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South West Community Foundation Latest News

  • What-is-a-community-foundation
    September 14, 2023

    What is a Community Foundation?

    The concept of a Community Foundation is simple. We make it easy for people to contribute to a pool of funds which is used to support charitable projects through purposeful grant making. We are governed by independent volunteer trustees that...

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  • Sunset
    May 25, 2023

    SWCF Grants 2023

    The SWCF has hit pause on the funding round for 2023, but it is all for good reason.  The foundation is going through a ‘getting to know you’ period, with a revised vision for the future of the SWCF grant...

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  • Holiday Actors members Jake, Lyal and Nate participate in a puppet making workshop at One Day Studios, here with their trash puppets.
    January 2, 2023

    Puppet workshop helps set the stage

    Warrnambool Holiday Actors are starting the new year in high gear as they take to the stage for the puppet-filled action of Shrek – The Musical. After COVID delayed the performance in 2022, all of the singers, actors, puppeteers and...

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Nov 5

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Please join us in welcoming Jo Forrest to the South West Community Foundation Board. 👋

Jo is the CEO of Sunnyside House Inc. in Camperdown and brings a decade of executive experience in regional aged care, along with a strong commitment to good governance and community-led organisations.

She’s passionate about making sure regional communities have a strong voice in shaping their future, and we’re thrilled to have her on board.

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Nov 3

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Recently, our Executive Officer Alison had the opportunity to attend the Foundations + Council Briefing hosted by the Fletcher Jones Family Foundations, bringing together local philanthropic foundations, @Warrnamboolcity and @moyneshirecouncil.

It was a thought-provoking conversation about community need, growing pressures on funding, and the opportunities to work more closely together.

A clear theme emerged: better communication and collaboration between funders and councils can go a long way. There’s real value in sharing knowledge, understanding each other’s priorities, and identifying where collective effort can make the greatest difference.

The discussion also highlighted the significant need for community infrastructure and investment, and the importance of being clear-eyed about both the opportunities and the limits of philanthropic funding.

For SWCF, gatherings like this reinforce what we believe at our core. Philanthropy is about more than grants. It’s about building relationships, connecting people and resources, and working together toward lasting community impact.

Thank you to the Fletcher Jones Family Foundations for creating the space for these conversations. There’s a lot we can achieve when we work together.

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Oct 30

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Have you had a look at our Impact Report yet? 💛

Inside is the story of Jackie Elliott, founder of @ruralwomensday. With support from SWCF, Jackie attended the first three sessions of the Rural Women Lead program, something she had wanted to do for years but couldn’t make fit.

Then came the full circle moment. Jackie and our Executive Officer Alison met through the program, before discovering that SWCF’s support had helped make it possible.

When we invest in people, the ripple effect reaches far beyond the original funding.

Read the full story and more through the Impact Report on our website.

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Oct 27

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A heartfelt thank you to David McIntyre, who retired from the South West Community Foundation board at our recent AGM after 9 years of dedicated service. 🙏

David brought incredible knowledge, energy and commitment to his role as Director, Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. We are so grateful for everything he has contributed.

Thank you, David. We look forward to watching you continue to make your mark in this community.

#SouthWestCommunityFoundation #ThankYou #CommunityFoundation

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Oct 25

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This is what the Koroit Community Fund can do. 🌱

The Koroit Community Garden is open, thriving and already bringing the community together. Funded through the Koroit Community Fund, this beautiful shared space between the Koroit Library and Senior Citizens Centre grows fruit, vegetables and herbs year round, free for locals to come and pick what they need.

Watch the video to hear from the incredible committee members who have brought this project to life. Stage Two is already in the works and we cannot wait to see what comes next.

#KoroitCommunityFund #SouthWestCommunityFoundation #Koroit

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Oct 23

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Our 2025-26 Impact Report is now online, and it’s a heart-warming look back at what local giving has made possible across the South West. 💛

Choirs, community gardens, farms built in a day and footy teams where everyone belongs. These are the people and projects making our region stronger.

If you’ve been wondering what our funds can do, head to the link in our bio and have a read.
Our supporters

South West Community Foundation is proud to acknowledge our sponsors and partners.

Contact us
PO Box 478
Warrnambool VIC 3280
info@southwestcommunityfoundation.org
Connect

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land we live and work on, the lands of the Gunditjmara, Giraiwurung, Guilidjan, Gadubanud and Djabwurrung. We recognise the diverse needs of our community and we ensure our services are inclusive of all children, young people and their families including those who are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, those who identify as LGBTIQ and persons living with disability.

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  • Home
  • About
    • Our People
    • History
    • Our Funds
      • Koroit & District Community Fund
      • Colac Community Fund
      • Donors & Named Funds
    • Partners
    • FAQs
    • Our Impact
    • Impact Reports
    • Join Us
  • Support
    • How to Donate
    • Gifts in Will
    • Start a Sub Fund
    • Charity Partner
  • Grants
    • Colac Community Fund 2026 Grant
    • Previous Grants
  • Services
    • Advice & Support
    • Community Fundraising
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact