Grace Tame, a former Australian of the Year, has decided to shut down her charity organization shortly after revealing her unemployment status, which followed her controversial remarks at a pro-Palestine demonstration.

The Grace Tame Foundation launched in 2021, inspired by Tame’s involvement in a campaign that sought to amend laws restricting sexual assault survivors from publicly sharing their experiences.

This non-profit aimed to support survivors of sexual violence, but financial challenges surfaced in March as the organization reported a $180,000 deficit over the past two years, raising doubts about its longevity.

The foundation’s most recent financial report indicated that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe it could meet its financial obligations, recording a total equity of $129,563.

Nonetheless, the board of directors announced the charity’s closure on its website this Thursday.

Grace Tame served on the four-member board alongside child safety expert Professor Michael Salter, attorney Michael Bradley, and survivor advocate Scarlett Franks.

The statement read: ‘The Foundation has reached a crossroads. 

‘Like many small advocacy organisations, sustaining long-term funding for this work has become increasingly challenging. 

Grace Tame is pictured speaking during a rally for Gaza at Hyde Park, Sydney, in August

Grace Tame is pictured  saying ‘globalise the intifada’ at a pro-Palestine rally in Sydney

‘After careful consideration, the Board has made the decision to close the Foundation, with the process to be finalised in the coming weeks.’

The Australian Charities and Not‑for‑profits Commission filings show the foundation’s main expenses in the last financial year were psychological support ($63,124), salaries and wages ($34,228), and recruitment costs ($26,760). 

Funds were also directed to staff training and welfare ($11,647), website expenses ($6,972) and survivor legal expenses ($17,000).

Tame then said her livelihood had been ‘completely destroyed’ in the month since she shouted ‘globalise the intifada’ at a rally, protesting against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s state visit, outside Sydney’s Town Hall in February.

It’s understood her actions at the protest caused tensions with some board members.  

Following the protest, Tame faced calls from a number of politicians and Jewish leaders to be stripped of her Australian of the Year honour.

She was the subject of a petition, signed by more than 25,000 Australians, which called for authorities to charge her with ‘[alleged] criminal incitement to violence under existing Australian law’.

Tame then claimed she had been the subject of a ‘concerted smear campaign’ by conservative politicians and media in a bizarre rant where she described the ABC as right wing.

‘I do not support violence,’ she wrote in a first-person piece for Crikey. ‘I do not condone antisemitism, Islamophobia or hatred of any kind.

‘I am a human rights activist who advocates for the safety of all children, no matter their background.’

She added: ‘I’ve lost several close friends for speaking the truth. I’ve been publicly vilified over and over and over again. In under a month, my livelihood has been completely destroyed.’ 

The charity, which began operating in 2022, was created to raise awareness and prevent child sexual abuse through advocacy, education and legal reforms.

In 2024, Tame announced she was stepping down as CEO of the foundation.

More to come