Two Western Australian not-for-profit groups have achieved a target of $1 million in their respective fundraising campaigns during the past few months.
Two Western Australian not-for-profit groups have achieved a target of $1 million in their respective fundraising campaigns during the past few months.
Perth-based Western Australian Community Foundation (WACF) and Pinjarra-based Fairbridge Village have each secured $1 million to expand their operations.
Established three years ago, WACF reached its target last month of $1 million in funds under management.
It caters to both corporate organisations seeking an independently managed corporate giving program, and communities seeking to establish funds for long-term financial security.
WACF chief executive Tonia Swetman said achieving the $1 million target was a milestone for the organisation.
“We still have a long way to go to be financially self-sustaining. We will be working hard over the next few years to build existing accounts and to develop new ones with the aim of creating stronger communities in WA,” she said.
The organisation was created as a not-for-profit, independent vehicle to grow and distribute endowed funds.
WACF has more than 20 donation accounts, mainly from rural communities (Balingup, Boyup Brook and Hyden), as well as organisations such as the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Friends of Kings Park, Women’s Health Service and Disability in the Arts Disadvantage in the Arts Australia.
This week, WACF also announced its first grant of $10,000 to the Roebourne Girls FX, which aims to build leadership and self esteem in at-risk indigenous teenage girls through teaching business skills and personal development, and is part of the David Wirrpanda Foundation.
Ms Swetman said activity within the grants program would increase over time.
“Grant making is the foundation’s ultimate goal in building endowed funds,” she said.
WACF was also negotiating the establishment of two corporate trusts with resources companies, to provide endowments for communities in northern WA.
Ms Swetman said WACF would act as trustee for the accounts and the negotiations were expected to be completed in the next month.
The trusts would increase WACF’s funds under management exponentially and were intended to use the current resources boom to provide a longer- term source of financial security for the region, Ms Swetman said.
The Sir Charles Court Fairbridge Sustainability Initiative also reached a $1 million fundraising target in March, as part of a broader $7 million campaign to raise money for Fairbridge Village and its programs.
Fairbridge chief executive officer Mark Anderson said the funding would provide a resource pool for future maintenance of the village.
“The main aim is to enable young people in the community of WA to access Fairbridge Village now and in perpetuity,” he said.
Mr Anderson said the funding would be used to establish an ongoing, accredited training and employment program in construction and maintenance, catering particularly for indigenous and at risk youth.
He said on-site training within the village had the benefit of being ‘live’, with students working on real building projects, and would contribute towards maintaining and developing the Fairbridge Village asset.
“In establishing the training program, it will mean the town site will become the training venue,” Mr Anderson said.
He said Fairbridge was a registered training organisation and would offer Certificate II in general construction, as well as apprenticeships in painting and carpentry.
Currently, the organisation has 15 students enrolled in its construction course and eight apprentices.
Mr Anderson said the village currently catered for about 220,000 young people and families each year, with the number expected to reach 250,000 over the next two years.
The village is the only remaining farm school site of the original eight that were established internationally.
