philanthropyOz Blog

Small Grants for Small Regional Communities announced

Twenty-six community groups have shared Small Grants funding totalling more than $100,000 from the Gardiner Foundation in its Working in Dairying Communities small grants program administered by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.

The Gardiner Foundation and FRRR have collaborated to deliver the Small Grants Program over the past seven years. The program offers grants of up to $5,000 for individual local projects to improve existing infrastructure and strengthen small rural communities.

The projects funded in this round are diverse and include:

• a calf-rearing program at a primary school to educate children about farm animals and increase awareness of dairying as a potential career. Calves donated by local dairy farmers would be cared for at the school, and generate an income stream to sustain the program
• improvements to infrastructure and equipment for community facilities such as halls and kindergartens
• training for young people with a disability
• improving women’s finance and budgeting skills
• promoting health and fitness through walking tracks and exercise facilities
• establishment of a kitchen garden to raise children’s awareness of the source of food, and promoting health eating
• computers for improved functioning in community organisations and development of capability through targeted computer training

More information from the Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation.