The modern Ballarat Foundation’s history in Ballarat goes back more than 35 years.
In 2019, the process of bringing together the former entities of United Way Ballarat and the Ballarat Foundation was completed, forming Ballarat Foundation United Way Inc.
Ballarat Foundation United Way Inc is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not For Profit Commission. It is a Public Benevolent Institution and has Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR1 status).
The Ballarat Foundation’s vision is for a Ballarat community without disadvantage and where all community members are empowered to prosper.
Donations are tax deductible and retained as capital by the Foundation to build a perpetual and substantial fund for philanthropic purposes, with the income from this capital used to make local community grants.
To deliver growth on our perpetual funds, the Foundation contracts leading investment firm JB Were to manage our shareholdings. The foundation also owns a site in the centre of Ballarat’s historic Lydiard St which is being developed as the Ballarat Centre for Volunteering and Charity.
The Board of the Ballarat Foundation is led by chair Wayne Weaire. Mr Weaire has an extensive history in business and philanthropic leadership and was a founding director of Australian Community Philanthropy. The board is comprised of directors with a diverse skillset and experiences with a common interest in making the Ballarat region a better place to live and work.
Directors are responsible for approving any distributions from funds to programs or organisations through the annual grants program. The committee which makes recommendations follows a rigorous application and assessment process. The assessments committee includes community representatives.
Ballarat Foundation CEO Andrew Eales has more than 20 years’ experience in business leadership and was a director for six years before being appointed CEO in February 2020.
Our vision & mission
A Ballarat region where everyone is free from disadvantage and empowered to prosper.
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Our history
United Way Ballarat was founded by local citizens in 1983 as the Ballarat District Community Fund to raise and distribute resources back to the community in the areas identified as most in need.
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Our people
Meet the people that facilitate the great work of The Ballarat Foundation.
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Work with us
Our community needs to work together to achieve change by seeking to understand local issues, mobilising resources to respond, acting in partnership with the community and influencing long-term systemic change.
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Publications
Click below to read our donor prospectus and annual reports.
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