The Ballarat Foundation has big ideas for Foundation House.
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The team want to develop the foundation’s existing home to become a philanthropic hub, to house and support small local not for profit organisations.
The idea is based on the existing model at Ross House in Melbourne – a five level community owned and managed not for profit building which provides affordable, accessible office space to over 50 small not-for-profit groups.
Ballarat Foundation chief executive Matt Jenkins said every dollar not for profits saved on where they live was a dollar they could put back into the community.
“It is really difficult for small not for profits to find a home that is cost effective and allows them to still present as a bigger organisation,” he said.
“So many of them do great things but Foundation House could allow them greater collaboration and a bigger impact. For example, they will be able to share facilities, reduce cost, share meeting space and have access to things many don’t have right now.”
Foundation House could allow them greater collaboration and a bigger impact.
- Matt Jenkins, Ballarat Foundation
Foundation House is a three level building. The upstairs will likely be an open, co-working space dedicated primarily to not for profits, while meeting rooms, a training facility and common area will be created downstairs under new plans.
The total project cost is estimated at $900,000. Ballarat Foundation has applied for $200,000 through the state government Pick My Project grants scheme which the team would use to improve accessibility by installing a lift and disabled toilets.
There are also plans to improve the facade of the building to fit with the heritage of the street.
“All not for profits do it really hard to have a home and to be able to make improvements to their own operations,” Mr Jenkins said.
“This gives us an opportunity to strengthen that and share that ability with so many others.”
Community members can now vote for the project online as part of the state government grants scheme Pick My Project.
Visit https://pickmyproject.vic.gov.au/rounds/pick-my-project/ideas/foundation-house-development for more information.
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