Queensland’s leading philanthropic organisation, Queensland Community Foundation (QCF), has distributed $90,000 to eight Queensland charities through its annual grants program.

Eight local charities were presented with grants of up to $15,000 by The Honourable Mike Ahern AO, Patron of the QCF at a special presentation lunch.

The grants will help the charities with funding of training initiatives to ensure they continue to provide the best possible service to the Queensland community.

Dr John de Groot, Chair of QCF said that he was pleased the QCF in its second year of granting was continuing to support capacity building of charitable and non-profit organisations that otherwise would not have access to funding in this area.

“While most grants are structured to fund new projects, the QCF grants program is a great opportunity to support organisations at the grass roots level and optimise day-to-day operations,” he said. 

“QCF’s continued support of capacity building will help charities to help themselves by improving organisational capacity and thereby service delivery.”

The following Queensland charities were recipients of QCF grants:

- ACT for Kids

- Community Solutions Inc

- Cystic Fibrosis Qld

- Gold Coast Drug Council

- Hear and Say Centre for Deaf Children

- MontroseAccess

- Multicultural Development Association

- Multilink Community Services Inc.

In addition to the annual grants program, QCF has created permanent income streams for more than 130 charities and non-profit organisations throughout Queensland and Australia.  Distributions during the 2007-08 financial year amounted to $1,770,348.

Established in 1997 and sponsored by The Public Trustee, QIC and Anglo Coal Australia, QCF provides donors a unique opportunity to assist Queenslanders on an on-going basis.

QCF was the first organisation in Australia to create a continual funding model for charities and the community.  Donations are invested in a trust, and earnings are donated to charities through a grants scheme, allowing donations and bequests to “keep on giving” to the community.