Sports Foundation: National sports fundraising infrastructure that enables sports-related charities to raise tax-deductible funds, comparable as a fundraising platform and intermediary for sports-affiliated causes.
• Variety Australia: Established children's charity operating in Queensland and nationally with broader remit, comparable as a donor-funded charity partner and youth support organization.

Others

• Reconciliation Australia: National organization promoting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians, adjacent in mission and Indigenous-focused community outcomes.

Emerging players

• Australian Indigenous Education Foundation: Charity supporting Indigenous students through secondary and tertiary education scholarships, with overlapping beneficiary population and education completion outcomes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cowboys.community.foundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cowboys-community-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cowboys Community Foundation