Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies

What Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies does

The Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies (JFNT) is a not-for-profit charitable foundation incorporated in Victoria, Australia in May 2010, formed following the sale of the Southern School of Natural Therapies (SSNT). Operating from Melbourne with 8 employees and a specialist board of directors, JFNT funds naturopathy research, postgraduate scholarships, fellowships, and clinical trials through grants awarded to leading Australian academic institutions — most notably a 15-year, $6 million commitment to NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University, alongside partnerships with ARCCIM (UTS), RMIT, Southern Cross University, and Griffith University.

The foundation's core offerings are research grants and postgraduate scholarships (PhD and Masters) in naturopathy and complementary medicine, a named conference centre at NICM's Westmead campus, postdoctoral fellowships, and a research mentorship program for early-career naturopaths. It does not develop proprietary technology; its "platform" is the funding and convening infrastructure that connects practitioners, researchers, and community health organisations. The foundation has supported over 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and 105+ academic publications through its funded research cohorts.

Commercially, JFNT is a donor- and investment-funded entity rather than a revenue-generating business. Its income historically came from rental revenue and investment returns generated from the proceeds of the SSNT sale held in its retained building; with the recent divestiture of that building, the foundation has shifted to active fundraising (one-off, monthly, in memoriam, and bequest donations) and is in a strategic repositioning phase. Target beneficiaries are naturopaths, researchers, healthcare practitioners, and community health organisations serving vulnerable populations across Australia.

Name

Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies

Legal name

Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies Ltd

Website

https://jackafoundation.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies is a Melbourne-based not-for-profit charitable foundation, formed in 2010, that funds naturopathy research, postgraduate scholarships, and clinical trials through grants to Australian universities and community health organisations, anchored by a 15-year $6 million commitment to NICM Health Research Institute.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Research Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAKAL

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAI

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

SECONDARYBPAGAKAK

Education Grantmaking Foundations

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Philanthropy, Foundations & Grantmaking

Keywords

• Naturopathy research funding
• Natural therapy grants
• Complementary medicine research
• Naturopathic scholarships
• Philanthropic foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: JFNT operates as a not-for-profit charitable organization that raises funds through donations from individuals, organizations, and supporters of natural therapies. The foundation actively fundraises to support its grant-making activities and research funding commitments.
2. Investment Returns: Following the sale of the Southern School of Natural Therapies in 2010, the foundation previously generated income through rental revenue from retained premises and investment of sale funds. With the recent sale of the building, the foundation has entered a new chapter and is actively fundraising.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies (JFNT) is a not-for-profit charitable foundation that funds research, scholarships, and fellowships in naturopathy and related natural therapy modalities. Established in 2010 following the sale of the Southern School of Natural Therapies, it awards grants to Australian universities and research institutes, supports postgraduate scholarships, and underwrites research mentorship and fellowship programs.

Product overview

The Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies operates as a unified grant-making and scholarship program, not a technology product company. The foundation's offerings consist of research funding and grants for naturopathy and natural therapy projects, postgraduate scholarships for natural therapists at partner universities (RMIT, NICM/WSU, Southern Cross University), the Jacka Foundation Conference Centre facility at NICM's Westmead campus, and research mentorship and fellowship programs conducted in partnership with ARCCIM and NICM. All offerings center on building research capacity and academic leadership in the natural therapy profession.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Funding and Grants Program A grant-making program that awards funding to support research in naturopathy and related natural therapy modalities, including clinical trials, academic research projects, and professional development initiatives at Australian universities and research institutes.
• Postgraduate Scholarship Program Offers scholarships to natural therapists for postgraduate studies including PhD and Masters programs at partner institutions such as RMIT University, NICM Health Research Institute, and Southern Cross University.
• Jacka Foundation Conference Centre A conference facility located within the NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University's Westmead campus, named in recognition of the foundation's contributions to natural therapy education and research.
• ARCCIM Research Mentorship Program Partnership with the Australian Research Centre for Complementary and Integrative Medicine to establish a mentoring scheme for promising naturopathy researchers, providing guidance for early-career researchers to produce academic publications.
• Jacka Foundation Senior Research Fellow Position A funded senior research fellowship position at NICM Health Research Institute, supporting academic leadership in natural therapy research.
• Jacka Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship A postdoctoral fellowship established through the foundation's funding to NICM Health Research Institute for naturopaths with research capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 105 academic publications produced by ARCCIM research fellows supported by JFNT funding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• University of MelbourneminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 September 2025Jacka Foundation sponsored inaugural Integrative Health Research Symposium held at University of Melbourne on 10 September 2025, bringing together researchers, educators, clinicians and community members.
• Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Active collaboration including board member participation in NHAA Naturopathic Symposium. Board member Dr Liza Oates awarded NHAA Fellow honor in 2025. Jacka Foundation board actively presents and connects at NHAA events.
• National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine (Southern Cross University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership supporting clinical trials and groundbreaking research into natural therapies. JFNT board members visited Clinical Trials Centre to observe research capabilities.
• Leichhardt Women's Health CentreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024$15,000 grant (2024-2027: $5,000 per annum) to fund dispensary offering herbal teas, supplements, and natural products for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Southwestern Sydney.
• Jarlmadangah Burru Aboriginal Community and Griffith UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024$40,000 grant (2021) to develop indigenous sourced over-the-counter pain medication based on traditional Aboriginal herbal remedy. Work continued with $200,000 grant (2024) for non-animal model for pain research.
• GoodWolf PartnersminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Engaged strategic planning consultancy for two-day training with JFNT board members on strategic alignment and building trust-based partnerships.
• Southern Cross University (National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Collaboration to assess efficacy of patented herbal bladder formula for cystitis in double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial ($100,000). Also hosts Jacka Foundation PhD scholarship recipient Alison Maunder.
• Siepel GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2023Collaborating with Southern Cross University and the Siepel Group to assess efficacy of patented herbal formula for cystitis in clinical trial.
• Foundation House (Victorian Foundation of Survivors of Torture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020$45,000 grant (2020) to formally evaluate Complementary Therapies program providing herbal medicine, nutritional medicine, massage, shiatsu and yoga to trauma survivors from refugee backgrounds. Continued support in 2024-2025.
• Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Supported establishment of voluntary registration system for naturopaths and herbalists with $10,000 grant (2011). ARONAH preparing submission for statutory registration with federal government.
• NICM Health Research Institute (Western Sydney University)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2019Major 15-year funding partnership ($6 million/$400,000 per year) supporting research in complementary and integrative medicine. Established Jacka Foundation Conference Centre and Jacka Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and PhD Scholarship at NICM. Commenced July 2019.
• Australian Naturopathic CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2019JFNT supports Australian Naturopathic Council formed as peak body representing key naturopathic organisations in Australia. ANC functions as coordinating body on registration, education standards and private health insurance rebates.
• National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2018JFNT Board members visited NIIM in Melbourne meeting with Founding Director Professor Avni Sali. NIIM conducts research into complementary and integrative medicine including gut health, electromagnetic wave therapy, and vitamin C studies.
• ARCCIM (Australian Research Centre for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, UTS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership to establish mentoring scheme for promising naturopathy researchers. Funding of $50,000/year (2017-2021) for research on natural therapy professions. Supported international Naturopathy Research and Leadership program with 11 naturopath fellows.
• RMIT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partnership providing 50:50 funding for three inaugural scholarship recipients (Nicole Bijlsma PhD, Lauren Burns PhD, Joy Hussein PhD) enrolled in School of Health Sciences. Joint scholarship arrangement for environmental medicine and lifestyle research.
• World Naturopathic FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Affiliated with World Naturopathic Federation established in Paris, France in 2015. WNF promotes and advances the naturopathic profession globally and supports regulation, high educational standards, research, and conferences.
• National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2011Initial $2 million grant (2011) for research in complementary medicine over four years. Supported academic leadership and promoted research into natural therapies at Western Sydney University.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Blackmores Foundation: The philanthropic arm of Blackmores, one of Australia's largest complementary medicine companies. Co-funds JFNT-supported ARCCIM research fellows alongside JFNT, and shares a focus on funding natural therapies and complementary medicine research in Australia.
• BioCeuticals: Australian practitioner-only nutraceutical brand and joint partner with Blackmores Foundation and JFNT on the ARCCIM research fellows. Directly comparable as a commercial natural therapies brand investing in complementary medicine research evidence.

Others

• ARCCIM (Australian Research Centre for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, UTS): Long-term JFNT-funded research partner at the University of Technology Sydney, receiving $370K AUD over 2017-2021 for naturopathy research and leadership programs. Provides JFNT with scholarly output and a separate institutional anchor alongside NICM.
• NICM Health Research Institute (Western Sydney University): JFNT's flagship funded research partner at Western Sydney University. While not a peer foundation, NICM is the operational counterpart receiving the bulk of JFNT's grant funding and serves as the central node in JFNT's research ecosystem.

Regional players

• Lowitja Institute: Australia's community-controlled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research institute, where JFNT Director David Morgan previously served as COO. Comparable as a niche Australian health-research grantmaking body, with a stronger Indigenous health focus than JFNT.

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: Large UK-based global charitable foundation that is the world's second-largest funder of medical research after the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Included as a reference point for the model of a long-horizon health research foundation that JFNT's NICM partnership structure resembles.
• Ian Potter Foundation: One of Australia's largest philanthropic foundations, with significant funding allocated to medical research and health. Functions as a broader incumbent in the Australian health-research grantmaking space where JFNT operates.
• Paul Ramsay Foundation: Major Australian philanthropic foundation with a substantial health and medical research portfolio. While not focused on natural therapies, it represents the kind of large-scale Australian health-focused grantmaker JFNT may seek to model its growth on.
• Myer Foundation: Major Australian philanthropic foundation supporting health, education, and the arts. Relevant as a comparable Australian grantmaking foundation of similar vintage, though operating at a substantially larger scale and broader mission than JFNT.

Emerging players

• National Institute of Integrative Medicine (NIIM): Melbourne-based integrative medicine research and education institute. NIIM conducts complementary and integrative medicine research (gut health, vitamin C, electromagnetic therapy) and engages with JFNT at the board level — a comparable research-driven organisation in the same field.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/204592734093801
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jacka-foundation-for-natural-therapies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Jacka Foundation for Natural Therapies