Greater Shepparton Foundation was thrilled to fund another five projects this year via its annual funding round, the Margaret Attwood Grant Round.
A total of $50,000 has been distributed this year to support the successful applicants’ place-based projects: the Crazy Ideas College, Horses for Hope, GV Afghan Youth Association, Shepparton FoodShare and the Umoja Empowerment Group. These organisations’ projects address a need in our community and align with our vision for inclusive, interconnected communities where everybody has equal opportunity to participate.
The Crazy Ideas College project received funding to conduct the 2025 Crazy Ideas College Shepparton Social Innovators program. This program sees young people supported to voice their ideas, uncover great ideas for our community and feel confident about making their mark on the world.
Shepparton FoodShare received funding to purchase food staples that are in short supply. This vital local service has experienced an unprecedented need for food relief this year and distributed a record 490,000kg of food. It relies on food donations and rescues; this grant will help it keep up with the increased demand.
GV Afghan Youth Association received funds to develop and deliver its Ramadan Ifta Dinner on March 15, 2025. This initiative will share the tradition of coming together at Ramadan in the spirit of community unity, generosity and celebration of diversity, food and culture.
Horses for Hope will utilise the funds for the upgrades required to create a welcoming and warm accessible therapy space for its equine-assisted therapy, which brings humans and horses together in a healing environment.
Funds were granted to Umoja Empowerment Group for its Clean People Connecting Hopes project. Specifically, funds will assist with the start-up costs of the project, which aims to improve community inclusion and increase opportunities for refugees.
Grant applications are assessed by an independent ‘grant advisory committee’ that is convened annually.
To date, GSF has funded 30 local projects via this annual grant program, and more than $362,000 has been distributed.
Our grants are community-strengthening and seek to support small grassroots projects that deliver big impact for our community! The focus areas for our annual small grants program include parenting and early education, social inclusion, housing, safe families, employment, economic engagement, ageing well, flood recovery, and the cost-of-living crisis.
The grant process is twofold. It provides support for many diverse projects delivered to support our community and uncovers wonderful work that others are doing to support and provide equal opportunity locally.
When we discover new and wonderful organisations, not-for-profits and social enterprises operating to benefit our community, we often uncover innovative ways to collaborate, support and create impact in areas of need.
This year, our sought-after annual grant program welcomed 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 offer this annual grant round in her name.
Grant guidelines can be found on the ‘Grants’ page of the GSF website, www.greatershepparton.foundation. Alternatively, should you wish to discuss a project, please email info@greatershepparton.foundation Grants generally open in April or May annually.
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer
