IMB Bank Community Foundation funding grants – applications close June 30
“Anyone who is focused on improving the lives of others in their community, who has a great idea or a program already underway, should consider applying for a grant through the IMB Bank Community Foundation. If it’s a great not-for-profit idea, that helps people, we want to hear about it.”
- Robert Ryan, IMB Bank CEO
Images and vision available here
9 June 2021 – More demand and not enough money to go around. It’s the challenge that many not-for-profits and grassroots community groups have faced since the global pandemic hit Australian shores.
In a silver lining for the charitable sector, extra
funding is available from the IMB Bank Community Foundation. Not-for-profits, charities and grassroots
community groups are encouraged to submit their cause or project for funding
consideration by June 30 via IMB’s website: imb.com.au/community.
“The last 12 to 18 months
have been unprecedented with fires, floods and of course the global pandemic...now
more than ever our community groups could use a helping hand. That’s where we
hope IMB Bank’s Community Foundation can play a key role,” says Robert Ryan,
IMB Bank CEO.
“We’ve heard a lot about ‘resilience’ over the past 12 to 18
months, but it’s hard to be resilient in the face of COVID or a natural
disaster unless you’ve got financial support. IMB Bank Community Foundation is
here to offer that helping hand, and to build stronger, more empowered
communities,” continued Mr Ryan.
The Foundation has a history of supporting more than 750 community
projects that deliver essential disaster relief, education, health care, sports
and recreation, arts and culture, aged care, and many other services to
Australians in city, regional and disadvantaged communities.
“We are again calling for those people and groups, taking action
and making a real difference in their neighbourhoods and networks, to come
forward and apply for IMB Bank Community Foundation funding.”
Following the global pandemic, almost half of charities,
not-for-profits and social enterprises reported an increase in demand for their
services. [1]
While around 1
in 4 charities depend on giving and philanthropy for 50% or more of their total
revenue,[2] in the
midst of the global pandemic, 31% of social purpose organisations had not received government
support.
Smaller organisations and those in regional and
rural areas were also less likely to have access to or receive government
assistance[3].
COVID-19 has also impacted the giving behaviour of Australians, with one in four givers expected to decrease their giving this year.[4] This comes as just over a quarter (26%) of social purpose organisations report a decline in philanthropic grants and funding.
To combat these statistics, the IMB Bank Community
Foundation’s grant funding program aims to offer the financial boost that many
of the teams and volunteers on the front-line need to continue supporting
people in their local communities.
“Since 1880, IMB Bank has
been strongly invested in the communities in which we operate. We have enabled
hundreds of local groups to access essential funds to advance and strengthen
their communities. We encourage all not-for-profits to apply for funding this
year by June 30,” said Mr Ryan.
Projects supported by IMB Bank Community Foundation
range from larger, far-reaching initiatives - such as the Victor Chang Cardiac
Research Institute state-wide Heart Health Tour - to smaller local projects,
such as sustainable gardens in
bushfire-ravaged South East NSW, and inclusive netball tournaments in the
Hunter region.
The IMB Bank Community Foundation supports people and communities
in IMB’s key markets - Sydney, the Illawarra, Hunter, South Coast, Southern
Highlands, Canberra and Melbourne. It is focused on building strong, resilient
and forward-focused communities - which is at the heart of IMB Bank’s core
philosophy.
IMB Bank Community Foundation 2021 funding applications close on 30 June 2021. Community groups should visit https://www.imb.com.au/community to apply.
ENDS
For more information, or to arrange an interview,
contact Blue Planet Public Relations:
Maria Crema – maria.crema@blueplanetpr.com.au or +61 402 239 929
Sophie Blue - sophie.blue@blueplanetpr.com.au or +61 416 006 821
About the IMB Bank Community Foundation
The IMB Bank Community Foundation was established in 1999 to support the communities that IMB Bank calls home. Since inception, the Foundation has supported more than 750 community projects with over $10m in donated funding. The Foundation is proud to support projects which strengthen local communities through the transfer of skills and knowledge, encouraging and supporting volunteer input, and building sustainable community assets.
