General FAQs
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The Gippsland Community Foundation (GCF) is a community-owned, locally governed, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to strengthening Gippsland.
We empower local communities to lead their own change by keeping resources in the region, unlocking generosity, and supporting projects that make a lasting difference across Gippsland.We exist for the whole of Gippsland. Connecting people, organisations, and resources so communities can deliver what matters most to them.
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Raise funds for community-led projects across Gippsland’s towns, communities and neighbourhoods.
Distribute grants that support community organisations, local initiatives, and long-term recovery and resilience efforts.
Build long-term community funds so support continues now and for future generations.
Connect donors, partners and community groups to shared opportunities that create sustainable impact.
Advocate for community priorities and strengthen local capacity across the region.
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A community foundation in Australia is a locally focused charitable organisation that collects donations, builds long-term community funds, and distributes funding to support local needs and initiatives. It serves as a trusted vehicle for philanthropy, enabling individuals, families, and businesses to give back to their region in a structured and enduring way.
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Lions and Rotary clubs are generally volunteer service clubs focused on hands-on community work and short-term fundraising. The Foundation is a charitable philanthropic institution that manages long-term, perpetual funds to provide ongoing funding to local communities.
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GERF has a focus on immediate disaster support for individuals, dwellings and households when natural disaster strikes across Gippsland.
GERF is a registered charity, run by local volunteers, helping fund emergency relief for Gippslanders with damaged property.
Gippsland Community Foundation (GCF) is a philanthropic organisation that exists to make a positive and lasting difference to the Gippsland region, creating stronger and more resilient communities that are equitable, connected, forward looking and sustainable.
GCF is a registered charity that supports community and their long–term aspirations rather than individuals in a disaster situation.
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Our Board and staff work and live in Gippsland. We have a local presence across the region with local knowledge and connections. We make funding available for local community led initiatives which drive impact both to specific locations and Gippsland as a whole. We welcome conversations from community groups from all areas so that we can understand local aspirations with a view to brokerage resources across the region.
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We welcome interest from individuals across Gippsland who are keen to assist our Foundation to thrive and be here for the long term.
You can make a tax-deductible gift. Donations to our Generous Gippsland Futures Fund will enable you to vote on applications from community groups for their projects and activities.
You can become a volunteer by joining an advisory group, helping with events, sharing professional skills, or serving on committees or the board. Volunteer roles focus on strengthening local connections, supporting grantmaking, and helping the foundation engage with the community.
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We work closely with a number of partner organisations. From government, corporate, philanthropic, and individuals. At any given time, we have partnerships and close working relationships with a large number of people and groups. Refer to our social media and Annual Reports for further detail.
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We are place-based in community. When our staff are not actively meeting with community groups across Gippsland, they work from home. All staff, Board members and volunteers live, work and play in Gippsland! We have a post office box in Bairnsdale but no physical office. This ensures we are embedded in community.
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The Foundations operates under strong governance, including oversight by the Australian Charities & Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC charity regulator), compliance with Australian Tax Office (ATO) rules for deductible gift recipients (DGR) and charitable trusts.
Adherence to strict governance, reporting, and financial accountability requirements includes maintaining an independent board, audited financial statements, documented policies, and robust processes for grantmaking, investment management, conflict-of-interest control, and responsible use of donor funds.
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Generally, no.
Community foundations typically don’t fund sole traders or small businesses because their charitable status legally requires them to support charitable purposes, not commercial activity or private profit.
Funding a business could be seen as providing a private benefit to an individual, which is not permitted under Australian charity and tax regulations, whereas funding charities and community groups ensures the benefit is public, equitable, and mission aligned.
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The Foundation is able to utilise funds for operational expenses, including salaries, if they directly support its charitable activities, such as grantmaking, community engagement, and compliance. These costs are typically covered through investment income or donor-designated operating funds, in line with ACNC regulations.
Funding FAQs
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We receive tax-deductible donations and embark on fundraising campaigns from time to time.
We partner with philanthropic organisations, corporate, government, and private enterprises to disburse community funding when there are particular issues or challenges to address. The Foundation receives an administration or service fee to assist with our resource costs.
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Our organisation was started in 2021 on the initiative of the Community Enterprise Foundation (the charitable arm of Bendigo and Adeliade Bank) who approached the State Government, Department of Justice and Community Safety, for seed funding.
The specific intent was to have a place-based community foundation in Gippsland to disburse public donations from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal to fire-impacted communities. Seed funding was acquitted in 2024, and the Gippsland Community Foundation is now self-sustaining.
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Review the Foundation Annual Reports available on our website for a detailed listing of community groups we have assisted with their projects and activities over time.
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The eligibility for specific geographic areas for funds receipt varies and is often dependent on donors' wishes and fundraising efforts at any given time.
The implementation of the Generous Gippsland Futures Fund in 2026 will enable a wider fundraising, donation and disbursement platform to be in place for long term Gippsland community benefit. -
Funding disbursements from the Foundation are based on application criteria with decision making for every funded project or activity undertaken through documented governance processes.
We are community-led funders and hence we take funding requests from various community groups who are all unique and whose wants and needs differ.
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Yes.
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We have several service offerings that contribute to our fundraising efforts. Each service has its own suite of policies, procedures, and governing documents. The Foundation services relate to:
Donor Advised Funds
Grants Administration
DGR1 (Deductible Gift Recipient) partnerships
Generous Gippsland Future Fund
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Our policies and procedures outline how gifts are accepted, managed, and allocated, ensuring we comply with Australian charitable and tax regulations (including DGR status).
It covers accepted donation types, donor intent, investment and governance processes, and how funds are used to support local community impact.
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Funds availability changes over time and is largely dependent on active partnerships and the take up of our suite of service offerings.
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Our current Investment Policy stipulates where our funds are placed to maximise interest earnings for long term community benefit and organisational sustainability. The Policy is reviewed every two years. Currently all cash is invested with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank in a Gippsland based branch.
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We welcome applications for community led projects and activities who receive co-funding from other funding bodies. We do not provide funding for projects already completed.
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We have a suite of grants administration policies and procedures in place and issue criteria for eligibility for grant applications. These criteria are in place under charitable law requirements and advice from donors or funders to particular community programs.
Adherence to strict governance, reporting, and financial accountability requirements includes maintaining documented policies, and robust processes for grantmaking, conflict-of-interest control, and responsible use of donor funds.
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Each grant application is appraised on a merit basis. Our Foundation can provide sponsorship to events, but only if the sponsorship advances its charitable purposes rather than providing a private benefit.
For example, sponsoring a local community festival, youth program, or charity fundraising event is acceptable, whereas supporting purely commercial or for-profit event would not meet the foundation’s charitable obligations under Australian law.
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Funding opportunities are constantly presenting themselves for community-led projects and activities. This is dependent on our fundraising success and donors at any given time.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter and join our social media pages to keep abreast of opportunities that arise relevant to your community-led project or activity.
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Every application is considered on merit and eligibility under the criteria of a grant program.
Generally, we like to see any wage cost as a small component of a project or activity. It may be a particular skill or labour component that community volunteers are not equipped to provide to a project. For an application that is largely salary based, we advise applicants to speak to our staff before making an application.
Bushfire FAQs
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The East Gippsland Community Bushfire Disaster Relief funding is not for immediate disaster response but earmarked for support to community led initiatives across a longer period of time.
Our funding agreement with the State of Victoria stipulates disbursement of Victorian Bushfire Appeal funding for up to ten years post fires (to 2030).
Funding is disbursed as quickly or slowly as communities consult, identify and implement their recovery projects and activity.
There is a need to maintain a spread of funding across all the Black Summer Fire impacted communities, with each community moving at a different speed.
True community led projects take time to develop and once started, often take longer than expected to complete.
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We do fund other communities across Gippsland.
Our Foundation was initially established as an East Gippsland based community foundation to disburse public donations from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal to East Gippsland fire impacted communities. This funding stream is still ongoing into 2026.
In 2024, we spread into wider Gippsland partnering with the Gardiner Foundation for community development grants into Wellington, South Gippsland and Baw Baw Shire.
In 2025, we provided funds to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund & Resilient Building Council to run workshops across the whole of Gippsland in resilience and improvements to homeowners against disaster events.
Funds disbursement areas are largely dependent on partnerships and funders at any given time.
The implementation of the Generous Gippsland Future Fund in 2026 will assist the fundraising and disbursements to Gippsland-wide communities. -
No. The early years of our Foundation focused on disbursing public donations from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal to East Gippsland Black Summer Fire impacted communities. That work continues into 2026 as we roll out further support for community-led projects and activity.
We work with community in good times and bad. Our strategic and funding pillars are aligned to assist community-led projects that align to:
Better Communities
Future Generations
Climate Resilience
Inclusion, Access & Equity
Our donors and partnerships have expanded, and we expect to continue our Gippsland wide funding offering as we grow.