THE Buderim Foundation today announced the launch of the Sunshine Coast Community Fund — a new permanent investment fund that will provide grants to community organisations across the Sunshine Coast for generations to come.
Buderim Foundation chairman Rick Woods said the new fund expands the Foundation’s reach alongside the Buderim Community Fund and the Thompson Charitable Fund.
“Together these funds build on more than $10 million already invested by the Foundation. Since our first grants distribution in 2008, we’ve awarded more than $3.17 million to local organisations, and the new Sunshine Coast Community Fund will help us grow that impact across the region,” Mr Woods said.
Mr Woods said the new Sunshine Coast Community Fund enables tax-deductible donations and will provide grants that support local organisations and initiatives across the Sunshine Coast to access the support they need to thrive. He said the Thompson Charitable Fund grants will also continue to assist organisations which provide financial support to individuals in need throughout the region with emergency housing, food and other essentials.
“This is really exciting for us as one of Australia’s leading regional community foundations which specifically focuses on Buderim and the Sunshine Coast.
“The Buderim Foundation connects your generosity with community impact through a philanthropic model built for sustainability. Each donation is professionally managed through funds that support local organisations and community initiatives across our region, ensuring that your generosity continues to grow and creating a lasting impact for generations to come.
“We are the Sunshine Coast’s most trusted and flexible way to give, providing a way for everyone to contribute to strengthening the long-term well-being of people and communities across the region.”
How the funds work:
- Community members and businesses donate or bequest to a chosen fund.
- Donations are professionally invested; the principal capital is preserved.
- Investment earnings are distributed as grants: Buderim Community Grants, Thompson Charitable Grants, and Sunshine Coast Community Grants.
- The new fund can award grants to non-registered (non-DRG) charitable organisations conducting charitable activities, increasing eligibility for sports, recreation and community groups.
- Donors giving larger sums can request sub-funds to target grants to specific Sunshine Coast towns.
Tully Thompson with Alex Sweet and Rick Woods from the Buderim Foundation at the Foundation’s New Dawn Gala
Mr Woods said the Buderim Foundation’s new Sunshine Coast Community Fund was already off to a great start in terms of donations, including a generous contribution of $100,000 from long-term Sunshine Coast residents, Rick and Lynne Bronson.
Mr Bronson said “We are deeply impressed by the Buderim Foundation’s philanthropic model and its track record of excellent governance. The new Sunshine Coast Community Fund is the perfect vehicle for us. It ensures our current donation and future bequest will support worthy local communities in perpetuity.”
Mr Woods said the Buderim Foundation was also celebrating the launch of the new fund with a visual brand refresh which signifies the new dawn the Foundation has experienced.
“Our refreshed brand evolves naturally from the original logo, remaining firmly grounded in the Buderim Mountain landscape. It captures the essence of a new dawn – optimism, energy and growth – while reinforcing the Foundation’s role in strengthening community impact across Buderim and the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Woods said.
“Together the new fund and our refreshed visual identity show how we, as a community and Foundation, are committed to providing a brighter future and helping Sunshine Coast communities thrive.”
About The Buderim Foundation
The Buderim Foundation is a philanthropic community foundation that brings together locals who care deeply about the future of our region. The Foundation is built by people – those that give, volunteer and the organisations working every day to strengthen our communities across Buderim and the Sunshine Coast.
With more than $10 million under management, and more than $3.17 million already granted to community organisations across our region since 2008, the Foundation professionally manages all donations and bequests from community members and distributes earnings from these investments back into the community via annual grants programs, turning today’s generosity into lasting change for generations to come.
The Foundation manages four funds: two Buderim Community Funds supporting community organisations in the Buderim Region, and two Sunshine Coast funds supporting community organisations and people across the wider Sunshine Coast region including the Thompson Charitable Fund which provides grants to community organisations to provide support to individuals in need – particularly those experiencing homelessness and financial hardship – and the new Sunshine Coast Community Fund which supports local organisations and initiatives across the region.
For more information about the Buderim Foundation, how to get involved or make a donation, visit https://www.buderimfoundation.org.au/ or follow the Buderim Foundation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn.
ENDS
