Geelong Community Foundation Programs

The Schools in Philanthropy (SIP) Program was established by the Geelong Community Foundation in 2011 to help young people learn about philanthropy, social awareness and community leadership.

At the end of another busy week in the for-purpose

At the end of another busy week in the for-purpose sector, we’d just like to shout-out all the volunteers in our community who continue to give back and bring joy to the lives of others.

These wonderful volunteers at Lazarus Community Centre Geelong are helping out with food prep 💙

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It was great to support our grant partner Read the

It was great to support our grant partner Read the Play by participating in the inaugural Serenity in the Stadium event today.

Geelong Community Foundation CEO Amy Waters said that the event was a fantastic way to raise awareness of the importance of positive mental health, and encouraging people to take the time to invest not only in their physical wellbeing, but their mental and emotional wellbeing as well.

“With mental health conditions on the rise, organisations like Read the Play have an important role in championing mental wellness and nurturing resilient and compassionate young people and communities.”

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We recently released our inaugural Vital Signs rep

We recently released our inaugural Vital Signs report, an initiative aimed at measuring the health, wellbeing and quality of life indicators within the Geelong region.

Vital Signs, a globally-recognised program utilised by Community Foundations worldwide, employs a data-driven approach to present a comprehensive overview of community trends, strengths, and needs. The report will now guide and inform funding decisions and provide valuable insights for community organisations in the Geelong region.

October is World Mental Health Month and data shows that the Geelong Community is grappling with poor mental health, with rates of mental health conditions, self harm and suicide above the state average.

10.6% of all residents of the Greater Geelong Community identified as having a mental health disorder in the last census. With the rate increasing to as high as 17.6% in some suburbs.

Dr Elise Davey, GP and Practice Principal at Kensington Hill Medical Centre, said that one of the great challenges of mental illness in our community is that these numbers don’t begin to convey the ripple effect this has on the individual’s loved ones.

“Poorly managed mental illness has consequences far outweighing that of an individual. It limits employment, social connection, and the ability to manage any co-existing health conditions,” Ms Davey said.

In our 2024-25 Main Grant Round, the Foundation provided funding of $297,300 to 1️⃣1️⃣ organisations that support mental health, including: Art of the Minds, Cherished Pets, Foundation 61, Geelong Youth Engagement, Hope Bereavement Care, LifeChanger Foundation, Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, Ocean Mind, Reach Foundation, Read The Play and Sports Challenge Australia.

Read our Vital Signs Report via the link in bio.

Image via Ocean Mind

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Congratulations to the Farm My School team, who we

Congratulations to the Farm My School team, who were announced as one of four winners in Canon ANZ Oceania’s 2024 Grants Program, an initiative that recognises the positive impacts Australian organisations are making in their local communities.

With our funding support, Farm My School also recently launched its Nourish workshops, the purpose of which is to arm the community with practical and affordable ways to nurture themselves and their families.

The events are running until March next year and feature seven cooking classes run by renowned chefs, as well as two introductory gardening workshops.

You can book your tickets via Farm My School’s website.

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“It’s the little things that make a big differ

“It’s the little things that make a big difference. At Thread Together, we include personalised messages with every clothing package, offering an extra layer of thoughtfulness and care. These small gestures remind recipients they are supported and appreciated—because everyone deserves to feel valued.”

We love this personalised touch from Thread Together, an organisation that we have proudly funded through our 2024-25 Main Grant Round.

Our grant has enabled the establishment of a clothes distribution hub in Geelong including an online distribution hub, mobile wardrobe, in-store shopping experience and capsule service at women’s shelters.

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We are grateful for the support of @riordangrainse