Money Flows for NFPs in Melbourne
14 November 2014 at 3:25 pm
More than 150 people from the Not for Profit sector attended the annual Impact100 Melbourne Gala last night, which saw McAuley Community Services for Women win the $100,000 high impact grant.
The three runners-up, Holy Fools, Ladder Project Foundation and Open Family Australia did not leave empty handed, as two Impact100 Melbourne members committed a further $30,000 on the night to ensure the charities went home with $10,000 in their pockets.
McAuley Community Services for Women Chief Executive Jocelyn Bignold said she was nearly lost for words at the announcement.
“This grant is so incredibly important to us. It means that we can streamline a set of existing programs and be more effective to the women we serve,” Bignold said.
Bignold noted the power of giving circles to create transformational change for both donors and the disadvantaged in Melbourne.
“This is just so incredibly rare for us charities to mingle with Melburnians and show them what is happening in their own backyard,” she said.
“More than 10,000 women in Melbourne are homeless largely due to family violence and mental health and it’s an invisible issue, but we can all play an important role regardless of our means.
“Giving money to this cause tonight is one thing, but having Impact100 Melbourne members open their hearts and minds to the issue of homelessness all year and again tonight is just so incredibly moving and important.”
Impact100 Melbourne committee member Rikki Andrews said donations were continuing to roll in today.
“Being able to mingle with charities is one of the great aspects of giving circles, and that’s why they are taking off around Australia,” Andrews said.
“Giving circles such as the Impact100 model will transform philanthropy in Australia, as it democratises giving and enables everyone to feel like a high impact donor. Last night, we had members contribute $1000 to $10,000 and yet we were able to donate $130,000 – everyone left with a huge buzz and smile on their face.”
The video stories of each organisation will be playing on the big screen at Federation Square for the next month.
Impact100 Melbourne is a membership-style giving circle with a mission to reach under-served parts of Melbourne, raise the profile of lesser-known charities, highlight unmet needs and increase involvement in philanthropy across Melbourne.
