Our Story, Our People

Being a family foundation

The Vincent Fairfax family maintains a commitment to VFFF as the flagship of their family’s philanthropy.

Family members strive to honour the legacy of Sir Vincent and Lady Nancy Fairfax, while responding to present day challenges and opportunities. VFFF has a strategic goal to continue to be a thriving multi-generational family foundation for many generations to come.

Mindful of the constant balance between honouring the wishes of the Founders and retaining relevance to future generations, there are many opportunities for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generations of the family to participate in and shape VFFF’s work.

"We want to be effective in our giving, leave an impression, a lasting legacy. We have to be strategic in our giving, we have to collaborate with others and take ownership of our learnings on what has and has not worked. Good philanthropy is leading by example, particularly as the new wealth of young entrepreneurs is increasing. Our role is also to encourage others to give."

Fairfax family member, 3rd generation

Board membership

Grants Committee

Since 2012, the Grants Committee has brought younger Fairfax family members together to participate in grant making for VFFF grants up to $50,000. Each year this granting represents around 10% of VFFF’s total grants. Set up as a family engagement strategy, the Committee has been a tremendous success. During its first decade, the Committee held 56 meetings, involving 16 family members and distributed 178 grants totalling $6.35m. The work of the Committee has always been characterised by respectful and rigorous debate, a willingness to have a go and genuine interest and care about the work of not for profit organisations. In 2022, a working group of family members from the third and fourth generations came together to design VFFF’s new Backing the Future grants. The working group utilised VFFF’s flexibility as a charitable trust to design a grants program focused on funding individuals and their early stage ideas for rural and regional young people in NSW and QLD. This new direction will build on the role that the Committee has always been keen to play – backing early stage work, supporting rural and regional areas, taking informed risks and complementing VFFF’s larger grants.

"Good philanthropy is listening to the needs of others and working with the right people to facilitate change. Knowing about what areas we work in, not as experts but with enough knowledge to ensure that philanthropic resources are needed and in what form."

Family member, 3rd generation

Working with the rising generation

When family members turn 18 they are invited to become VFFF members and ten of the rising 4th generation have already joined more than 30 other family members to continue the long history of Fairfax family philanthropy.

"With young kids, we would like to really embed a sense of community responsibility and compassion that carries through their teen and adult lives. This might be exposing them to lots of different organisations and people and experiences that they might not encounter in their everyday lives."

Family member, 3rd generation

The Backing Young People strategy has offered new opportunities for 4th generation family members to get involved in VFFF's work, including contributing their own insights on the needs and priorities of young people during the strategic review process. In 2022, younger family members played an important role in various VFFF events, including our 60th Anniversary celebration, Annual General Meeting and grantee meetings and events.

Rural and regional granting

Sir Vincent Fairfax recognised the importance of Australia’s rural communities and industries and the Vincent Fairfax family retains a deep connection and commitment to rural and regional Australia. Annually, VFFF aims for 60% of our new funding to be for work in rural and regional areas. This is a goal we continue to work towards.

"Rural industry has enabled us Australians to achieve one of the world’s highest standards, at least in terms of material wealth. All this has been hard won by hard work. We can indeed be proud of the productivity and efficiency of the Australian farmer."

Vincent Fairfax address at the opening of the Toowoomba Show, 1981.