The Regional Australia Institute’s (RAI) Regionalisation Ambition 2032 and goal to ‘Rebalance the Nation’ is at the heart of a new philanthropic initiative, aimed at promoting sustainable, focused, long-term change in country communities.
Launched by Elders CEO Mark Allison at the RAI’s Regions Rising National Summit – Shifting our Gaze in Canberra today, the Elders Community Giving Project will provide grants of up to $20,000 for grassroots projects in seven categories including: investment in the regions, environmental consciousness, and innovation.
RAI CEO Liz Ritchie said the grant categories aligned closely with the pillars of the 10-year, 20 goal Ambition: Jobs & Skills, Liveability, Population, Productivity & Innovation and Sustainability & Resilience.
“I congratulate Elders on using our Ambition to shape this wonderful new initiative, that will help organisations in our regional areas undertake important work and further develop projects that will benefit communities,” Ms Ritchie said.
Mr Allison said Elders deeply values community spirit and this new program will help to strengthen and spotlight that.
“This initiative is one way we will give back and invest in initiatives that will support in building further connections and capability in our towns. There is much creativity and ingenuity in our regions, and I am so pleased that we can play our part to bring these to life, alongside our village of people and partners,” Mr Allison said.
Elders recently signed a three-year partnership with the RAI, which will enable the two organisations to work together to ‘Rebalance the Nation’ and create a more prosperous and inclusive regional Australia.
Applications for Elders Community Giving Project open in March 2024.