How to get started
The formation of a local Education Foundation is simple. Firstly, you need to select a committee and elect office bearers including a Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Public Officer. From here you complete the necessary Incorporation forms required by your state Department of Fair Trading equivalent. There are examples of these in the establishment guide, which you'll receive prior to setting up your community foundation. Once you have received your Notification of Incorporation, you are able to set up a bank account and are ready to operate.
Your Committee - who’s on it and how many people should be involved? Your local committee should consist of a broad range of people from your community. This could include members of local service clubs, the Chamber of Commerce, teachers, councilors or simply people from your community who share the aspiration of supporting local youth to achieve their goals. Experience has shown us that an ideal committee size is around six to eight people.
In order to provide grants, committees need to fundraise. The Country Education Foundation of Australia sets no benchmarks in terms of the level of funds to be raised. Rather, we leave this to your committee to decide. We can assist by sharing the many tried and tested fundraising ideas that have worked for other member communities. Most of our committees find it easier to have one larger event or initiative per year rather than to having multiple small fundraisers, but then again, we leave this entirely up to you.
What works in some communities may be different to what works in others, and one of the great things about the CEFA model is that it can be adapted to your unique needs. For example, we allow local committees to decide if they want to only provide one off grants or assist recipients in each year of their studies, based on suitable academic results or work references if the assistance is for a Traineeship or Apprenticeship.
Remember, for guidance and support, we’re only a phone call away.
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