Community Support Fund

Common Ground Australia – Community Support Fund

The Common Ground Community Support Fund has been established to accomplish three things, Support Communities in their time of need, accept grant applications for community projects and provide scholarships for talented kids to nurture their creative pursuits.
Established during the QLD Flood Crisis on the 10th January 2011 subsequent events and the passing of contributors to Common Ground have shaped the Fund as it currently stands.

• Community Support Projects – Currently Queensland’s Lockyer Valley
• The Jonno Howell Photographic Scholarship Fund

We take the nature of the Common Ground Australia Community Support Fund very seriously and endeavour to keep you up to date with how much has been raised, where and how the funds are distributed. Not only is this required by law but is fundamental to our principles and obligation of transparency to you, our community.

Currently funds have come from generous donations and community fundraisers. Common Ground donates 5% of our revenues to this fund accumulated on a quarterly basis. Due to our infancy we have decided against (at this stage) applying for Deductible Gift Registration with the Australian Tax Office, so all of these funds are truly a gift to the community, not a tax deduction. Cash donations are also welcome from businesses and individuals to support particular projects.

Community Support Projects – Currently Queensland’s Lockyer Valley

We are working closely with Committees in the Postmans Ridge, Withcott and Murphy’s Creek region of the Lockyer Valley – South East Queensland. Funds specifically donated for particular projects in this area are currently being held in trust as the affected communities decide how they will best use the money to benefit the community as a whole.

So far we have donated over $50,000 worth of perishables and household items to these area’s and we will be keeping you up to date with the additional projects we fund when decisions are finalized by the Lockyer Valley Communities we are supporting.

A complete update can be found here – http://commongroundaustralia.com/byronbay/community/cg-support-fund-wrap-up/

The “Jonno Howell” Photographic Scholarship Fund

Jonno was a much loved photographic contributor to Common Ground who passed away shortly before his 28th Birthday in Bali during 2011. Funds have been generously donated from family and friends, local businesses and most recently a fundraiser in Byron Bay. The evolvement of this fund is in its infancy and we are working closely with the Howell family to structure the nature of this fund to support and nurture photographic talent through a scholarship in Jonno’s name.

Donations to the Community Support Fund are welcomed and appreciated. Donations can be made via PayPal or Direct Deposit. If you are supporting a specific fund please make this clear in your deposit description.

Direct Deposit Bank Details
Account Name: Common Ground Australia – Community Support Fund
Westpac – Mt Gravatt QLD
BSB: 034089
A/C#: 102307

To keep up to date with the Support Fund, you can follow us via Twitter and Facebook.

Additional Stories and information:
July Update – http://commongroundaustralia.com/byronbay/community/another-300-for-the-fund/
Jonno Howell – http://commongroundaustralia.com/byronbay/community/close-to-the-heart-jonno-howell/