Community projects including animal rescue, youth development, emergency response and education are to share in more than $126,000 from the Buderim Foundation’s 2025 Community Grants Program.
The successful recipients will be announced at a special Grants Celebration to be held on Sunday, 14th September at the Buderim War Memorial Hall. The Grants Celebration is one of the most important days on the Foundation’s calendar.
Buderim Foundation Chair Rick Woods said the Foundation was pleased to this year be assisting 24 different community organisations supporting the people in the wider Buderim area in this year’s program.
Mr Woods said the grants were at the heart of what the local Community Foundation provided, with the grants coming from the earnings made from the Foundation’s investment funds.
“The Buderim Foundation was established to provide support for the community for generations to come and this year’s Grants Program is the 18th since the Foundation was established, with $126,366 to be awarded this year,” Mr Woods said.
Grants are awarded to projects relating to eight areas of interest including those which seek to strengthen the fabric of the community, help residents live healthy and fulfilling lives and protect and preserve our natural environment.
“Since the first grants were provided in 2008, 268 Buderim community grants have been distributed, with a total of $1,076,397 distributed to 110 community organisations supporting the wider Buderim community,” Mr Woods said.
“These grants will make a big difference to the lives of many in our community, enabling the purchase of much-needed and, in some cases, life-saving equipment; and financing vital infrastructure, supporting a wide range of people in our community.”
See the full list of Buderim Foundation Community Grant recipients at the bottom of this article.
The Grants Celebration comes during the Foundation’s ambitious 21-week Community Challenge, which aims to raise $2.1 million by Saturday 17th January 2026 as part of 21st birthday celebrations. The Challenge seeks to boost the Foundation’s investment funds to increase the annual grants available to support Buderim and Sunshine Coast community organisations.
“We have a huge goal – to raise $2.1million for our investment funds in just 21 weeks,” Mr Woods said. “The larger our investment funds, the more earnings we will have to distribute as grants which will amplify our impact which means we can continue to support the community in perpetuity.”
Community members can get involved in the Community Challenge by making donations or organising their own mini fundraisers, with donations directed to either the Buderim Community Fund or the Thompson Charitable Fund. For more information about the Community Challenge, visit www.buderimfoundation.org.au/buderim-foundation-21-week-community-challenge/.
The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic organisation that aims to enrich and enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives in the Buderim and Sunshine Coast areas by harnessing the power of giving. The Foundation works by professionally investing all donations and bequests. The earnings from these investments are redistributed to the community via an annual grants program open to not-for-profit community organisations that provide a service and support to residents in the Buderim area now and for generations to come.
The Community Grants announced today are in addition to grants from the Buderim Foundation Thompson Charitable Fund, established by philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson, which since April 2021 has provided over $1.8 million to support people experiencing homelessness and financial distress across the whole Sunshine Coast.
For more information on the Buderim Foundation, please visit the website at www.buderimfoundation.org.au.
FULL LIST OF 2025 BUDERIM FOUNDATION COMMUNITY GRANT RECIPIENTS: (in alphabetical order)
- 4 Paws Animal Rescue Inc. – $4,137 for painting of Carmichael House.
- BATS Theatre Company – $1,000 for five new microphone headsets.
- Blackall Range Care Group Ltd – $10,000 to assist with the purchase of a vehicle for in-home support of the Buderim Community.
- Brahma Kumaris Centres for Spiritual Learning – $5,000 for equipment to support programs at Buderim Centre.
- Buderim Community Kindergarten and Preschool Association Inc – $11,880 to upgrade their outdoor space with a digging patch.
- Buderim Concert Band – $2,000 for a laptop and accessories for the band.
- Buderim Horse and Pony Club Inc – $2,416 to assist with the repair and replacement of fencing.
- Buderim Men’s Shed Inc. – $4,867 for upgrade of out-dated workshop tools.
- Buderim Mountain State School P&C – $8,035 for installation of blinds in multi-purpose school hall.
- Buderim – Palmwoods Heritage Tramway – $6,953 for a security system for the KRAUSS loco 6854 display in Buderim.
- Buderim War Memorial Association Inc. (BWMCA) – $5,000 for repairs to the Buderim Pioneer Cottage roof.
- Fusion Community Care – $4,438 for the replacement of IT equipment and additional monitors.
- Headland Buderim Croquet Club – $1,730 for a new laptop for committee business.
- Kanyini (Hoofbeats) – $4,000 for materials and equipment for the Go Remarkable Girls Program.
- LifeFlight Foundation Ltd – $10,000 for a touch screen display for the First Minutes Matter education area.
- Maroochydore SES Support Association Inc. – $5,203 for a large screen TV for the Emergency Operations Centre.
- Mooloolah River Landcare – $2,500 for a defibrillator for the Mooloolah River Landcare facility.
- Oz Harvest Limited – $5,000 for new fit out of the new Sunshine Coast warehouse.
- Sienna Football Club – $2,258 for food preparation equipment and a speaker and microphone.
- Suncoast Gem and Fossicking Club Inc. – $4,330 for installation of air conditioning units for the Faceting room.
- Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge Society – $4,199 for a compact ride-on tractor for the SCARS facility.
- Sunshine Coast Art Group Inc. – $5,939 to replace worktable surfaces at the art studio.
- Sunshine Coast Riding for the Disabled RDA Inc. – $10,482 for concrete mats to keep paddock gateways safe and stable.
- Youturn Ltd – $5,000 for equipment and instruments for YouConnect Youth Hub.
