Established in 2003, the Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRCF) is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation created by, and for, our communities.

In a standard charity you might raise a million dollars in one year, and give away $700k, but then you have to raise the money all over again the next year. This does not happen at NRCF. Your donations are invested in our perpetual fund, and we only give away the interest and dividends from those investments in the form of grants.

For more than 20 years, NRCF has fostered positive change across our region by connecting donors with grassroots projects that tackle social and environmental challenges and to initiatives that empower communities to build a more equitable and sustainable future.

We believe that local communities are best placed to know what they need, and community-led grassroots initiatives are often the most effective in creating lasting change.

Through a network of over 350 community organisations, NRCF's evidence-based grant making supports a wide range of community-led projects.

With the support of our donor community and funding partners, NRCF has facilitated and distributed more than $13 million in grants for hundreds of projects across the Northern Rivers. We back our communities to deliver local, innovative approaches that ultimately result in a more connected and thriving community and region.

OUR VALUES
In all that we do at NRCF we are driven by and committed to:

Integrity
We are trustworthy, accountable, and act with transparency.

Belonging
We are a family of members and benefactors welcoming people from diverse communities across the whole of the Northern Rivers of NSW.

Care
Connecting heartfelt giving with communities caring for our people, our wildlife, and our natural environment.

Social Responsibility
Our work strives to support communities in a balanced and considered way to be socially just, sustainable, and to thrive.

Being Visionary
We act boldly, courageously and with innovation so we may continue to support positive community impact in perpetuity.

Annual Reports

2024 Annual Report

DOWNLOAD (PDF)

Since 2004 NRCF has granted
$0
across the 7 shires of the Northern Rivers

Community organisations in the Northern Rivers can apply for grants from NRCF every year. We give small grants ranging from $500 to $10,000. In 2020 a total of $190,420 was distributed through our Community Grants program to projects and organisations in Northern Rivers across 33 organisations.

Here are some examples of what your donations can be used for:

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Supporting disadvantaged youth achieve sustainable employment
$0
For a free counselling program for families supporting loved ones in rehabilitation
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To provide a social enterprise for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
$0
To create a safe environment for teenagers to talk about domestic abuse
List of projects funded in 2020

We acknowledge there will always be disadvantage in our community. So we have set up a Foundation that will always be here to tackle that. We’re not a flash in the pan, we’re established, we’re ongoing, and we’ll keep filling those gaps in the long run. We’re expanding our reach, our impact and our programs so that the entire Northern Rivers can receive our support. Rest assured we’re in it for the long haul — our organisation, our people and our programs have serviced the Northern Rivers since 2004.