Helen Macpherson Smith Trust

The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust (known prior to 2001 as the Helen M Schutt Trust) was established in 1951. "Today the capital of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust is valued at in excess of $75 million. Since 1972 total grants made exceed $57 million. Each year grants of over $5 million are now given to a wide spectrum of Victorian charities." 

Large grants given in 2003-04 (AU$100,000 or more)
Total Community Support grants AU$1,188,507
 * Macpherson Smith Community Alliance - Establishment of a $1 million fund on the basis of a matched grant from the Victorian State Government to support projects identified by the Community Capacity Building Initiative - AU$500,000

Total Health grants AU$1,645,116
 * Burnett Centre - Contribution towards the fit-out of the viral cultural laboratory in the Prahran Precinct (total commitment $500,000) - AU$100,000
 * Central Gippsland Health Service (Sale) - Contribution to the development of the Health Professionals Learning Complex - AU$225,000
 * The Jean Hailes Foundation (Clayton South) - Contribution to the Research project: ‘Health and Well Being After Breast Cancer’ - AU$180,000
 * Mental Health Research Institute (Parkville) - Establishment of a new Research Program in the Helen Macpherson Smith Laboratory which will provide a greater focus on identifying new drug targets for the treatment of serious mental illnesses - AU$300,000
 * RDNS – Community Health - Contribution to the establishment of Helen Macpherson Smith Institute of Community Health (total commitment $750,000) - AU$100,000
 * St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research - Refurbishment and preservation of facilities (total commitment $300,000) - AU$100,000

Total Arts, Culture and Heritage grants AU$756,500 Program in 2004-05 - AU$100,000
 * Australian Centre For Contemporary Art - Five year program of contemporary art commissions at ACCA which will be gifted to regional galleries - AU$300,000
 * Museum Victoria – Immigration Museum - Major support for the exhibition ‘Station Pier – Gateway to a New Life’ highlighting immigrants to Melbourne over the 150 years of Museum Victoria - AU$100,000
 * Orchestra Victoria - Implementation of the second stage of the Regional Visits

Total Disabled Care and Support grants AU$613,946 Planning Service (total commitment $300,000) - AU$100,000
 * MS Society - Contribution to the Nerve Centre – a Lifestyle Assessment

Total Environment grants AU$372,500 Total Aged Persons Care and Support grants AU$514,020
 * Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - The Orchid Undercroft at the Australian Gardens, Cranbourne - AU$215,000

Total Education grants AU$104,338 Total Employment grants AU$14,500
 * Total of grants listed 2003-04 AU$5,209,427 Source

Trustees

 * Mr Darvell M. Hutchinson AM - Chairman of Trustees
 * Mr J. Barry Hutchins OAM - Trustee

Staff

 * Mr Darren McConnell - Finance Executive
 * Ms Liz Gillies - Grants Executive
 * Ms Sarah Bartak - Grants Administrator
 * Ms Pamela Beech - Secretary

Investment Committee

 * Darvell M. Hutchinson AM, Chairman
 * J. Barry Hutchins OAM
 * J. Gordon M. Moffatt AM
 * John A. Bryson

Publications

 * Annual Report 2004 (Pdf)
 * Jane Sandilands, Biography of Helen Macpherson Schutt, Commissioned by the Trustees of the Helen M Schutt Trust, 2001.

Contact

 * Level 43, Nauru House
 * 80 Collins Street
 * Melbourne Victoria 3000
 * Tel: (+61 3) 9662 1951
 * Fax: (+61 3) 9662 1930
 * Email: info (AT) hmstrust.org.au
 * Website: http://www.hmstrust.org.au/

Related sourcewatch resources

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