Mid West Development Commission

Mid West Community Foundation

Proponent: Mid West Development Commission

Value: $100,000 and growing

Location: Mid West region, Western Australia

Description: The Mid West Community Foundation is a charitable, community led organisation which the Commission established in late 2007 for the lasting benefit of communities in the whole of the mid west region. The Foundation’s aim is “Connecting Community”.

How does it work? Donations from individuals, communities and corporations are pooled in perpetual accounts and invested. The interest earned from those investments will later be distributed back to mid west communities in the form of grants, to fund charitable projects and activities in the region well into the future. $100,000 of Mid West Regional Development Scheme funds were used as seed funding for the Foundation, as directed by former Premier Geoff Gallop in 2005.

Western Australian Community Foundation (WACF) serves as trustee to the Foundation and an Advisory Committee of community members from the region act as the representative local body, working closely with WACF. The Advisory Committee’s role is to:

• build and promote the Foundation;
• establish the Foundation’s vision and priorities;
• ensure WACF is kept abreast of current and relevant projects; and
• advise WACF how funds can best be distributed to meet emerging local needs.

The inaugural Advisory Committee is chaired by Tammy Batten and includes Colin Dymond, Jenny Allen, Debbie Mcllraith, David Moustaka, Malcolm Smith and Kerrie Johnston.

Status: Promotional materials featuring the new logo have been finalised, and strategies for growing the Foundation are being progressed.

Next Steps: MWDC is working with the Advisory Committee to plan the official launch for the Mid West Community Foundation, which will take place in late 2009.

Last Updated: 5/5/09