Coomaditchie big winner at inaugural Wollongong pitch night

But Scarf Incorporated and Beyond Empathy also enjoyed a good night on Wednesday, scoring $54,900 and $49,500 respectively.

The three community-based organisations pitched their innovative ideas to more than 100 community members for a share in almost $1750,000 in funding.

Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation fared best and received $70,500 for their Deadly Women and Deadly Girls program.

Dianne Kitcher, CEO of South Eastern NSW PHN, said the night was a great evening of passionate story telling about innovative projects designed to improve the health and wellbeing of refugees, Aboriginal people and youth at risk in the Shellharbour and Wollongong local government areas.

"All three finalists delivered compelling pitches to the crowd of more than 100 community members and representatives from health, business council, and non-government organisations in the region," Ms Kitcher said.

The audience then had the opportunity to ask questions and pledge $1800 of COORDINARE funding to one or more initiatives of their choice.

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"It is hoped that giving community members the opportunity to distribute funding across grassroots organisations will have a 'ripple effect," she said.

"They will have an emotional connection to the projects and can see the benefit for their community.

"The benefit for those who pitched is exposure of their ideas, community support and funding to move their initiative forward.

"In fact, some people in the audience have already offered in-kind support for the projects such as transport, and marketing expertise."