It’s been a year of change, giving and celebration for Greater Charitable Foundation. So, as it comes to a close, we thought we’d take a moment to look back on our most significant highlights for 2021.
We realigned our focus to support our mission
The charitable landscape is constantly evolving as the needs of our communities change. No more so than now following the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s why we believed it was really important that, after 10 years of giving, we started 2021 with a review of our funding strategy.
What remained a priority was our overall mission of improving life outcomes, which we achieve by funding initiatives that are aimed at making a long-term impact on the lives of beneficiaries.
We have, however, realigned our focus to support programs that positively enhance the financial wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
This allows us to more closely mirror the objectives of Greater Bank, a customer-owned institution that has long committed to supporting the customers and the communities in areas we call home.
We formed new partnerships with old friends
It has long been said that old friends are the best friends, which is why we were delighted to re-establish partnerships with Youth off the Streets and Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).
The partnerships were announced in September, which saw the Foundation commit more than $700,000 to support these two organisations.
The new alliance with Youth off the Streets will see the roll out of the Hunter Suspension Program that will help address the high rate of school suspensions and expulsions in the region. In doing so, it will have a direct impact on the barriers to positive future financial and life outcomes.
The partnership with Aspect Hunter School’s Work Education and Employment Skills Program will provide specialised autism-specific support for its high school students to assist in the transition to employment.
Greater Charitable Foundation has a long-term association with both organisations and has long been impressed with the work they undertake to support young, and often vulnerable, members of our community.
Youth off the Streets first partnered with the Foundation in 2013 through to 2015, and again from 2019 to 2021, while Aspect was one of the Foundation’s inaugural grant recipients in 2011. This association continued to 2017 before again partnering this year.
We celebrated two important milestones
Greater Charitable Foundation celebrated two important milestones in November - 10 years of operation and $10million in funding support.
The milestones have provided an opportunity to reflect on the work the Foundation has undertaken with its charity partners and the positive impact that work has had on so many lives.
Over the years, Greater Charitable Foundation has provided funding to established programs, newer charities, pilot projects and capacity-building activities, all of which addressed unmet needs in our communities.
While the funding total is an outstanding achievement, so too is its impact. The lives of more than 32,000 people have changed for the better as a direct result of the work our funded partners have undertaken.
We now look towards a bright future
Early in 2022, we will be announcing new partnerships as we continue our annual funding commitment of more than $1million to support organisations that improve life outcomes.
Greater Charitable Foundation now looks forward to an even brighter 2022 and beyond, supporting our community for the #Greater Good.