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.