A rural NSW grantseeker is proving that philanthropic investment in people and skills can produce a huge return on investment – bringing in more than $2.4million in grants for his community.

While many Government and philanthropic funders won’t give grants for funding people or capacity building, Junee Business and Trades Community Liaison Officer Nicholas Pyers is showing such investments can pay large dividends.

Nicholas’s role has been funded since 2019 by The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)’s Investing in Rural Community Futures program. He has been successful in helping win and advise on grants totalling $2,483,226 – and is awaiting news on a further $1million of grants that are in progress for Junee, which is located 440km south-west of Sydney in the Riverina region.

FRRR CEO Natalie Egleton said that since late 2018, regional NSW communities have faced a series of unrelenting disruptions, with drought, bushfire, flood and the COVID-19 pandemic continuing into 2022.

“The impact on these NFP organisations has been significant. It has taken its toll on the people that lead and run these organisations and has increased their load and affected their wellbeing. The sector has been dealing with extreme fatigue, burnout, limited fundraising options, access to volunteers, disconnection and, in some instances wholesale organisational change.

“The funding of Nicholas and the grant support role is a great example of how investing in local jobs and paying someone who has skills can result in high-yielding results and impact for organisations and communities,” she said. “This gives weight to our practise of employing local people and leveraging their position to help build the capacity of the entire town or community,” Ms Egleton said.

The impressive tally has been reached by a combination of activities. The grants have been won either by Nicholas directly developing a project concept and budget, then writing and submitting the grant application, or him reviewing other grant applications that have been submitted, as well as him identifying grant opportunities for other groups so they are able to apply. Nicholas also provides support to individuals in organisations, building their capacity and knowledge of grant writing, which allows them to prepare and submit grants, and secure funding for their own organisations.

FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) model was developed in partnership with Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) and aims to strengthen local not-for-profit (NFP) organisations and, ultimately, enable them to thrive. It is a grassroots approach designed to build and support the capacity of individual and collective NFPs, over a sustained period of time.

This program now operates in seven communities in NSW, delivering a blend of grants and capacity building activities supported by local facilitators. Junee, Leeton and the Nambucca Valley were the initial cohort of communities supported by the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation. Supported by The Snow Foundation Nowra, Ulladulla & Batemans Bay started an IRCF program in 2020 and further investment by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank’s Community Enterprise Foundation saw Bay & Basin communities join in 2021.

Successful grants for the Junee community range from upgrades to sporting facilities and meeting rooms through to projects supporting the likes of a museum.

Nearly $700,000 in funding awarded to local community groups

Funding announced by FRRR today, is helping local community groups in Junee and Nambucca Valley to carry on their operations, despite multiple disruptions, by funding staff, developing efficient processes and boosting their capabilities through collaboration and technology.

Fourteen local not-for-profits (NFPs) are sharing $695,166 in grants, which will strengthen how their organisations function, and bolster the ways in which these groups can support their communities.

Funded by FRRR, in partnership with Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF), Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) is a five-year program designed to provide local NFPs with the tools and support they need to make lasting impacts in their areas of focus for the community. As part of the program, FRRR worked with the groups to create a tailored NFP sector roadmap, reflecting their shared goals. This funding and other ongoing support, including local facilitators on the ground, is helping bring these plans to life.

Nancy Sposato, FRRR Program Manager, said that the IRCF program, now in its third year, gives participating not-for-profits the opportunity to identify common issues and develop local strategies that will support their long-term sustainability.

“Through these grants, we have supported six organisations we’ve previously funded, alongside eight new organisations. This package really shows a deeper understanding and sophistication in how organisations are approaching capacity building,” Ms Sposato explained.

“At this point in the program, it is fantastic to see collaborations and sector alliances building within each community. A great example of this is support for Unkya Local Aboriginal Land Council in the Nambucca Valley, who will deepen First Nations NFP sector collaboration and support key leaders to develop a cultural-competency induction package.

“Local employment continues to be a key capacity building measure in supporting stability and sustainability, particularly considering COVID related disruptions. For example, Junee Business and Trades will be able to employ a part-time grants officer, which will make it easier for local NFPs to apply for funding to support local projects. These grants also respond to the need for technology system and small-scale infrastructure upgrades, further enhancing organisational efficiency.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Junee and Nambucca Valley NFPs, and continuing to support them as they implement their unique roadmaps,” Ms Sposato, said.

In addition to Junee and Nambucca Valley, the rural community of Leeton is taking part in the VFFF-funded IRCF program. FRRR has also partnered with The Snow Foundation to expand the program into the Shoalhaven communities of Batemans Bay, Nowra and Ulladulla. In June, FRRR partnered with Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm, Community Enterprise Foundation to further expand the IRCF program into the Bay and Basin region.

For more information about the Investing in Rural Community Futures program visit – https://frrr.org.au/ircf-program/.

The full list of grant recipients and their projects are below.

Investing in the long-term future of rural NSW communities

The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) has awarded $1,047,716 in grants to support 37 projects led by not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) across six rural communities in New South Wales, through the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program.

The more than $1 million in grants is funded through FRRR’s partnerships with the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) and The Snow Foundation, which are both committed in helping develop communities in rural and regional NSW.

IRCF is a place-based program that provides local NFPs and community sector organisations with practical support and funding so they can be stronger, more resilient, and fulfill their purpose with greater impact. The program encourages collaboration and community-led solutions that will seed the long-term self-sufficiency of these organisations.

In partnership with the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation, FRRR launched the IRCF program in the regional NSW communities of Junee, Leeton and Nambucca Valley. Now in their second year of the five-year program, these communities are sharing a further $557,698 in Ongoing Partnership Grants.

Alli Mudford, IRCF Program Manager, said that these grants mark the start of the second phase of the IRCF program.

“The first phase was about bringing community-based organisations together to explore common needs and identify areas where they could collaborate, as well as identify what support they required as individual organisations. The kind of issues that emerged included the need for staff, organisational training and skills development, and investment in community and organisational infrastructure.

“This second phase of the program is about helping the organisations take action on these common areas of need with the support of these grants.

“For example, in Nambucca Valley, a key challenge is broad community engagement. We are supporting Nambucca Valley Youth Services and Mujaay Ganma Foundation to develop projects to help them engage more deeply with locals, particularly the young people of Nambucca Valley, by providing training and mentoring opportunities.

“In Junee and Leeton, for example, Junee Rhythm and Rail, Junee Senior Citizens and Leeton Show Society will use their funding to purchase equipment and refurbish community infrastructure that is used by a number of local not-for-profits,” said Ms Mudford.

Some of the other projects funded through these IRCF Ongoing Partnership Grants include:

• Junee Community Power received $15,000 to alleviate energy poverty for the community by installing solar power to the Junee Senior Citizens Hall. This will be the start a bigger initiative for Junee not-for-profits and community power.
• Leeton Connect received $90,000 to support Leeton not-for-profits by employing a coordinator to deliver training and development.
• Jaanymili Bawrungga in Nambucca Valley received $30,290 to develop a strategic plan to assist with operational objectives and create cultural economic sustainability with the support of a consultant.

A full list of IRCF Ongoing Partnership Grants recipients and their projects are below.

FRRR staff will continue to walk alongside these three communities, working with them to implement their community roadmap. Nambucca Valley has seen a strong demand for funding with the first tranche allocated to projects that will be managed in line with the region’s overall allocation for the life of the program. Further grants will be awarded in Leeton and Junee later in the year.

Program now rolling out on South Coast

In April 2020, FRRR and The Snow Foundation partnered with the commitment to increase their ongoing support of South Coast communities and to expand the IRCF program into Bateman’s Bay, Nowra and Ulladulla. As part of the program launch, these communities are sharing in $490,018 in Start-Up Grants.

Kate Dezarnaulds, IRCF Coordinator for Shoalhaven, said last summer’s bushfires and now COVID-19 have had a direct impact on the energy, capability, and resources of these largely volunteer-run NFPs.

“These Start-Up Grants will provide a range of dynamic grassroots organisations with funding for projects that will strengthen them and increase their capacity to support the recovery and renewal of their communities, which have been so clearly impacted by these disasters.

“For example, community organisations such as Shoalhaven Health & Arts and Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber are looking at ways to better connect with their community through improved digital infrastructure. 

“Other groups, like Shoalhaven Community Preschool, Ulladulla and Districts Community Resources Centre, and the Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance, are using their grants to improve governance and provide tailored training and mentoring opportunities for staff and volunteers. These are the kind of projects that struggle to find funding outside of the Investing in Rural Community Futures program, but they make a real difference to the viability and resilience of the not-for-profit sector in the region,”  said Ms Dezarnaulds.

Some of the other projects funded through these IRCF Start-Up Grants include:

• The Family Place in the Batemans Bay area received $40,785 to develop a 5-year strategic plan that supports the urgent need to adapt to Telehealth to continue to provide services during COVID-19.
• The Shoalhaven Women’s Resource Group in Nowra received $18,810 to work with a consultant to develop a new fundraising strategy that focuses on the launch of a social enterprise to provide a first employment opportunity for the women they support who are exiting prison.
• Treading Lightly in Ulladulla received $25,000 to establish a Community Hub to host their regular program of small-scale community building meetings, workshops and activities for the regions affiliated NFP’s – these workshops and meetings often have an environmental sustainability and youth outreach focus.  

A full list of IRCF Start-Up Grants recipients and their projects are below.

Over the coming six months FRRR staff and facilitators on the ground will work closely with the three communities on the South Coast, supporting them to put their Start-Up Grants projects into action.

All 37 IRCF grantees will have until December 2021 to implement their projects.

Jump to IRCF Ongoing Partnership Grants: JUNEE | LEETON | NAMBUCCA VALLEY
Jump to IRCF Start-Up Grants: NOWRA | ULLADULLA | BATEMANS BAY

Organisation	Project	Grant
IRCF Ongoing Partnership Grants
JUNEE
Junee Business & Trades	Junee Community Events Trailer Enable improved coordination and resource-sharing through the purchase of a trailer and equipment for events to be utilised by the range of NFP groups.	$30,611
Junee Business & Trades	Junee Community Presentations Improve organisational capacity and upskill leaders and volunteers of local Community Groups by conducting a series of presentations and workshops.	$20,000
Junee Community Power	Invest in the Junee Community Circular Fund (JCCP) Increase organisational capacity and save operational costs for community organisations by investing in two solar systems to kickstart a circular fund for community-owned electricity generation in the Junee Shire.	$15,000
Riverina Boys	Public Address System Installation Build organisational capacity and increase community engagement through installation of a Public Address system across four recreation areas in Junee.	$20,000
Junee Senior Citizens	Saving the Senior Citizens Hall Reduce volunteer fatigue, build the capacity of the Junee Senior Citizens Club, and assist the wider community by supporting the Junee Senior Citizens Hall upgrade.	$13,000
Rhythm & Rail	Junee Community AV Build capacity across the not-for-profit sector and increase community engagement through the upgrade of a portable PA system and new control booth.	$19,944
LEETON
Leeton Connect	Leeton Connect – Connecting the Leeton LGA Not-for-Profits Now and in the Future Build organisational capacity across the Leeton not-for-profit sector through training, resources, an online community directory, and community volunteer and asset registers.	$90,000
Leeton Art Society	LASI Website – Create, Community & Continuity Improve community engagement and enhance digital literacy and organisational capacity of Leeton Art Society by investing in a new website and digital literacy program.	$15,500
Whitton Public School P&C	Hot Desk for the Whitton Community – Providing Strength from Within Foster sustainability and connectedness of local community organisations in Whitton by providing a shared central office space complete with office equipment.	$10,207
Leeton Show Society	Leeton Show Society Combined Office Space – A Workspace for Partnering NFPs Reduce volunteer fatigue and support NFP organisational capacity through upgrade of facilities at the Leeton Show Society combined office space.	$23,436
NAMBUCCA VALLEY
Alithia	Administration and Funding Support Strengthen organisational capacity and community inclusion and connectivity by initiating a range of measures to support the Alithia learning space in Valla Beach.	$30,000
Bowraville Innovative Social Enterprises Precinct Incorporated	Scoping Governance Build organisational capacity by developing and implementing a strong governance framework from which to train and support other local not-for-profits and social enterprises in Bowraville and the Nambucca Valley.	$44,912
Jaanymili Bawrungga Incorporated	Jaanymili Bawrungga Building Blocks Strengthen organisational capacity and sustainability by developing internal systems, leadership, and governance structures.	$30,290
MiiMi Aboriginal Corporation	Gumbaynggirr Administration Support Role Build organisational sustainability and capacity by employing a young local administrative person for 12 months to provide support to the organisation.	$55,735
Mujaay Ganma Foundation Aboriginal Corporation	Yuraal Guunumba Ngurraay: Gumbaynggirr Native Foods Community Garden Project Foster community engagement, organisational capacity, and share cultural knowledge by engaging trainee coordinators and mentors to kickstart the Mujaay Ganma’s Yuraal Garden Project.	$38,443
Muurrbay Aboriginal Language & Culture Co-operative	Strengthening Muurrbay & Aboriginal Languages for the Future Support the sustainability of Muurrbay, and more widely the survival of local Aboriginal languages, by updating organisational policies, procedure and plans with the assistance of the Brangan Group working with Muurrbay Board and staff.	$14,600
Nambucca Senior Citizens Club	Nambucca Valley Newsletter Promote community connectivity and reduce social exclusion by supporting a local Nambucca print newsletter and news desk at the Senior Citizens Hall.	$4,030
Nambucca Valley Phoenix Limited	The Phoenix Rising – Strategic Plan and Mentoring Develop a five-year strategic plan to transform NVP into a sustainable social enterprise, supporting people living with disabilities and/or other disadvantages to participate in employment, training, and micro-enterprise development.	$40,000
Nambucca Valley Youth Services Inc	Marketing and Business Administration Training for Staff and Volunteers Including Young People at the Nambucca Valley Youth Services Centre Upskill staff and volunteers at Nambucca Valley Youth Services Centre through three workshops across the Valley in marketing and administration and support the collection of content and design for a website and communications strategy.	$41,990
IRCF Start-Up Grants
NOWRA
The Shoalhaven Women’s Resource Group Limited	CREATING A FUTURE – Delivering Diversified Revenue to Thrive Support sustainability and succession of The Shoalhaven Women’s Resource Group Limited by development of a diversified revenue strategy including feasibility studies into potential social enterprises to enhance their funding mix and reduce vulnerability to changes in grant funding.	$18,810
Shoalhaven Community Preschool Incorporated	Staff Wellbeing and Capacity Building Program Empower the staff, strengthen their resilience post-bushfires, and increase their cultural awareness through the provision of a tailored staff development program, cultural awareness training and the employment of an Aboriginal Identified trainee.	$15,000
Shoalhaven Health and Arts	Shoalhaven Health & Arts – Website and Outreach Create community awareness of the program of Arts & Health activities being developed for the Nowra community by the newly formed organisation – Shoalhaven Arts & Health Inc through the development of marketing and communications channels designed to reach those with lived experience of recent bushfire trauma and the local services that support them.	$10,000
Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Services Inc	Client Management System (CMS) Enhancement to Enable Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Services to Become More Sustainable, Flexible, and Adaptive Streamline the delivery of in-home services through the purchase, migration, and implementation of a custom-designed CRM for Shoalhaven Neighbourhood Services so that they can better support the aged and people living with disability in the Nowra area.	$28,304
South Coast Beef Producers Association Incorporated	Shoalhaven Cattle Industry Training Centre Improve opportunities for commercial South Coast beef producers through the construction of a fit-for-purpose cattle handling, showing, and training facility at the Nowra Showgrounds.	$47,508
Tomerong School of Arts	Connecting Community, Building Resilience Enhance community connectedness through the creation and distribution of a quarterly community newsletter and new-resident welcome pack that will promote community life, volunteering opportunities and events centered around the Tomerong School of Arts.	$5,900
ULLADULLA
Milton Promotions Committee	Milton Back in Business Stimulate activity in the local economy to aid economic recovery from the fires and COVID through a cooperative marketing campaign seeking to encourage visitors and residents to shop local in Milton.	$10,000
Milton Ulladulla Business Chamber Incorporated	Community Connect Shoalhaven (CCSS) Enable the fragmented community sector of the Ulladulla / Milton area to better communicate, collaborate and support each other through the creation of a community newsletter, website, and database of organisations, events and volunteers.	$17,870
Ulladulla and Districts Community Resources Centre Incorporated	Building Foundations Develop supportive relationships and deeper connectivity to culturally diverse communities, especially the local Aboriginal community, through a research and training program for staff and volunteers followed by the formalisation and documentation of strategic partnerships with aligned organisations.	$45,902
Independence Ulladulla Inc	Everybody Deserves to THRIVE Enable Independence Ulladulla to secure their tenancy and operations, modernise their operating systems and update their training to provide a much-needed School Leavers’ Employment Support program and expand their community engagement offering to non-resident disability clients.	$50,000
Treading Lightly Inc	Treading Lightly Community Hub Establish a Community Hub for Treading Lightly to provide a visible focal point and an efficient delivery mechanism for the regions affiliated NFP’s to host their regular program of small-scale community building meetings, workshops and activities that often have a focus on environmental sustainability and youth outreach.	$25,000
Red Head Villages Association Incorporated	Red Head Villages Enhance social cohesion, get prepared with ‘shovel ready’ projects and improve future disaster preparedness through the preparation of a master plan for the five villages of the Red Head area just north of Ulladulla.	$31,971
BATEMANS BAY
Community Life Batemans Bay Inc	Look Listen Learn Inspire and develop capacity and organisational sustainability by conducting a one-day workshop for directors, staff, and volunteers, with a focus on nurturing individual leadership, good governance, responsibility, and accountability.	$5,045
Eurobodalla Education and Therapy Services Ltd	Building Allied Health in the Eurobodalla Strengthen organisational succession planning for the team at Muddy Puddles and retain local people and skills by establishing a student placement program for Allied Health workers.	$37,500
SEARMS Aboriginal Corporation	Community – Stronger Together Prepare the SEARMS Aboriginal Corporation for their next chapter with the development of a community engagement plan and new strategic plan to capitalise on their partnerships and networks and adjust to changing funding dynamics.	$40,000
Clyde River and Batemans Bay Historical Society Inc	Aspire, Acquire, Become! Build organisational capacity through the delivery of Governance training for the Clyde River & Batemans Bay Historical Society and their three local partner historical societies before a major expansion of built infrastructure and complexity of operations.	$22,923
The Family Place Inc	Growing a Strong Service for a Strong and Vibrant Community Drive innovation in service delivery, strengthen governance and invest in leadership for The Family Place through the appointment of a consultant to guide strategic planning for the future while acknowledging trauma and providing space to heal after the fires.	$40,785
Southcoast Health and Sustainability Alliance	Turbocharging South Coast Volunteer, NFPs Drive widespread and coordinated capacity building across 20+ grassroots NFP’s in the Eurobodalla area through the appointment of a project coordinator to support governance, leadership, and communications programs.	$37,500

Junee not-for-profits (NFPs) will now have a set of helping hands to assist in the development, implementation and evaluation of projects suggested as part of the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program, with the appointment of a local facilitator.

Junee was chosen as one of three New South Wales communities to participate in the IRCF program, which was set up through a partnership between the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF).

FRRR’s IRCF Program Manager, Alli Mudford, says that the organisation knows from experience how important it is to have someone local on the ground to support organisations in their own community and help turn these ideas into sustainable solutions.

“One thing that we heard loud and clear from the Junee community was how important it is to have local people playing an integral part in this program,” said Ms Mudford. “That’s why we are delighted to have Cahli Wall joining the team as Junee’s community facilitator.”

Cahli Wall lives in Junee and is passionate about creating educational opportunities and an inclusive environment for the region’s youth, disadvantaged and other vulnerable community members. Cahli believes the new IRCF program will provide Junee community groups with the important resources and support they need to thrive.

Both FRRR and VFFF have been inspired by the ideas that community representatives have put forward. Local organisations have identified that organisational development, governance, skills development and revenue sustainability are priorities for the Junee community.

These suggestions have now been incorporated into a roadmap for the IRCF program moving forward. Individual organisations and collectives in Junee are now invited to apply for grants for projects that are reflected in this community roadmap.

Ms Mudford says that FRRR staff and the newly appointed local facilitator will work closely with local organisations to support them to apply for these, and future grants as part of the Junee’s IRCF journey.

“Each community we’re working with is very different, with its own challenges, unique personalities and the depth and breadth of not-for-profits that work within its boundaries. FRRR’s role in the IRCF journey is to act as facilitators and supporters, to enhance the ability of local leaders to deliver the change they wish to see.

“It is absolutely a privilege to be working with the local leaders we’ve met in Junee, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds and how they turn these ideas into reality.”

Applications for IRCF Ongoing Partnership Grants based on the Junee community roadmap are now open and close at 5pm, Friday 12 June 2020. Grants will be awarded in August 2020.

To apply for an Ongoing Partnership Grant contact IRCF Program Manager Alli Mudford on 0448 992 820, or Junee’s IRCF facilitator Cahli Wall on 0434 934 626 or email ircfjunee@gmail.com.