Greater Shepparton Foundation’s annual Margaret Attwood Grant Round is opened on Friday, February 13, offering grants of up to $10,000 to local community organisations for place-based projects.
If you are a local non-for-profit organisation, looking to provide a solution to meet community need, you are encouraged to read the grant guidelines on the GSF website to determine if you are eligible to apply.
The Margaret Attwood Grant Round is community-strengthening; it seeks to support small grassroots projects that deliver big impact for our community.
The key focus areas where support will be considered include parenting and early education, social inclusion, housing, safe families, employment, economic engagement, ageing well and the cost-of-living crisis.
“In response to the current need within our community, we are opening this annual grant round earlier than usual this year. It is an impactful way that we and the support of our donors can make a real difference when it is needed most,” GSF executive officer Amanda McCulloch said.
Over the past 10 years, GSF (and its predecessor organisation Goulburn Valley Community Fund) has opened a grant round annually to fund community projects that align with its vision for inclusive, interconnected communities where everybody has equal opportunity to participate.
More than $1 million has been distributed to community organisations across Greater Shepparton in the past 10 years alone.
“In this, the 25th year of supporting our community, the Greater Shepparton Foundation is proud to provide community organisations with funds to deliver incredible programs and projects that support our most vulnerable,” Ms McCulloch said.
One of the successful applicants from the 2025 grant round was OzChild, which used the funds to provide Christmas hampers for Greater Shepparton families needing assistance.
“The hampers were gratefully received by our families. A couple of mums shed a tear, but all were really appreciative,” OzChild’s Kathy Wyatt said.
“Quite a few commented that it was a huge help at this time of year.”
One of the recipients of a basket expressed gratitude for the gift.
“I can’t believe how much is in this basket, it is so heavy,” the recipient said.
“I would never be able to afford a lot of this stuff. Thank you so much.”
In the spirit of Margaret Attwood’s generous contributions to the Shepparton community, GSF is honoured to provide this annual grant round in her name.
The round is a tribute to Margaret May Attwood — a legacy that may have been lost to time, but now her name will forever sit alongside the great philanthropists who have supported the Shepparton community.
Margaret May Attwood was a generous, humble, community-minded lady, a pioneer of philanthropic giving in the Greater Shepparton community.
She understood the value of collective giving to build local capacity and support those in greatest need. You can read more about Margaret Attwood on the GSF website.
Successful applicants will be announced in April. Funds received must be expended and acquitted by June 30, 2027.
Online applications close at 9am on Friday, March 13. Please visit the website greatershepparton.foundation to read the guidelines and apply online.
Alternatively, should you wish to discuss your project, please email info@greatershepparton.foundation
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer
