We are passionate about investing in both Australian & Global markets. Our Philanthropy Fund is also passionately focused on supporting better outcomes both at home and in our global community. We believe the best investment any of us can make is in the lives of others.
Established in 2008, the Philanthropy & Community Engagement activities of the Group has delivered:
The Board of Cooper Investors established the Cooper Investors Philanthropy Fund ("the Philanthropy Fund") in 2008. In 2018 we celebrate '10 years of Giving'. To commemorate this event, we have conducted an extensive review of the impact of our work and spent some time reflecting on what our partner Organisations have achieved and how we can improve our support.
We are very proud to have distributed over $2 million AUD for communities around the world.
A Committee of employees administers the Philanthropy Fund. We adopt a "portfolio" approach to grant making, seeking value, good operating trends and outstanding leadership (in line with our approach to picking stocks).
Initial grants are generally around $5,000 increasing as we get to know the organisation and the problem they are trying to solve. Subsequent grants of up to $30,000 have been made to "high conviction" projects.
Committee members have visited projects and potential projects in and around Melbourne, indigenous communities in Australia and projects in Kenya, Cambodia, Vietnam, Madagascar, Thailand, Tanzania, Nepal and Burma.
We have had the privilege of listening to over 150 presentations in our boardroom from the inspirational Founders of the projects we support.