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

The Grants Committee comprises Sir Vincent and Lady Nancy Fairfax’s grandchildren and their spouses and conducts assessments and makes decisions on requests 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. Since its inception in 2012, 16 members of the third generation (three quarters of them) have been Committee members, gaining hands-on experience in grants assessment and governance. Committee members have collectively approved more than 135 grants, totalling more than $4M.

Working with the rising generation

When family members turn 18 they are invited to become VFFF members and five 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

Site visits to grant recipients provide younger family members with the chance to see the work supported by VFFF in action.

As part of the 30th birthday celebrations of the Family Office Cambooya, younger family members took part in a digital print project at The Social Outfit in Newtown. Enthusiastically putting their artistic skills into action, family members designed a series of images which were then crafted into a print design. The family print is now featured proudly in the Family Office.

Who's Phil Anthony?

‘If I asked my kids what they knew about philanthropy, they’d say ‘Who’s Phil Anthony?’

Family member, 3rd generation

In 2018, six members of the third generation worked alongside the team to review family involvement in VFFF. With its eyes on the future, the team was motivated to ensure younger family members could get to know ‘Phil Anthony’.

The project considered how family members would like to participate in philanthropy and the work of VFFF over the next five years. It included a review of next gen philanthropy readings, a family survey and a facilitated discussion with next gen family members of Melbourne foundations. The project team presented their findings to VFFF Directors who responded enthusiastically to the findings, including the suggestion to expand the Grants Committee’s remit to Queensland, to provide family members based there with the chance to engage more closely with local organisations.

"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

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.

Special family granting

VFFF maintains a degree of flexibility to respond when an opportunity arises to support an initiative of catalytic potential or particular importance to the Vincent Fairfax family. Over the years, this has seen VFFF contribute to a number of highly impactful organisations and initiatives. A family retreat held in 2014 identified two lead areas of family interest: educational inequality and ethical development of young people. These specific interest areas informed the development of the Fair Education Program and the Ethical Development Program (CODE).