Investing in Rural Community Futures Program

Investing in Rural Community Futures is a grassroots program aimed at building and supporting the capacity of not-for-profits in six specific communities. By working locally over five years, it aims to strengthen local not-for-profit (NFP) organisations and ultimately enable them to thrive, which in turn will have a positive impact on community well-being.

The multi-year program began in 2018 when the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) partnered with FRRR to work alongside local not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in three communities – Leeton, Junee, and Nambucca Valley. The IRCF VFFF program has helped these communities identify where support is needed and to provide regular opportunities for community discussion and planning for the future.

Through the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program, FRRR is currently supporting a range of initiatives in these towns including organisational governance, communications and marketing, technology upgrades and fundraising strategies. By supporting such initiatives, FRRR and VFFF seek to invest in the long-term viability of the local NFP sector.

With the support of the Snow Foundation and Bendigo Bank, FRRR was able to roll out the program to the NSW South Coast region, with a focus on boosting the confidence, ability and skills of NFPs in Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Nowra and Bay & Basin. The Australian Government has provided additional funding to expand the program in the Shoalhaven region.

In 2022 the IRCF program was further expanded into the Bega Valley thanks to the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Program. In partnership with the Bega Valley Council, the IRCF Bega Valley – Resilience Connection and Place Project will support the NFP sector to identify common areas of interest, shared assets and needs for capacity building.

 

IRCF Victoria

The program is now coming to three Victorian communities, thanks to the support of four philanthropic organisations – Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Jack Brockhoff Foundation, The Ross Trust, and William Buckland Foundation.

After an extensive research and community engagement process, drawing on the learnings and successes from the NSW program, FRRR has identified five Victorian communities as having the potential to achieve significant positive impact through the program: Colac; Hamilton; Maryborough; Portland; and Swan Hill.

To learn more about the next steps, read the Victorian Partnership Announcement or visit the IRCF Victoria program page.

This program is for partner communities only, and not for public application.

 

 

 

Highlighting the value of local NFPs

The quality of life in a town – i.e. what makes it liveable – often depends on NFPs. They fill the gaps where there is most need. The IRCF program is based on the belief that local leaders are best placed to know what is going to make the biggest difference in their community. By supporting local solutions and using a multi-faceted approach, our overall aim is to build resilient and vibrant communities.

The IRCF program offers a toolbox of support, including access to a facilitator, grants, participatory planning processes, skill development, and external resources to strengthen community networks and foster social capital through community-led initiatives.

An overall IRCF Evaluation Framework has been developed to allow for reflection and promote adaptive responses, so as we move through the program, we will adjust to community need and allow for new solutions to local problems. This is also helping us refine our approach to working with communities more generally.

The evaluation focus will be on measuring the impact of the program, the change and effect on the capacity and sustainability of the individual NFP organisations, and on the communities overall.

Flexible Support

FRRR’s aim is to give these local not-for-profits the confidence, ability and skills to continue the great work they do, and to help them achieve their goals on an ongoing basis. From our work to date, we have identified that a successful local community sector is strong across four areas:

  • People – leadership, succession planning, volunteer recruitment and retention, training and development
  • Not-for-profit structure and internal systems – legal compliance and capability, human resources, finance, policy and procedures, small scale infrastructure
  • Strategy – developing organisational plans and strategies, fundraising and revenue, accessing opportunities that are fit for purpose, implementing key capacity building initiatives identified in NFPs strategy
  • Efficiencies – local solutions, networking, creativity and responsiveness, collaboration with NFP sector, sharing of resources, recognise that efficiencies can be made due to excessive cost due to the remoteness of their location

The IRCF program therefore focuses on how best to strengthen local community groups in each of these areas.

IRCF Priorities

 

Learn more about how the program is being implemented on the IRCF Hub

 

For more information on the Investing in Rural Communities program, please contact IRCF Program Managers Jo Kemp (VIC sites) or Carolyn Ardler (NSW sites).

 

 

This is an invitation-only program and details of how to apply will be sent to you via email, if you are eligible.

If you want to explore other grant options, please go to Find Funding Now.

 

I have a question, who can I talk to?

Please contact IRCF Program Managers Carolyn Ardler (NSW sites) or Jo Kemp (VIC sites).

 

I find FRRR and IRCF is the most understanding of what a regional area and NFPs need. There’s a real understanding of NFP of their struggles and time constraints.

 

Dunn & Lewis Youth Development Foundation

There are better partnerships and collaborations between organisations in the community. We share a lot of our resources now. We used to be in competition with each other, but now we all talk more to each other. When there’s funding and it’s not our core business, we send the information to other organisations. We didn’t do that before.

Nambucca Valley participant

Inspiration - Past Projects

Partner Update – April 2025

In this issue we share with you highlights from our 25th Anniversary partner event held in Melbourne last month. We’ve recently published a report on our 25 years of delivering local solutions for lasting impact. There’s also a handy list of other reports on our website and links to our shared insights in articles on…
Read MoreView All Projects

Backing the Future for rural youth in QLD

FRRR and VFFF are inviting applications from eligible individuals for grants of $50,000 through the Backing the Future program. The funding supports people aged 18+ to develop innovative ideas that enhance the lives of people aged 12-30 in remote, rural and regional Queensland.
Read MoreView All Projects

Facilitators farewelled as South Coast IRCF program culminates

As the Investing in Rural Community Futures program culminates in the South Coast communities, one of the biggest impacts has been the growth in the people that have delivered the program.
Read MoreView All Projects

Community-led wellbeing project gains momentum

The Bega Valley Data Collective had support through the Investing in Rural Community Futures program to develop a community-led wellbeing framework aimed at empowering the community to thrive.
Read MoreView All Projects

Mental health in the Mallee

The small farming community of Pinnaroo in the Mallee region of SA is tackling the health and wellbeing of local residents head on, using a $20,000 IAGP grant.
Read MoreView All Projects

Not-for-profit report cards enhance drought resilience

Not For Profit HQ Limited received a $50,000 grant via FRRR through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative - Community Impact Program.
Read MoreView All Projects

Amplifying young voices in Bay & Basin

An IRCF grant helped create lasting change for youth when Uniting - Firefly Bay & Basin partnered with Sanctuary Point Community Pride Inc.
Read MoreView All Projects

Partner Update – December 2024

This issue highlights the lasting impact of community-led recovery efforts following the Black Summer bushfires, with inspiring stories of resilience in our Black Summer Bushfires: Five Years On video playlist, and a report on the $26M in donations distributed. Plus we share updates on new appointments, advocacy efforts, conference participation, travel highlights, awards, and the…
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Report confirms NFPs far stronger five years on

Significant impacts and lessons of a five-year pilot program aimed at building collective NFP sector capability revealed in FRRR report.
Read MoreView All Projects

$19.3M delivered into regions still recovering from Black Summer bushfires

FRRR's report, Black Summer Bushfires Five Years On reaffirms the need for disaster recovery funding for the medium to long-term.
Read MoreView All Projects
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Amy Crawford

Amy Crawford has an extensive career in complex public policy and its intersection across government and communities.

Amy is the Chief Executive Officer at the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), representing 537 councils across the nation. Amy holds over 20 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service. She has a deep understanding of federal government policies and structures, with over 10 years’ service in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and has worked for the federal Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories. Amy has shaped a wide range of policies and programs including regional development, telecommunications, immigration, emergency management, social policy and pandemic preparation.

Amy is a Board Director of Austroads and represents ALGA on the Public Skills Australia Industry Advisory Group, and the Australia-New Zealand Emergency Management Committee. She is also a Board Director for the Canberra Youth Theatre which provides voice for Canberra’s youth through intelligent and challenging theatre.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Laws (honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Queensland, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and an alumnus of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. Amy was appointed to the FRRR Board in January 2025.

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Kylie Hansen

Kylie brings leadership and management experience from across academic, corporate, not-for-profit, social enterprise and impact investment sectors, having deep dived into a myriad of specialisations and systems. Her six tertiary qualifications are equally as diverse and complimentary, covering commerce, politics, international development, community development, project management and law. Her breadth and depth of experience enables her to draw on a number of disciplines and innovative ways of working and thinking, and she is well recognised as consistently delivering work and services of a high quality.

Kylie uses her strong background in sustainability, governance and impact measurement to support collaborative initiatives across sectors oriented at improving social outcomes, and to support socially conscientious businesses to articulate their social impact. As founder and director at Impact Seed she has been instrumental in developing the impact measurement, evaluation, learning and ESG practice which advises numerous corporates, and is passionate about supporting First Nations empowerment particularly in the context of regional economic development.

Kylie is also a Director of the WA Social Enterprise Council, a member of the B Council (B Lab Australia and New Zealand), and a Governor of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

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Hon. John Anderson AC

The Hon. John Anderson AC is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from NSW, who served in the Australian Parliament from 1989 to 2008.

He was a senior Cabinet minister in the government led by John Howard (1996 to 2005), including six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister.

In the latter role, Mr Anderson played in important role in FRRR’s history, working closely with Baillieu Myer AC and others on a proposal to establish a philanthropic organisation to benefit rural Australia. The concept was discussed at the National Regional Summit in 1999 and FRRR was established shortly thereafter.

Mr Anderson currently hosts a regular podcast, where he is in conversation with thought-leaders from around the world, and is a regular media commentator.

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Regina Cruickshank

Partnerships Specialist (WA)

Regina supports FRRR as the WA Partnerships Specialist. With over two decades of experience in partnerships and marketing, she has a deep understanding of Western Australia’s social impact landscape. She brings a strong passion for leveraging purpose-built networks to create positive change.

Regina previously worked with Playgroup WA and founded a Health Promotion Charity dedicated to supporting Social Emotional wellbeing for underserved communities. She’s excited about the opportunity to connect with partners and explore ways to make a meaningful difference in WA.

She lives in Perth with her family and enjoys mindful moments of connection to Country, whether on horseback, on foot or underwater.

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Anna Palmer

People and Culture Manager

Based in Central Victoria, Anna is a senior Human Resources, Organisation Development and Industrial Relations professional, with significant private and public sector experience across every facet of people and culture leadership.

Her most recent roles have been with Don KR in Castlemaine and Mount Alexander Shire Council. She has also held senior HR roles with Victoria Legal Aid and the TAC among many others.

From Mildura originally, Anna has postgraduate qualifications in Change Management and a Masters in Organisation Dynamics.

Anna is currently completing a Bachelor of Fine Arts to balance her creative pursuits and work as an HR professional.

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Philippa Twaddle

Management Accountant

Carolyn joined the FRRR team in March 2017, and is responsible for providing executive support to the CEO, effective coordination of the FRRR office and general administrative support to the management team. A key responsibility is supporting the administration of FRRR’s Donation Account Services.

She has over fifteen years’ experience working in local government in the Tourism and Arts Sector, Civic and Event Management and Community engagement.

Carolyn has a Bachelor of Arts in Librarianship, majoring in psychology, and grew up on farming communities in Cohuna and Echuca and currently lives in Bendigo.