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Key Takeaways

• Morgans Financial has set a $2 million fundraising target for Big Dry Friday 2026, the highest goal in the event's history.
• The Morgans Foundation will match all public donations up to $500,000, effectively doubling the impact of every dollar contributed.
• Big Dry Friday 2026 will take place on Friday, 12 June, rallying city residents to support rural and regional communities.
• Funds raised will be distributed to four key Australian charities: Rural Aid, Outback Futures, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), and Schools Plus.
• Since its inception in 2018, Big Dry Friday has raised over $9.8 million to support regional education, mental health, and disaster relief.

As regional communities across the country and most recently the Northern Territory, Queensland, and Victoria battle a relentless cycle of severe flooding, drought, and bushfires, Morgans Financial has announced its most ambitious fundraising target to date for Big Dry Friday 2026.

On Friday, 12 June 2026, Morgans will rally the nation with the goal of raising $2 million in a single day. This marks the highest target in the event’s history, set at a time when the gap between city and country has never felt more critical to bridge.

Since its inception in 2018, Big Dry Friday has raised over $9.8 million to support education, mental health, and disaster relief in the bush. It started during one of the country's most severe droughts and now stands as a day to recognise the importance of rural and regional Australia, to connect city and country and to provide support where it's needed most.

The concept is simple: On a Friday, once a year, city people forgo, or match, what they would typically spend on a lunch or drinks and donate it to those who put the food on our tables.

This year, the stakes are higher. To kickstart the mission, the Morgans Foundation has pledged to match donations up to $500,000, effectively doubling the impact of every dollar contributed by the public. “Big Dry Friday is a day to think about how lucky we are in the city, relative to our friends and families in rural and regional Australia, with respect to physical and mental healthcare, education and of course, assistance when the "lucky country isn't so lucky. In essence, we are trying to help raise awareness and raise funds on a lean cost basis with the concept of sacrificing or matching a Friday lunch," said Brian Sheahan, Executive Chairman of Morgans Financial.

The 2026 campaign comes off the back of a record-breaking 2025, which saw $1.9 million distributed to major beneficiaries including Rural Aid, Outback Futures, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), and Schools Plus.

The impact is tangible. For many, it means the difference between survival and shuttering. As one five-generation farming family recently shared: “Receiving a donated water tank not only eliminated the cost for us but allowed us to harness what little rain we get, reducing the need for carting water, a huge financial relief given current fuel prices. It makes a massive difference to those on the receiving end.”

Commenting on the initiative, Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said: “Now is the time for Australians to come together to give our farmers and their families the urgent boost they need. Farmers are dealing with disaster recovery, rising fuel and fertiliser costs and ongoing uncertainty all at once. When farms are impacted, we'll all eventually feel it at the supermarket.”

Morgans invites all Australians to connect city and country this June to help hit the historic $2 million milestone. To learn more about how you can support/be involved visit: bigdryfriday.com.au

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Big Dry Friday 2026? 

Big Dry Friday 2026 is scheduled for Friday, 12 June. It is a national day of fundraising where people in urban areas donate or match the cost of their Friday lunch to support rural Australian families.

What is the fundraising target for Big Dry Friday 2026?

Morgans has set a historic target of $2 million for the 2026 campaign. This follows a record-breaking 2025 where $1.9 million was raised for regional disaster relief and mental health services.

Which charities benefit from Big Dry Friday? 

The funds raised are distributed to major rural beneficiaries including Rural Aid, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), Outback Futures, and Schools Plus. These organisations provide critical support in education, healthcare, and disaster recovery.

How much has Big Dry Friday raised since it started? 

Since the initiative began in 2018 during a severe drought, it has raised more than $9.8 million. These funds have been used to assist farmers and regional communities through cycles of drought, floods, and bushfires.

Is my donation to Big Dry Friday matched? 

Yes. For the 2026 campaign, the Morgans Foundation has pledged to match public donations up to a total of $500,000. This means your contribution has twice the impact for rural families in need.