Philanthropic Advisory Services

Melbourne Community Foundation (MCF) provides comprehensive philanthropic services that combine experience, connections and expertise.

MCF connects donors with emerging issues, charitable organizations and community resources. We link donors’ funding interests to the community organizations doing the best work in these areas as well as identify and evaluate new giving opportunities for them.

We are skilled grantmakers and community leaders developed over the eight years of our existence. We analyse and recommend funding for many charitable projects within the community in many different areas including education, young people, the aged, health, the environment and the arts.

As philanthropic consultants with skilled grantmaking staff, we use this comprehensive expertise to benefit private foundations, individual donors, PPFs and corporations on a contractual basis.

The following is a detailed menu of the consulting services MCF provides.

Grantmaking Advisory Services

Develop a vision for grantmaking that reflects a donor’s mission and values.

Educate foundation board members around the establishment of the foundation’s mission and areas of grantmaking interest, including highlighting areas of community need and funding opportunities.Assist with the preparation of grantmaking guidelines and application procedures.
Identify and research projects in areas of foundation interest, including the development of customised reports and funding proposals on specific areas of the foundation’s interest.
Undertake grant processing, including:

field telephone inquiries and emails from applicant organisations;

distribute grant guidelines and applications;

maintain a database of all grant requests, grant awards and status;

research and assess funding applications;

prepare funding recommendations for trustees meetings;

send out grant award and denial letters;

track grants, and

monitor and evaluate grants.

Identify joint funding opportunities for collaborative grantmaking with MCF and other private foundations.
Provide networking sessions and opportunities for educational forums and site visits for donors to help them learn about and discuss issues facing Melbourne today and in the future.
Prepare and print newsletters, brochures and annual reports which provide an excellent resource for information about the operations of the foundation, its areas of funding interest, special initiatives and funding successes.
Prepare press releases and distribute.

General Administrative Services

Provide meeting space.
Maintain all administrative files for applicants, grantees, reports and related correspondence.
Provide board meeting management services including preparation of agendas and minutes.
Design, print and maintain foundation stationery and supplies.

Costs

MCF’s fees will be customized for each donor/foundation based on the list of services selected and the scope of those services.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 June 2008 )