How Arthur Street Digital is creating lasting community impact through a Corporate Named Fund.
“Those who have the ability to give back have an obligation to give back.”
– Matt Cowdell, Founder, Arthur Street Digital
It’s a philosophy that has shaped Arthur Street Digital from the beginning—and one that’s now helping create lasting impact across our region.
As the Geelong-based marketing agency continued to grow, founder Matt Cowdell wanted to take a more intentional approach to the company’s giving—one that would bring the team together around a shared purpose while creating a lasting legacy for the Geelong region.
That journey led Arthur Street Digital to establish a Corporate Named Fund with Geelong Community Foundation.
Their story reflects a growing number of businesses looking to build on the community support they already provide with a more strategic, long-term approach to local giving.
A new way of thinking about business and community
Across Australia, businesses are increasingly recognising that community impact isn’t separate from business success.
Employees—particularly younger generations—want to work for organisations whose values align with their own, while customers increasingly expect businesses to make a positive contribution to the communities they serve.
Purpose-led businesses are discovering that investing in their community doesn’t just create social impact. It strengthens workplace culture, builds employee engagement and creates deeper connections with the region in which they live and work.
For Arthur Street Digital, a Corporate Named Fund provided an opportunity to bring those values to life.
Bringing the team together
One of the unexpected benefits of establishing the fund was the opportunity to engage the entire Arthur Street Digital team in the business’s giving journey.
To launch the fund internally, Geelong Community Foundation CEO Amy Waters visited the team to share insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping our region. Drawing on the Foundation’s Vital Signs research, local partnerships and deep understanding of community need, Amy explored issues ranging from family violence and housing stress to food insecurity and barriers to education and employment.
It was an eye-opening experience.
“You can live in one suburb in Geelong but not really know how different things are just up the road. Gaining that understanding around issues like family violence and food insecurity was incredibly valuable, and it was great to see our team rally behind it.”
The conversation didn’t end there. It inspired the team to explore new ways they could contribute their skills, ideas and fundraising efforts.
“It allows our team to carry forward our culture of giving. We’re brainstorming ways we can have the most impact and how we can use our marketing skills to generate even more support.”
Giving with confidence
Like many business owners, Matt wanted confidence that Arthur Street Digital’s investment would be directed where it could make the greatest difference.
Understanding how Geelong Community Foundation identifies community need, assesses grant applications and invests for long-term impact gave Arthur Street Digital confidence that every dollar would be directed where it could have the greatest impact.
“Understanding how the Foundation worked gave us confidence that our donations were going to the places that needed it most.”
For Geelong Community Foundation CEO Amy Waters, helping businesses understand where support is needed is just as important as facilitating the giving itself.
“Businesses have an extraordinary opportunity to help shape the future of our region. But meaningful giving starts with understanding where support is needed most. By combining deep local knowledge, Vital Signs research, community partnerships and rigorous grantmaking, we help businesses give with confidence—knowing their investment is creating meaningful impact, now and for the future.”
– Amy Waters, CEO, Geelong Community Foundation
Creating a lasting legacy
For Matt, one aspect of the Foundation’s model stood out above everything else—the opportunity to create something that would continue supporting the community well into the future.
“I loved the idea that it will benefit the community now, but also continue distributing funds for years to come. That’s a beautiful legacy for any business.”
Could your business build a lasting legacy?
Every business gives back in different ways.
For some, that’s through sponsorships, fundraising, volunteering or supporting local causes. For others, it’s about creating a long-term commitment through a Corporate Named Fund that sits alongside the ways they’re already making a difference.
A Corporate Named Fund gives businesses a simple, flexible and lasting way to invest in the future of our region. Whether you’re looking to strengthen workplace culture, engage your team or create a lasting community legacy, Geelong Community Foundation can help you give with confidence.
If your business is looking to create meaningful impact in the community it calls home, we’d love to start the conversation.
Learn more about Corporate Named Funds or contact our team to explore how your business can build a legacy that benefits Geelong for generations to come.
