Helen Macpherson Smith Trust An Independent Philanthropic Trust Chris Wootton 8 October 2010

1. Helen Macpherson Smith Trust An Independent Philanthropic Trust Chris Wootton 8 October 2010 HMS Trust 2010

2. HMS Bushfires Grants Fund Helen Macpherson Smith Trust L.E.W Carty Charitable Fund John Villiers Trust Macpherson Smith Community Alliance HMS Trust 2010

3. Established in 1951 • Initial corpus of £275,000 – current value around $90 million • 3 Grant rounds per year – end of September, January & April (Approx $5-$6 million per year) • Allocate grants via a Granting Policy and Grants Committee of the Trust • Total grants to date of over $85+ million • Support Victorian Charitable Institutions, Public Benevolent Institutions & Health Promotion Charities • www.hmstrust.org.au HMS Trust 2010

4. Streams • Small Grants (<$25,000) Funding Areas: • Aged Persons Care and Support • Arts, Culture and Heritage • Community Support • Disabled Care and Support • Education • Employment and Vocational Training • Environment • Health and Medical Research

5. Streams • Strands Priority Areas: • Ageing (research theme) • Belonging • Building Community Spirit • Youth Health (research theme)

6. Streams • Partnerships Key Features: • Collaborations • Usually multi-year • Capacity building & organisational development • Via an Expression of Interest process

7. What Makes a Good Grant? • Clearly define the need and your project • Match the granting agency with your project – look at guidelines, annual reports & previous grants • Read guidelines carefully especially any themes, special requirements/eligibility etc • Double-check where your project proposal can be improved • Contact the granting agency and discuss your project informally and gauge reaction • Keep the application clear and precise HMS Trust 2010

8. NFP/Third Sector – Sources of Income HMS Trust 2010 Productivity Commission, October 2009 Table 4.9

9. NFP/Third Sector – Sources of Income HMS Trust 2010 Productivity Commission, October 2009 Table 4.9

10. Common Mistakes? • Too detailed – lay audience (Trustees) • Not reading guidelines • Not checking previously awarded grants • Attaching standard letters of support • Seeking too much funding – relative to other funding partners • Seeking too little funding – limiting the projects success • Failing the ‘replication-test’ • Seeking support for ‘on-going’ programs • Being ‘too passionate’ HMS Trust 2010

11. Seven Approaches to ‘Good’ Philanthropy Individual-Based Gifts, donations & scholarships Venture capital, micro-credit & social enterprises Project-Based Investment-Based Discrete projects Philanthropy Interventionist Organisation-Based Funder-led facilitation to address a community need Capacity building & unrestricted funding Collaborative Tactical More focused funding Funders work together in common areas of interest HMS Trust 2010

12. Granting Tensions Responsive Small grants Cheque-book Follow Low Risk Low profile Trust persona Proactive Large grants Value-add Lead High Risk High profile Staff persona HMS Trust 2010

13. Decision-Making Parameters Granting Professional HMS Trust 2010

14. Balance of Power Grantor Grantee HMS Trust 2010

15. Questions/Discussion HMS Trust 2010