Current account holders Aleta Romani Berry Fund Bradly Schmidt Memorial Fund Dahkota Fund Edge Ways Farral and Nolan Family Account Freetown Fund Green Cities Guddaa Sub-fund Gumnut One Jed John Mitchell Krils M L Jones MOGGS O’Nibbs Parsons and Nathan Two Cents Click the names above to see testimonials & donor stories

For a tax deductible donation of $5.45 per day or less than a coffee per day (after tax) ….It’s that easy!!!

One of the benefits of giving through a community foundation is that it is a vehicle for charitable giving, not only for high net worth individuals, but for donors who want to be philanthropic but do not have large amounts of discretionary income to donate.

Melbourne Community Foundation offers anyone the opportunity to establish a charitable endowment fund by making regular contributions to a Gumnut Account and overtime build this into a named sub-fund.

To establish a Gumnut Account simply make a commitment to contribute to make monthly, quarterly, half yearly or an annual contribution.

How will my Gumnut Account work?

Suppose you start a Gumnut Account today with an annual contribution of $2,000 with a goal to grow it, initially to $20,000 so it can become a named sub-fund.  Your Gumnut Account will mature by year 8, based on MCF’s forecast long term returns and assuming you make regular contributions.  Once a sub-fund, you can start requesting grants be made.  The first grant would be around $600, being 80% of the income earned.

Assuming you continued to grow the sub-fund for another 10 years making regular $2,000 contributions and 80% of the income was granted each year, your sub-fund will have distributed $10,409 and have a value of $53,537.

After 25 years it will have reached the $100,000 minimum sustainable level for a philanthropic fund at MCF and would have made valuable grants to support project and organisations of $28,000.  The growth in grants and fund value will continue forever, helping your favourite causes and helping to build healthy resilient communities.   Your contribution has been a $2,000 tax deductible donation each year.

What are the other benefits of setting up a Gumnut Account?

Become part of the MCF community!!

You will be invited to all MCF events and donor education seminars to learn more about the community, issues of disadvantage facing Melbourne and other philanthropic topics.  You will also be invited to special functions for Gumnut Account Holders.

Who should start a Gumnut Account?

Anyone really but a Gumnut Account is a perfect philanthropic option for:

(a)    Young professionals that have the desire to have a philanthropic fund but do not have the funds available to start a sub-fund
(b)    Families whose income is heavily committed to mortgages, school fees and all the other costs with raising families
(c)    Families that want to start to teach children about giving back to the community
(d)    A low entry level to establish a memorial endowment.
(e)    Group of friends with a common cause.  4 friends x 4 $500 per year.

• View and download a brochure about starting a Gumnut Account
  

The potential of establishing a philanthropic savings account was very appealing. It provides donors with a tax effective savings structure within a very supportive Foundation environment. As both the administrative and investment decisions are managed by the MCF, donors are able to focus upon the projects and partnership arrangements that can have the most impact.