Telstra Foundation Streamlines Funding for 2007
29 January 2007 at 10:49 am
The Telstra Foundation has streamlined its funding priorities for 2007 aiming it says for a more measurable, positive impact.
The Foundation’s Community Development Fund was under review during 2006 to look at the impact of grants which have support more than 300 projects in four areas of early childhood development, childhood obesity, Indigenous community and supporting gifted and talented children.
Foundation Chairman, Herb Elliott says that in order to have an even greater and more measurable positive impact, it will now be selecting projects with just one purpose in mind – to connect children and young people to their communities.
The streamlined activities have been identified to include:
Social Innovation Grants – investing in big ideas that will connect Australian children and young people experiencing social or geographical isolation with their communities. Grants will start from $75,000 each year for up to 3 years.
Indigenous Community development projects that improve the education and health outcomes of Indigenous children and young people and those projects which promote, protect, maintain or strengthen Indigenous culture.
Spotlight Issues – With an intense focus on specific issues which impact children and people, the foundation is seeking to have a significant and measurable impact. The prevention of child abuse and neglect will be the first spotlight issue with an investment of $1million each year.
The Telstra Foundation was set up in 2002.During 2005-06 it supported 736 projects through the development fund and the Kids Telstra Fund with a total investment of $4.3 million.
Herb Elliott says the Foundation will be providing greater amounts of funding to key projects. He says a higher level of engagement with funded projects will be sought and it will explore how linkages can be created to make further use of Telstra’s talents, technology and leadership in the supported projects.
He says the Telstra Kids Fund has also been streamlined in terms of administrative processes, standardised grants and easier application forms.
The updated information will be available at www.telstrafoundation.com
