FRRR (Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal) and Snow Foundation recently announced they will continue their partnership to support grassroots not-for-profit (NFP) organisations across the South Coast of NSW through a new three-year $2.5 million partnership.
The South Coast Futures program builds on the success of the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) initiative, which has been delivered over the past five years. South Coast Futures will continue to strengthen the resourcing, capacity, sustainability and impact of NFPs in the Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla Shires.
The extended program recognises that not-for-profit organisations and community groups in these regions have experienced ongoing challenges following the Black Summer Bushfires and the COVID pandemic. Their strength and sustainability are essential to the wellbeing of the community.
FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton, said FRRR is pleased to continue working alongside the Snow Foundation and these local communities.
“It’s fantastic to build on the momentum that has been created over the past five years and explore how those learnings can be used by groups in the broader region. Our focus remains on strengthening the capacity and resilience of local not-for-profit organisations, enabling greater collaboration, collective initiatives and empowering the sector to drive a wide range of improved outcomes in their communities.”
“Thanks to the Snow Foundation, this next iteration of support will continue to offer facilitated co-design processes and grant funding toward emerging and future areas of focus such as next generation leadership, First Nations self-determination and economic empowerment, climate solutions and harnessing local philanthropy,” Ms Egleton said.
Snow Foundation CEO, Georgina Byron, said the initiative will build on past learnings to ensure a strong future for the region’s vital community groups.
“When we established our partnership with FRRR, we committed not just to funding change, but to walking alongside local community organisations on the South Coast — because they know their place, their people and their possibilities. Over the past five years, we’ve seen more than 100 grassroots not-for-profits strengthen their strategy, people, systems and efficiencies, enabling them to recover from bushfire and pandemic shocks, and move from surviving to thriving.
“What excites us about the next phase of the South Coast Futures program is that we’re building on those very learnings – with FRRR’s deeply place-based model, locally-embedded facilitation and community-led roadmaps at the heart. Together we are empowering local leaders and organisations to drive the change their places deserve.”
A standout example of the result of the increased collaboration and confidence is the Shoalhaven Walking Together Alliance’s Together We Thrive initiative. With a $29,300 grant, the group delivered more than a dozen community events and two major projects in just 12 months, including the formation of a new Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, yana-mba njindiwan (Walking Together).
This has significantly strengthened local cultural leadership and governance. Events like the ngulla NAIDOC Festival, which drew over 1,500 attendees, highlight the deep community engagement and momentum the program helped unlock.
FRRR has engaged two locally based Regional Facilitators and is continuing to nurture relationships with local organisations. The program will formally get underway on 1 and 2 December with a series of in-person and online discussions. Community groups wanting to be involved should email Carolyn Ardler, South Coast Futures Program Manager: [email protected]