Applications Open Monday, April 22, 2024 at 9am
*Pictured are participants of the Social Innovators Project in Shepparton, a 2023 grant recipient.
Greater Shepparton Foundation’s sought after annual grant program has a new partner, the Margaret Attwood Trust. The Trust will support this grant program in perpetuity. In the spirit of Margaret Attwood’s generous contributions to the Shepparton community, Greater Shepparton Foundation is honoured to announce this annual grant round in her name.
The Margaret Attwood Grant Round is a tribute to Margaret May Attwood – a legacy that may have been lost to time, but now her name will forever sit alongside the great philanthropists that have supported the Shepparton community.
Since inception Greater Shepparton Foundation has opened an annual grant round to fund place-based community projects that align with its vision for inclusive, interconnected communities where everybody has equal opportunity to participate.
To date 25 projects have been funded and more than $312,000 in funds distributed. In the past this grant program has been solely funded year to year via annual appeals and community donations. We continue to welcome tax-deductible contributions from organisations wishing to contribute to bolster the amount of projects that can be supported, however this partnership provides sustainability for this important community funding opportunity.
Our Small Grants are community strengthening and seek to support small grass roots projects that deliver big impact for our community! The key areas where support will be considered include:
· Parenting and Early Education
· Social Inclusion
· Housing
· Safe Families
· Employment
· Economic Engagement
· Aging well
· Flood Recovery
· Cost of Living Crisis
Margaret May Attwood was a generous, humble, community-minded lady.
A Shepparton local, and dedicated Primary school teacher, she lived modestly in a small weatherboard home in Corio Street, but throughout her life, donated her family’s wealth to causes close to her heart.
Margaret was a pioneer of philanthropic giving in the Greater Shepparton community. She understood the value of collective giving to build local capacity and support those in greatest need.
Margaret remained almost anonymous in her philanthropic endeavors and was rumored to drop a cheque for ten thousand dollars in a raffle tin if the cause aligned with her values. Rather than seeking public acknowledgement for her donations, Margaret sought nothing but found value in the simple act of untied generosity.
Online applications open on Monday, April 22, 2024 and close at 5pm on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Successful applicants will be announced on June 25, and funds available to successful applicants at the beginning of July 2024. Funds received must be expended and acquitted by June 30, 2025.
To assess the applications, we are currently seeking expressions of interest from interested community members to join an independent grant assessment committee. Interested community members can email their expression of interest to info@greatershepparton.foundation
Grant guidelines can be found on the ‘Grants’ page of the GSF website HERE. Alternatively, should you wish to discuss your application please email info@greatershepparton.foundation