News

Collaborative Funding Round

In 2020, a group of foundations came together to consider the serious consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for many for-purpose and arts sectors organisations. VFFF took part in this philanthropic collaboration, the COVID and Beyond NFP Recovery Project.

Five funders (VFFF, Ian Potter Foundation, Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, Sidney Myer Fund and Gandel Philanthropy) engaged Dandolo Partners to undertake research and consultation with social sector and arts sector organisations. This research consulted with 57 organisations to identify:

key themes in how organisations are responding to changed operating environments
examples of sector-led approaches to innovating service delivery or operating models
what is needed to enable innovation and inform how funders should respond.

The research findings and recommendations focused on collaboration and innovation. They identified that foundations had a real opportunity to work collaboratively to support sector innovation, to back purposeful collaborations and to utilise funding models that incentivised these practices.

The recent announcement of a collaborative funding round, supported by each of the foundations, is a tangible contribution to fostering sector innovation through multi-year, flexible funding.

Initiatives are now being sought from the social and/or arts sectors that focus on quality employment outcomes for young people and/or older women experiencing disadvantage.

The initiatives must be both collaborative and innovative and must include activities in New South Wales and/or Victoria. They may also have national scope or application. They can be from two to five years’ duration. Priority will be given to those that include a strong evaluation and sustainability strategy. Operational funding will be encouraged and will be considered eligible expenditure for part or all of the grant.

In the Expression of Interest (EoI) phase applicants are asked to provide high level information describing their collaborative initiative, including its anticipated impacts and how they advance each collaborating partner’s mission.

Up to five shortlisted candidates will then be awarded a development grant of $15,000 to support the development of the collaboration. It is envisaged that two to three proposals will ultimately be selected for funding of up to $500,000 each (for initiatives of two to three years) or up to $750,000 each (for initiatives of up to five years).

VFFF greatly appreciates the opportunity to work alongside our four collaborating foundations on this funding round.

The EoI phase closes on 31 October. More information is available at the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation website.