Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund

About the Fund

The Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund was established in response to the 2019/2020 bushfires which devastated our region.

Along with the Community Enterprise Foundation (covering the Alpine LGA) and the East Gippsland Community Foundation (covering East Gippsland), Border Trust has partnered with the Victorian Bushfire Appeal to support the Towong Shire.

As trustee of the Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund, Border Trust will distribute $2,850,945 through grant programs to support long term recovery initiatives.

We thank the Victorian Bushfire Appeal and the generosity of public donors for enabling this place-based distribution and look forward to investing in significant community identified priorities.

Our Victorian Government Agreement requires public access to the movement in the Towong Community Bushfire Disaster Relief Fund.

• Savings Account – Details Here .   Term Deposit – Details Here.

Grant Program

Border Trust invites grant applications from not-for-profit, community organisations for projects seeking to support the communities within the Towong Shire affected by the 2019/2020 Bushfires.

Recognising that grant distributions must align not only to the needs of the community, but also to the community’s capacity to deliver projects, Round 7 will open in November 2024 and close in March 2025.

We believe it is imperative that our grant distribution timeline aligns with the staged recovery of the community and their readiness to effectively utilize recovery funding. We encourage any community members or organizations who are coordinating and prioritizing the community’s recovery projects, to be in touch so we can talk through the project and timeframe.

Generally, the grant program targets applications up to $50,000. Applications for funding up to $100,000 may be considered after consultation with Border Trust. Please contact Glenys on glenysa@bordertrust.org.au  or 0447 684 506 to discuss your application beforehand if this is the case.

Grant Round 7 Now Closed.

Download Round 7 General Information and Guidelines HERE

Grant Recipients

• Round 1 – 7 Grants totalling $316,880 – Details Here
• Round 2 – 7 Grants totalling $347,818 – Details Here
• Round 3 – 6 Grants totalling $272,213 – Details Here
• Round 4 – 11 Grants totalling $373,400 – Details Here
• Round 5 – 8 Grants totalling $222,790 – Details Here
• Round 6 – 10 Grants totalling $393,806  – Details Here
• Round 7a – 5 Grants totalling $261,030 – Details Here
• Round 7b –  10 Grants totalling $345,551 – Details Here

Community Consultation

The purpose of this consultation was to check in with the Towong community to identify emerging needs and local priorities. By engaging directly with residents, leaders, and community groups, Border Trust will ensure that future grants address both immediate recovery challenges and longer- term opportunities.

Media Release available HERE

Read the full document HERE

“It’s reassuring to know Border Trust is listening to the community. This consultation shows they’re committed to managing the funds responsibly and ensuring they make a real difference where it’s needed most.”