The year began with a mid-term review of the Foundation’s 'Connected, Resilient, and Futureproof Community' strategic plan. The mid-point of this strategic period was an opportune moment to reflect on the early-stage impact of the plan, identify what was working, and if any operational adjustments were required. Our review documented the emerging indicators of the plan’s success, and resultantly Trustees approved the plan’s extension to the conclusion of FY26. The impact of several grants supporting 'leadership' opportunities for our for-purpose sector leaders were so encouraging that Trustees agreed to increase grantmaking in this field, affording it the same priority shown to our connected, resilient, and futureproofing efforts.
In FY24, TFFF distributed $7.725 million to 48 for-purpose organisations through our values-based philanthropy. Strengthened social cohesion was supported through the Connected funding stream with 28 one-off project grants awarded, most delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).
The TFFF invested in building the Resilience of 32 not-for-profit organisations, with Trustees and Advisors approving 12 new agreements for multi-year general operating support totalling $3.7 million. As in previous years, a significant portion of this funding was co-administered through the Australian Cultural Fund’s Amplify initiative – a co-creation of TFFF and Creative Australia which has seen more than $20 million distributed to Australian arts organisations since its launch two years ago.
This year saw the first strategic initiative grant awarded through TFFF’s Futureproof stream: the Brain Health in Queensland Schools initiative. Developed over the past two years with delivery partners Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Queensland Brain Institute, this initiative will invest in rural schools as a context to optimise child development and community connectedness whilst preventing the onset of mental health issues.
TFFF’s newly recognised Leadership stream invests in the capability building of rural, regional, and remote for-purpose sector leaders. Trustees and Advisors approved two new grants, alongside four organisations currently in funding, which fit within this new stream. In May, TFFF delivered the second iteration of the TFFF Executive Leadership Program with a cohort of 11 leaders from for-purpose organisations across Queensland and the Northern Territory participating in this year’s program. Delivered in partnership with the University of Queensland’s Business School Executive Education team, this program continues to amass an impressive alumni of inspiring for-purpose sector leaders.
TFFF Trustees, Advisors, and staff had the opportunity to engage with many organisations over the past year, through visits to partner organisations across the state. Visits to Cairns in July and Darwin in August saw Trustees and staff attend the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF), Darwin Festival, and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair, and meet with Brother to Another, resulting in new funding agreements for CIAF and Brother to Another.
In March, staff visited Yiliyapinya in Inala to see firsthand how its neuroscience-informed programs support First Nations children, and in June we visited Townsville, where we celebrated the great work being undertaken by AEIOU, Umbrella Studio, Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership, Dancenorth, and Seed Foundation.
Our thanks to TFFF Trustees Gina Fairfax AC and Jim Peterson, and Advisors, Sarah O’Brien, Lucy Coulson, Fiona Poschelk, and Prue Pateras, for their attention and dedication to the Foundation’s grantmaking and engagement efforts. None of the Foundation’s work would be possible without the dedicated and inspirational commitment of our for-purpose sector leaders who enthusiastically and diligently work, day in and day out, to make our community a happier and healthier one. To those leaders, we say thank you.
| Tim Fairfax AC Founder and Chair | Dr Neal Harvey CEO |
Photos by Thomas Oliver for Atmosphere Photography
