Melbourne Women’s Fund is a Giving Circle that brings together members’ financial, intellectual, professional and personal resources to support non-profit organisations in Melbourne that deal with issues undermining the quality of life and futures of women and their families.
Melbourne Women’s Fund members work together to conduct a robust annual grants program that follows best-practice guidelines. Funding available for our grants depends on members’ donations each financial year.
Members also have opportunities to develop their knowledge about issues affecting women and their families in Melbourne and the non-profits working to address them, meet others interested in philanthropy and network, and build their leadership/teamwork skills to make it all happen!
Since Gillian Hund OAM and Patricia Burke OAM founded Melbourne Women’s Fund in 2014, it has granted over $980,000 to 43 organisations collectively working in the areas of Crime and Justice, Homelessness, Family Violence, Sexual Exploitation, Education, Economic Security, Immigrant, Asylum Seeker and Refugee needs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander needs.
This is in addition to establishing an endowment fund of over $250,000 to assist vulnerable women and families in Melbourne in perpetuity.
Thank you for your interest in supporting this valuable work!
To join, please fill out the form below.
Learn more at the Melbourne Women’s Fund website.
Membership
An individual can become a member for a minimum of one year, however, we encourage members to be part of the Fund (giving circle) for a minimum three-year period, so that they have the full opportunity to engage, learn and experience the benefits of being a member of a vibrant community of individuals committed to positive social change.
Memberships can be started anytime throughout the year, and monthly payment options can also be arranged.
MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
| Membership Type | Donation
(tax-deductible) | Administration Fee
(not tax-deductible)
This provides membership, supports annual Melbourne Women’s Fund activities and provides the necessary resources to operate efficiently and effectively. |
| One-year | $1,000 | $132 |
| One-year Next Gen (People 18 - 35 years) | $500 | $65 |
| Lifetime | $25,000 | N/A |
New Next Gen Membership Category
People aged 18 to 35 years can join and receive full voting rights, with a tax-deductible donation of $500 per annum and an administration fee of $65.
Life Membership
Individuals who seek to support the giving circle in a more comprehensive way can become a Life Member by making a donation of $25,000 or more.
These funds are held in an endowment account, called Melbourne Women’s Fund Endowment Fund (Charitable Fund Account), by Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation. Endowment fund revenue helps support MWF's granting pool. When the corpus has reached at least $200,000, MWF anticipates it will begin funding educational scholarships for women who have not been able to reach their educational potential.
To become a new member or to renew your membership of Melbourne Women's Fund, please use the form below.
Voting rights for annual and Next Gen members includes voting for the Signature and Nurturing Grants every financial year, provided their annual donation and the administration fee have been paid in full by 30 June. Life members are always able to vote for both grants and are not required to pay administration fees.