The Paul Ramsay Foundation is bringing forward an additional $18 million in emergency funding to support Australian not-for-profits and for-purpose organsiations facing declining donation`s and increased demand for services during the COVID-19 recession.
This brings to a total of $102 million in funding that has been committed by the Foundation since January 2020. Much of the funding is targeted to communities affected by bushfires and COVID-19.
New research from Social Ventures Australia and the Centre for Social Impact has found that almost one in five charities are at risk of closing within the next six months. Despite these challenges the Paul Ramsay Foundation has been inspired by the community service providers who have leapt into action during this crisis.
Foundation CEO, Professor Glyn Davis AC, said it was vital that those who could afford to step up to support Australia’s charitable sector at this time did so.
“The charitable sector, like others, has been savaged by the COVID-19 pandemic and attendant recession. Many of our not-for-profit colleagues have lost their jobs and some charities are teetering on the edge of collapse. Others are overwhelmed by demand for their services.
“The Foundation has established a dedicated senior taskforce solely devoted to supporting our partners through this crisis,” Professor Davis said.
Funding has also been provided to The Australian Communities Foundation, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation in Melbourne, the Fremantle Foundation in Perth, The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and the First Australians Capital Impact Fund. These intermediaries and fund managers will ensure support is channelled into grassroots projects across Australia.
In response to increased demand for domestic and family violence services, the Paul Ramsay Foundation has committed $2 million to boost funding for women’s shelters across Australia. In addition, $1.7 million has been provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission, Community Resources and the Education COVID Research Fund.
Despite the significant impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the Foundation’s own endowment, it has committed to increase donations during this time of heightened need.
The $18 million to support the pandemic recovery is in addition to the $9 million announced in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic lockdown.
New partnerships and funding include:
- Australian Communities Foundation COVID-19 Crisis Response Fund
- Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
- Fremantle Foundation – Western Australia Relief and Recovery Fund
- Domestic and family violence shelter funding
- First Australians Capital Impact Fund
- Australian Human Rights Commission (Independent Statutory Authority)
- Community Resources
- Education COVID Research Fund
- Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
- Save the Children Australia – Journey of Hope
- Royal Far West Bushfire Recovery and Telehealth
- NSW Aboriginal Land Council Trauma Counselling and Food Security
- First Australians Capital
- Fellowship program
- Pathfinders
