Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal

The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) was established in 2000 and "supports the development of regional community foundations, and uses seed funding and challenge grants to move regional development project funding into a more dynamic context." "To date [2005] FRRR has allocated $6.6 million to communities across the nation and has leveraged many millions more supporting projects that stimulate the renewal of whole communities." 

History
"When Sidney Myer arrived in Australia as a penniless Russian immigrant in 1889, he began an enterprise in country Victoria that would flourish and become a leading national retailer.

"His marriage to Merlyn Baillieu was to become the foundation for a dynasty that etched its name firmly in Australia's history, not only as successful retailers but as the nation's earliest and most enduring philanthropists. Well before philanthropy became the catchcry for socially aware business, the Myer family made it part of its livelihood.

"To celebrate Sidney Myer's life and to recognise the centenary marking his arrival in this country, the descendants of Sidney and Merlyn Myer initiated a major giving program to the Australian community in 1999.

"Among their gifts was $1 million to establish a national foundation for rural communities.

"After an international search for ideas and a Regional Australia Summit convened in 1999 by the then Deputy Prime Minister, John Anderson, (a farmer from Mullaley in NSW), the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) was born. It would combine the feeling of the regional summit which said philanthropy could play a strategic role in enhancing the assets - natural and human - in regional Australia's economic and community development. In short, regional Australia, reeling from tough times thanks to drought and the impact of globalisation, wanted to show it could help itself. The Federal Government kicked in $10.7 million in 1999/2000 and a further $3.8million from 2000/2001 to 2008/2009." 

Funding partners
The Myer Foundation, Perpetual Trustees, R E Ross Trust, the William Buckland Foundation and The Pratt Foundation, Dotars, ANZ, Perpetual Philanthropic Foundations, Gardiner Foundation, Rural Education Program, DOXA Youth Foundation, VISY, The Wicking Trust (ANZ), The Foundation for Young Australians, Community Enterprise Foundation, Sylvia & Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation and one more I cant read. Source]

Pro Bono support generously provided to FRRR in 2003-05
Source
 * AFS & Associates Pty Ltd
 * Australian Business Limited
 * Australian National Maritime Museum
 * Cranlana Maintenance
 * Freehills
 * Italo Vardaro
 * SMRIT
 * Telstra Country Wide
 * Unlimited Potential
 * Wave Personnel

Board

 * The Rt Hon Ian Sinclair AC - FRRR Chairman
 * Mr Bill Kelty
 * Mr Mark Bethwaite
 * Mr Ian Allen OAM - Ian is also a Trustee of The Pratt Foundation, The Pratt Family Foundation, The Pratt Group Scholarship Fund and the Visy Cares Trust.
 * Dr Wendy Craik
 * Mrs Margaret Smith AO
 * Mr Tim Fairfax AM
 * Mr Michael Taylor
 * Mrs Samantha Baillieu - is also a current member of the Myer Foundation

Staff

 * Ms Sylvia Admans - CEO
 * Ms Esmae Barnes -  Office Manager
 * Mr Andrew Long -  Company Secretary
 * Audrey Elston -  Grants Manager
 * Glenda Elliott -  Executive Assistant
 * Amanda Winchcomb -  Administrative Assistant

Patrons
Source
 * Mr Baillieu Myer AC
 * Lady Southey AM
 * Mr Don Argus AO
 * Patron in Chief, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffrey AC CVO MC (Retd)

Publications

 * FRRR Community Report 2003 – 2005 (Pdf)

Contact

 * Website: http://www.frrr.org.au/

Related sourcewatch resources

 * Council on Foundations
 * Funding Exchange (Progressive foundations)
 * Philanthropy Australia
 * The Foundation Center