Investing in Rural Community Futures Victoria
Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) is a grassroots program that aims to build the capacity of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations.
After being piloted and delivered in eight NSW communities, beginning in 2018, the program is now coming to three Victorian communities, thanks to the support of four philanthropic organisations – Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The Ross Trust, and William Buckland Foundation.
Run over five years, the program offers flexible and tailored support, including grants, workshops, and participatory planning processes, to strengthen the local NFP sector, so it can work collectively to more effectively advocate on shared issues, contribute to a thriving community and achieve long-term impact across agreed priority areas. You can learn more about the program below.
Proudly supported by
IRCF Victoria Partner Communities
After an extensive research and community engagement process, drawing on the learnings and successes from the NSW program, three Victorian communities have emerged as ready to maximise the opportunity the IRCF program offers and achieve significant positive impact.
The communities are: Colac, Maryborough, and Swan Hill. Over the next five years, each community will travel their own path, guided by local voices and actions, which will be informed by the development of a Community Roadmap. The Roadmap will establish each community’s goals and priorities for the not-for-profit sector and be a living resource that will evolve throughout the program.
Hear from our IRCF Victoria Partner Communities
Local leaders from our new partner communities share their thoughts about what it means to join the IRCF program.
Media Releases and Resources:
Coming up: Community Roadmapping Workshops
Colac, Maryborough and Swan Hill NFP groups and local leaders will be invited to join a Community Roadmapping Workshop in April or May. These workshops will consider the four key capacity building pillars of the IRCF program and identify local goals and priorities for the NFP sector to work towards over the next five years.
Who Should Attend the Workshop?
Staff, committee members, and volunteers from not-for-profit organisations and community groups, as well as other interested stakeholders such as local Council, business chamber and First Nations organisations.
If you know of any key people or organisations not represented at the Community Workshop held in February (as part of the program selection process) that would benefit from participating in the Roadmapping process, please personally invite them to attend.
Note: Representatives from smaller nearby townships connected to the three communities through services and other means are very welcome to attend.
Workshop Details:
Upcoming dates and registration details to be announced soon.
In the meantime, please explore the Community Roadmaps for our NSW partner communities, as well as other shared resources on the FRRR IRCF hub.
I have a question, who can I talk to?
If you have a question about the program, please don’t hesitate to reach out:
How IRCF works
IRCF offers a combination of a locally based Community Facilitator, community-led and informed grants (approximately $600,000 per community), participatory planning processes, skill building workshops to support individual and community capacity, local networking and collaboration on shared objectives.
The approach focuses on small to medium sized NFPs and is intentionally flexible, progressing at the pace of the community over five years. IRCF can support a range of priorities for NFPs, including but not limited to, governance capability and strategic planning, volunteerism, organisational systems & processes, and local partnerships.
Community-wide conversations are facilitated to identify and activate shared goals based on local priorities. This process creates a Community Roadmap that is revisited on annual basis and is readily accessible on the FRRR website alongside other relevant resources and program information. An evaluation partner helps track progress and guide next steps.
You are welcome to explore the Community Roadmaps for our NSW partner communities as well as other shared resources on the FRRR IRCF hub.
Program elements
These are the important program elements that together can strengthen NFP organisations in rural areas to achieve positive change in their community. The program provides an opportunity to explore each element with engagement from across the NFP sector, building towards a shared vision for the future and activation of ideas.
