Helen Macpherson Smith Trust

An Independent Philanthropic Trust

Chris Wootton8 October 2010

HMS Trust 2010

L.E.W CartyCharitableFund

Macpherson SmithCommunity Alliance

HelenMacphersonSmith Trust

JohnVilliersTrust

HMSBushfiresGrantsFund

HMS Trust 2010

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.auHMS Trust 2010

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

Streams Strands

Priority Areas: Ageing (research theme) Belonging Building Community Spirit Youth Health (research theme)

Streams Partnerships

Key Features: Collaborations Usually multi-year Capacity building & organisational

development Via an Expression of Interest process

What Makes a Good Grant?1. Clearly define the need and your project2. Match the granting agency with your project

– look at guidelines, annual reports & previous grants

3. Read guidelines carefully especially any themes, special requirements/eligibility etc

4. Double-check where your project proposal can be improved

5. Contact the granting agency and discuss your project informally and gauge reaction

6. Keep the application clear and precise

HMS Trust 2010

Government33%

Services29%

Sales9%

Membership5%

Investments4%

Philanthropic10%

Other10%

NFP/Third Sector – Sources of Income

Productivity Commission, October 2009 Table 4.9HMS Trust 2010

Trusts Foundations

& PAFs4%

OtherFundraising

14%

Sponsorship16% Corporate

Donations 8%

IndividualDonations

58%

NFP/Third Sector – Sources of Income

Productivity Commission, October 2009 Table 4.9HMS Trust 2010

Common Mistakes?1. Too detailed – lay audience (Trustees)2. Not reading guidelines3. Not checking previously awarded grants4. Attaching standard letters of support5. Seeking too much funding – relative to other

funding partners6. Seeking too little funding – limiting the

projects success7. Failing the ‘replication-test’8. Seeking support for ‘on-going’ programs9. Being ‘too passionate’

HMS Trust 2010

Investment-Based

Organisation-Based

TacticalCollaborative

Interventionist

Philanthropy

Project-Based

Individual-Based

Seven Approaches to ‘Good’ PhilanthropyGifts, donations & scholarships

Discreteprojects

Capacity building& unrestricted

funding

More focusedfundingFunders work together in

common areas of interest

Funder-led facilitation to address a community need

Venture capital, micro-credit & social enterprises

HMS Trust 2010

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

Granting Professional

Decision-Making Parameters

HMS Trust 2010

Grantor

Grantee

Balance of Power

HMS Trust 2010

Questions/Discussion

HMS Trust 2010