The Greater Shepparton Foundation builds partnerships and collaborations to connect the needs of the local community with essential resources and skills to tackle and disrupt the cycle of disadvantage. The Foundation Features series will help shine a light on those driving change through innovative initiatives, as well as highlight community organisations that align with the foundation’s purpose.
The 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, the 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 who have supported the Shepparton community.
Since its inception, the 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 have been 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 grassroots projects that deliver a 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 on Corio St 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 building local capacity and supporting those in greatest need.
Margaret remained almost anonymous in her philanthropic endeavours and was rumoured to drop a cheque for $10,000 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, 2024 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, www.greatershepparton.foundation
Alternatively, should you wish to discuss your application, please email info@greatershepparton.foundation
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch, executive officer