GROUPS in south west Victoria seeking funding for projects which help connect and grow their community can now apply for a 2022 grant from the South West Community Foundation (SWCF).

Open now until March 30, 2022 for small grants up to $5000, the annual grant round is an excellent opportunity for community groups to receive extra support to have their projects funded, said SWCF Board Chair David McIntyre.

“Every year we are excited and privileged to see the remarkable work that goes on in our community,” he said.

“We are always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to connect and grow our communities, so if you have a brilliant idea for a community project, please apply for our annual granting round and let’s see if we can help it come to life.”

Since SWCF was established in 2007 the Foundation has distributed more than $1 million to help groups across south west Victoria.

It looks forward to extending this figure in 2022 and continuing to support community connection and growth, said Mr McIntyre.

Mr McIntyre has been SWCF Board Chair for about three years now.

He explained how the Foundation operates: “The community foundation is a perpetual trust which people donate money into, and we invest the money.

“Each year we then donate 4 per cent of that money, and anything left over we reinvest, the idea being that the volume of money we have on hand grows along with the amount of donations every year.

“So, every year we donate about $80–$100,000.

“We also have a partnership with the Fletcher Jones Family Foundation, another philanthropic organisation, so they assist in our granting round as well.”

In most cases the Foundation makes grants up to a maximum of $5000 per project, he said.

It primarily funds social connection and small community projects; anything from indigenous art work to refurbishing a community hall.

“We’ve funded amazing programs such as ‘Backpacks for Kids’: kids who are fleeing domestic violence and often have to leave in the middle of the night with basically just their pyjamas on, so the backpacks have a change of clothes, a toothbrush, a small teddy etcetera.

“We also do a fair bit of environmental stuff such as fencing around conservation reserves and contributing to blue whale research projects.

“They are mainly small projects that have a long-term impact that just need a bit of money behind them to help to get off the ground.”

So, what do groups have to do to apply and ensure their bid is successful?

“The granting committee essentially looks at what the long-term impact of a project will be,” Mr McIntyre said.

“So, if there are two projects we need to choose between, for example a mural versus a class for drawing, we’ll go with the mural as this will be there for a long time for a wider group to enjoy and will have ongoing impact and longevity.

“That’s the main criteria; we are bound by certain rules by the federal government on what we can and cannot support, so organisations wanting to apply need to check our eligibility guidelines on our website and then apply online.”

Another example of a successful project is Warrnambool and Camperdown Community House, he said.

“In an original grant application, the community house sought funding for just one piece of equipment and that’s been a huge success.

“A couple of years later the group came back for a bit more money for a different project, and because they’ve shown good leadership and used the money well, we’re willing to support them again and again.

“The really good thing about our model is that the money is still there years after we invest it, so we have that opportunity to continually reinvest and support those organisations that are doing really great things in our community.”

Portland’s Dhauward-Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Services (DWEHCS) is another recipient of the grant whose program has gone from strength to strength on just a small grant of $4000 from SWCC.

Granted in 2021, this enabled the group to buy new cooking utensils to teach healthy cooking to their community.

“DWEHCS came to us looking to purchase some equipment to facilitate using the community garden to demonstrate healthy eating among indigenous people, and that program has gone ahead in leaps and bounds, regardless of COVID-19,” Mr McIntyre said.

“We’re thrilled with that, because we know that just for a small amount of money, we can put them in a position to teach generations of new people every year, which is likely to have a lasting health impact.

“That’s the sort of thing that really lights our fire!”

Wendy Rotumah is the new coordinator of the DWEHCS program.

The grant application was the idea from the indigenous women’s group, Well Women and their Children’s Health (WWATCH), Ms Rotumah said.

“Since receiving the initial $4000 grant, our program has grown from strength to strength,” she said.

“We now want to open it up – it was originally just for women, but there are single men and young people out there in our Aboriginal community who can benefit.

“We are currently working out a program with a dietician, who will provide all the recipes and information we need to do this.

“Other things we’ve done to promote healthy eating in our community is to establish a bush tucker garden, which we’ll incorporate into the healthy cooking program, and we’ve also established our own Biggest Loser program to help people lose weight.”

SWCF granting committee chair Robyn Alexander said it is important the grants help to strengthen regional communities, especially as the money distributed is raised locally.

“The small, rural and regional groups out there are trying to make a big difference in their communities,” she said.

“SWCF raises money from the local community and passes this back to support groups in our local area.”

About South West Community Foundation The South West Community Foundation was established in 2007, through the vision of Josie Black OAM, with a mission to foster a culture of philanthropy and strengthen the communities of south west Victoria.

The Foundation is a philanthropic trust, funded by donations from the region, which provides small but vital grants to community organisations across the Warrnambool, Moyne, Glenelg, Southern Grampians, Corangamite and Colac Otway local government areas.

The Foundation works in partnership with donors, local organisations and the community to strengthen communities and increase opportunities.

Guidelines for the 2022 Grant Round can be found on the SWCF website at southwestcommunityfoundation.org/grants. Applications must be submitted by close of business on March 30, 2022.