Local Heroes Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Annual Report 2018
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Local Heroes Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Annual Report 2018 For 56 years VFFF has supported passionate people making positive changes in regional areas and urban communities across our country. We are proud to showcase some of those people in this report and to champion the hard work they do to make a difference every day. Honouring our founders’ legacy, we strive to play the most useful role we can, joining the efforts of so many working for a better Australia. CONTENTS 2 Our Founders 16 2018 Overview 3 Fairfax Family Philanthropy 18 Strategic Programs 4 Chairman’s Report 22 Thriving People and Places 5 CEO’s Report 28 Christianity 6 Social Impact Investment 34 Thematic Grants 7 Finance and Investment 44 Vincent Fairfax Ethics in Leadership 8 2018 Highlights Foundation 10 – Ethical Development 12 – Building Regional Capacity 14 – Investing in Rural Community Futures VFFF Annual Report 2018 1 Our Founders As the inheritor of a long family tradition of VISION philanthropy, Sir Vincent Fairfax established a charitable trust in 1962. In honouring our founders’ beliefs and intentions, VFFF seeks Lady Nancy Fairfax bequeathed a large amount of her estate to VFFF opportunities to benefit and care on her death in 2007, transforming its potential to benefit generations for Australians and our country. of Australians. Today, Sir Vincent and Lady Nancy Fairfax’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren continue to build their legacy. MISSION VFFF has distributed over $155 million to support people’s lives in VFFF aspires to a stronger and communities across Australia. brighter future for people and places experiencing disadvantage, enabling As we grow, we seek to listen and learn, working alongside others for them to reach their educational, a better Australia. social and economic potential and build thriving communities. We support a spiritually rich society that values Christian faith in action. ‘ Let us remember that the power and wealth of a democracy is measured not only by the number and quality of its eminent leaders but by thousands of “little” leaders who provide its real strength.’ Sir Vincent Fairfax, 1983 2 VFFF Annual Report 2018 Fairfax Family Philanthropy: looking back and looking forward Vincent Fairfax Family 1987 Vincent Fairfax Family 2018 Sir Vincent Fairfax was the This year, we initiated projects to capture ‘ There is a strong thirst for first of the Fairfax family in family stories from the past and identify knowledge from the younger Australia to set up a charitable family aspirations for the future. generations as to the values and trust and it was his intention to Sharing stories has been pivotal in personalities of Sir Vincent and encourage his four children to passing on history and values for Lady Nancy Fairfax. It has been be involved in its work. the Fairfax family. meaningful to relive memories, re-read letters and speeches from Today, VFFF has a strategic goal to be To capture the vibrant family history, our parents, and share some a thriving multi-generational family VFFF is creating a series of digital examples of the extraordinary foundation. The beliefs and values of Sir media resources that will help future role models we had.’ Ruth Armytage, Vincent and Lady Nancy continue to guide generations answer the question: ‘what 2nd generation the work of VFFF. would Sir Vincent and Lady Nancy have thought…’ The founders’ grandchildren and ‘ We want to be effective in our great-grandchildren have been actively giving, leave an impression, a involved in a range of initiatives to build lasting legacy. We have to be their level of participation in VFFF and strategic in our giving, we have philanthropy more broadly. to collaborate with others and This year, we worked with family take ownership of our learnings members to review these initiatives, on what has and has not worked. build on their success and identify new Good philanthropy is leading by priorities. Through a range of activities, example, particularly as the new including a family survey across the third and fourth generations and connecting wealth of young entrepreneurs with other family foundations, VFFF is is increasing. Our role is also to capturing the aspirations of the next encourage others to give.’ generation of Fairfax philanthropy. Fairfax family member, 3rd generation Next generation philanthropy with the Myer, Snow and English families VFFF Annual Report 2018 3 Chairman’s Report As we review the first I am grateful for the contribution 12 months of our new strategic and wisdom of my fellow Directors direction set by the VFFF and the willingness of the team to Board, I am pleased that this enthusiastically implement the strategy way of working balances Sir of the Board. A very valuable initiative this year was the establishment Vincent Fairfax’s wishes with of the Cambooya Investment embracing philanthropy’s role Committee, enabling the contribution in assisting modern society. of independent investment experts In honouring our long standing interest to Cambooya’s management of the in ethics, VFFF engaged the Behavioural Foundation’s investments. I thank Insights Team (BIT) to explore ways we Richard Brandweiner, Susan Roberts, might equip young people with tools Rosemary Vilgan and John Coombe to assist in their use of technology. for their contribution to this important A highlight of the work was a two day aspect of VFFF. forum held at Western Sydney University It is an honour to Chair VFFF and work where 60 young people gave us two alongside the Fairfax family in their great days of their school holidays to provide philanthropic gift to our community. They feedback that will be used by BIT to demonstrate a unique ability to pass on develop initiatives that will assist young family values and are committed to the people navigate the online world. I spent Foundation’s vision. It is with pleasure time with a diverse group of 12 to 16 year that I note all eligible family are Members olds and observed their awareness of of VFFF Ltd and many actively contribute the issues and openness to meaningfully to our work by generously giving their engage with adults. I am excited about time and expertise. what this program will produce as we move into phase four. Christian faith was a central pillar of the life and character of Sir Vincent Fairfax. In 1968 Sir Vincent noted that ‘nearly every young person before James Millar AM reaching adulthood comes to a point of Chairman decision about religion’. The Board has refined the focus of VFFF’s Christianity giving to support initiatives that provide young people with the opportunity to make life choices underpinned by an understanding of Christian faith and belief. 4 VFFF Annual Report 2018 Chief Executive Officer’s Report The essential ingredients of a Ally Newton extended her time with successful partnership are evident VFFF and stepped capably into the role in the relationships VFFF has with of Grants Officer, thoughtfully analysing Australian Schools Plus, the Behavioural requests from grantees and managing a Insights Team and now FRRR. Open number of key administrative matters for communication, strong governance, long VFFF, including this Annual Report. We term commitment and demonstration of welcomed Wendy Mason to oversee our shared values result in partnerships that place-based programs and Children and work to enhance the benefit of VFFF’s Prison Program. Wendy has contributed funding to grantees. on many fronts to VFFF’s work. Sue Goudie moved to a part-time role with The team are grateful to our Directors, Cambooya and Galya Okladnikov joined who regularly contribute to VFFF’s VFFF to provide important assistance work outside of Board meetings, in with administration and communication a meaningful and insightful way. In matters. particular, I extend my thanks to our Chairman James Millar, who despite I hope you enjoy reading about the local many competing commitments for his heroes that VFFF supports and find them time, consistently meets VFFF’s requests as much of an inspiration as I do. for guidance. Similarly Ruth Armytage, In 2013 the Board met with our Deputy Chair, brings her unique locals in Condobolin where skills and enthusiasm to representing Tim Fairfax, the then VFFF with our grantees. Foundation Chairman, noted the Fairfax family’s rural In October Foundation Manager Emily Fuller and her husband Eduardo heritage, their respect for those Jenny Wheatley welcomed the delightful Camila to Chief Executive Officer on the land and belief in the their family. We look forward to Emily sustainability of rural towns. returning to the VFFF office in early 2019. It is hard to watch VFFF’s friends in rural The Board and I are grateful to David and regional areas suffer as drought Hardie who seamlessly assumed the role conditions continue throughout rural of managing VFFF. David is a joy to work New South Wales and Queensland. I am with and his commitment and respect for pleased to dedicate our 2018 Annual VFFF’s work, the team, the Board and Report to the local heroes we are family are demonstrated in all aspects privileged to meet through our work, of his work. particularly those in rural and regional areas. VFFF recognises the hard work and commitment of those living and working in rural Australia. I am excited that VFFF and the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) have entered a five year partnership to build the capacity of organisations in rural and regional NSW. Natalie Egleton, CEO of FRRR, and her team are on the ground working in these areas every day. VFFF and FRRR have a long history of shared Directors, mission and values, including a strong belief in the importance of Australia’s rural communities. We enter this partnership confident that it will bring increased impact for our gifting in rural and regional areas.