Philadelphia Futures
New staff giving platform brings everything into one place
Macquarie Group Foundation 2019 Annual Review
A record year of contributions to the communities in which we live and work
Chair's message
Message from Mary Reemst, Chair, Macquarie Group Foundation
It was a great privilege to succeed Shemara Wikramanayake as Chair of the Macquarie Group Foundation (the Foundation) in December 2018 when she became Macquarie’s new CEO and Managing Director. During Shemara’s five years as Chair, over $A137m was contributed to non-profit organisations, and volunteering hours increased by 188%; from 32,000 in 2013 to 60,000 in 2018. Shemara led the Foundation with passion, expertise and a determination to make an impact in the communities in which our staff live and work, and I look forward to continuing this important work.
Last year we also welcomed three new members to the Foundation Committee, further diversifying the range of experience and widening the geographical spread of members represented on the Committee. You can see our Committee members later in this annual report.
During the year, a record $A31.7 million was donated to more than 1,600 non-profits around the world by Macquarie staff and the Foundation.
Money given since inception – more than $A360 million2
Global grant-making focus area
Across the world, there are young people who need greater support to overcome the social barriers they face. Our global grant making focus aims to break down these barriers and provide social and economic opportunities to those who will benefit most.
This year we’ve looked at the grant-making areas across our four regions – the Americas, Asia, Australia and EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) – and uncovered the commonalities and differences in each area as together we work to create social impact.
Each location faces distinct challenges and priorities. For North America, a college pathway is almost imperative for a professional career, while in EMEA alternative pathways like professional apprenticeships are reducing economic disadvantage among young people who may otherwise have limited access to training and education beyond school. In Asia, ethical domestic labour recruitment can triumph over modern slavery to create fair working opportunities. And in Australia, marginalised young people are gaining greater access to work experience and career opportunities.
Case studies
Learn more about the community organisations we’re supporting who are working with young people around the world.
Our grant partners3
Americas
EMEA
Asia
ANZ
Americas
| In focus: supporting organisations promoting college access, success and career attainment for underrepresented youth. | |
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America Needs You America Needs You supports economic mobility for ambitious, low-income college students by providing intensive career development, mentorship, networking and holistic support. Our grant is supporting ANY's national expansion in the US. |
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Breakthrough NY BTNY is a tuition-free, ten-year college success program committed to getting high-potential, low-income middle school students to and through four-year colleges. Our grant will support the placement of a new full-time Career Manager and provide additional coaching services for students. |
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Double Discovery Center The Double Discovery Center at Columbia College works with low-income and first-generation college-bound Manhattan area youth to ensure high school graduation, college enrolment and completion and responsible adulthood. Our grants fund college the Macquarie LEADS program for high school interns. |
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Girls Inc New York City (GINYC) Girls Inc NYC delivers vital educational programs that inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Our grant supports Project Reach, which seeks to expand existing program offerings to gain a better understand the factors involved college attrition, and to address them with the ultimate goal of increasing graduation rates. |
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Graduate NYC Graduate NYC (GNYC) is dedicated to increasing college readiness and completion rates throughout New York City for low-income and first generation college students. Our grant contributes to the College Completion Innovation Fund which supports innovative projects that impact college access and completion for underrepresented youth. |
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Opportunity Network The Opportunity Network works to equal the playing field for highly motivated students from low-income and historically underrepresented backgrounds by facilitating access to colleges, career opportunities, and professional networks. Our grant supports a fellowship program that supports students from grade 10 through to college graduation and into a career. |
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Philadelphia Futures The mission of Philadelphia Futures (PF) is to provide Philadelphia's low-income, first-generation-to-college students with the tools, resources and opportunities necessary for admission to and success in college. Our grant helps PF run programs aimed at reducing the institutional, academic, social and financial barriers to college and career success. |
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The Hay Center The HAY Center is a public/private organization that empowers current and former foster youth in the Houston area to be successful, productive adults through training and mentorship in education, employment and personal achievement. Our grant is funding a pilot of a bridge housing program for youth who are leaving foster care, and need additional supports and experiences before moving into a more independent living arrangement. |
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| Older Adults Technology Service OATS harnesses technology to change the way we age. Our grants supported the creation of Senior Planet U and Work!, an online learning platform for seniors to engage with technology to improve their health, civic participation and financial literacy. Its CEO, Tom Kamber, was also the recipient of our US David Clarke Social Innovation Fellowship in 2016. |
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| The HOPE Program HOPE works with New Yorkers to lift themselves out of poverty through training, jobs and career advancement. Our grant supported HOPE to build their internal capacity to assist more job seeks through their current proven program model. |
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EMEA
| In focus: supporting organisations that promote social mobility for young people through education and employment opportunities. | |
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BIG Alliance The BIG Alliance enables employee volunteering and engagement in community, voluntary and not-for profit organisations, employability projects and schools, colleges and universities across Islington. |
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Dallaglio RugbyWorks Dallaglio RugbyWorks is a long-term skills development programme based on rugby, which aims to help teenagers outside of mainstream education into sustained education, employment or training. Our grant supports the RugbyWorks programme in London-based schools. |
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Islington Giving Islington Giving is an independent group of funders, businesses, residents and voluntary organisations working together to tackle poverty and inequality in Islington. Macquarie is the founding funder of the BIG Alliance (Businesses for Islington Giving). |
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Leadership Through Sport and Business LTSB provides school leavers from disadvantaged backgrounds access to careers in accounting, business and finance. Our grant forms LTSB's principal corporate funding. |
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ReachOut ReachOut helps change the lives of young people from disadvantaged communities in London and Manchester through one-to-one mentoring. Our grant supports ReachOut's academy and mentoring programme. |
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Prince’s Trust International Prince’s Trust International’s stated mission is to help unemployed young people around the globe into education, training and employment. Our funding is to support of the implementation of a new technological infrastructure platform for measuring impact. |
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| Streetwise Opera Streetwise Opera uses the creative arts to help people with experience of homelessness make positive changes. Streetwise set up the Global International Arts and Homelessness Movement - With One Voice, for which we are its principal partner. |
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Asia
| In focus: supporting organisations providing better migration outcomes for migrant workers as a means to combat modern slavery. | |
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A Better Chance Foundation ABC provides financial assistance to economically challenged but motivated children to receive schooling. Our grant covers ongoing college education for 45 students. |
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Agrasar Agrasar implements high-impact skill programs that help disadvantaged, migrant youth lead more meaningful and dignified lives. Our grant supports one centre in Kapersera, Gurgaon, as well as a community radio program that connects to youth in hamlets within 10 kms around Gurgaon City. |
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Amana Amana creates, implements, and monitors bespoke CSR projects. Through our funding, the organisation has implemented the Macquarie Road Safety program in partnership with the truck driver community in India. |
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Bosconet Bosconet works to improve lives of marginalised and migrant youth. Our grant is helping build a unique platform which integrates various support services available to migrants. |
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Enrich Personal Development Ltd (Enrich HK) Enrich provides financial and empowerment education for migrant domestic workers. Our grant is funding the provision of online, user-friendly and engaging educational resources on financial literacy and economic issues |
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Fair Employment Foundation FEF seeks to positively change the system of recruitment and hiring of migrant labour throughout Asia. Our grant is funding awareness raising around ethical hiring of domestic workers. |
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Hagar International Hagar works with women and children who have suffered severe human rights abuses. Our grant is supporting the transition and reintegration of its clients back into family and community life. |
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Justice Centre Hong Kong Justice Centre works to protect the rights of Hong Kong's most vulnerable migrants through advocacy and direct legal and social assistance. Our grant is helping Justice Centre focus its efforts on human trafficking and forced labour. |
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Kherwadi Social Welfare Association KSWA focuses on vocational training for people who have not finished high school. Our grant supports livelihood programs in rural India. |
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Lend A Hand India LAHI's program complements existing secondary school curricula with employment-related skills. Our grant is supporting a three-year pilot to enhance its program for students across 20 schools in Mumbai and Pune. |
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Magic Bus India Foundation MB builds life-skills in adolescents both in and outside of the education system to assist with educational attainment and employment. Our grant supports one community centre and 20 schools in Bhiwandi, a semi-rural area near Mumbai. |
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Mitra Technology Foundation MTF facilitates individuals and corporate employees to volunteer in different ways with NGOs across India. Our grant is supporting its iVolunteer initiative to identify emerging and best-practice models of volunteering. |
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New Resolution India NRI runs livelihood programs in community centres (called Bright Future) with youth in Mumbai slums. Our grant supports two Bright Future centres in Mumbai. |
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Oasis India Oasis India work to improve the lives of victims of human trafficking as well as children and youth in disadvantaged circumstances. Our grant is supporting skills training of trafficked women in four locations across India. |
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Sahaara Charitable Trust Sahaara works in India towards improving lives India's most vulnerable and marginalised people. Our grant supports the physical and emotional health of trafficked women and promotes skills training. |
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Seefar Seefar works to facilitate more opportunities for vulnerable people to advance themselves. Our grant is funding an information campaign for prospective first time migrant domestic workers in rural Indonesia, and a research study on the current prevalence of modern slavery and exploitation in Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore, the findings of which are designed to improve responses and promote strategies for change. |
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Trust Children Trust Children reaches out to underprivileged children, women and young adults in India and our grant is support them through nutrition and vocational training. |
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Voluntary Organization in Community Enterprises (VOICE) - by Sanjeevani VOICE works with neglected, vulnerable and deprived children of Mumbai. Our grant helps with nutrition, skills training and income generation. |
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Voice of the Free Voice of the Free (formally Visayan Forum) works to address human trafficking, particularly the exploitation of domestic workers. Our grant supports community education and business programs to help mitigate the risk of this form of modern slavery. |
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| Haribon Foundation Haribon advocates for biodiversity conservation by training people to achieve this in their community, and conducting research. Our grant is funding an eco-volunteer facility on the outskirts of Manila. |
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| Mother's Choice Mother’s Choice serves children without families and pregnant teenagers in Hong Kong. Out grant is funding the creation of a holistic L&D Framework, incorporating both core and job competencies, skills and attributes required for both staff and volunteers, so they can provide best in class care. |
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| Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) OGQ supports the training and preparation of India's top athletes. Our grant supports 24 athletes in their journey to win an Olympic medal. |
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| Safe Water Network India SWN works alongside communities in Ghana and India, providing people with daily access to safe water. Our grant is supporting SWNI's set-up of three solar water treatment facilities in India. |
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Australia/New Zealand
| In focus: supporting organisations providing economic engagement for young people through education, employment and training. | |
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Aurora Project Aurora supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' academic aspirations. Our grant is supporting Aurora's high school outreach program which aims to inspire young people to achieve their educational goals by hearing from Indigenous role models. |
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BackTrack (through Social Ventures Australia) BackTrack supports high-risk young people in country New South Wales through work and personal skills development. Our grant supports BackTrack, in partnership with Social Ventures Australia, to increase its efficiency and provide community mentoring to other regional organisations working with similar young people. |
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CareerSeekers CareerSeekers connects newly settled humanitarian entrants (refugees) with corporate Australia to increase workforce participation. Our grant enables CareerSeekers to recruit, support and place 50 students into workplace internships. |
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Clontarf Foundation Clontarf Foundation aims to improve the education, discipline, self-esteem, life skills and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men. Our grant supports the Clontarf program at Chifley College’s Bidwell Campus in western Sydney. |
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Generation: You Employed, Inc Generation is a global organisation which recruits, trains and places young people into career-launching jobs. Our grant is contributing funding towards the two year pilot launch of Generation in Australia. |
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Hayden Reynolds Tiwi Garden Project Tiwi College offers quality secondary education to all Tiwi young people. Our grant funded work experience and employment opportunities and healthy eating for College students. |
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Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) MITS provides educational choice to Indigenous students from remote and regional communities across Australia. Our grant supports the employment of a program manager who works with MITS students in a range of ways to enable their success. |
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National Indigenous Culinary Institute NICI offers training and experience for aspiring Indigenous chefs under the culinary guardianship of some of Australia’s top restauranteurs. Our grant supported an Indigenous trainee chef gain experience and qualifications. |
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OzFish OzFish supports the Junior Indigenous Marine and Environmental Cadet program (JIME). Our grant is directed towards senior secondary college Indigenous students, helping them to undertake traineeships and providing a pathway to marine employment. |
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PCYC NSW PCYC NSW works with young people to help them reach their potential through police and community partnerships. Our grant funds Fit For Work programs in two western Sydney locations, which aims to help young people transition from vocational training into work experience and then full-time employment or apprenticeships. |
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Raise Foundation Raise Foundation’s mission is to improve the wellbeing of young people in Australia at risk of disengaging, by delivering best-practice mentoring programs. Our grant supports the development of the Raise online training platform which is designed to improve the accessibility, efficiency and efficacy of Raise’s training and help it scale. |
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SYC Ltd SYC connects community services to people in need. Our funding is supporting the expansion of the Get Into Program, which prepares disengaged young people for the labour market and helps them retain employment. |
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yourtown yourtown works with at-risk young people to improve their quality of life. Our grant is supporting an independent evaluation of its 'your job your way' pilot program, which aims to transition long-term unemployed young people to sustainable employment. |
| Out of focus | |
| Ardoch Foundation Ardoch provides education support for children and young people in disadvantaged communities. Our grant supported staff to take part in Ardoch's Literacy Buddies volunteering program where they exchange letters with young people. |
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| Australian Wildlife Conservancy AWC conserves native animal species and the habitats in which they live through land sanctuaries and land management. Our grant is helping increase the ecological return on investment in national park management. |
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| Batyr Batyr focuses on preventative education in the area of youth mental health. Our grant supports Batyr's mental health awareness programme at the University of South Australia. |
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| Can Too Foundation Can Too Foundation supports the research, prevention, care and control of cancer. Our grant provided capacity building support for Can Too Foundation in its establishment phase as a new, independent entity. |
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| Cancer Australia Cancer Australia is a national government agency working to reduce the impact of cancer on all Australians. Our grant supported a new website containing updated, evidence-based information on breast cancer risk factors for women and their health professionals. |
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| Centre for Social Impact (UNSW) CSI works to improve the delivery of social impact programs in Australia through research, teaching, measurement and public debate. Our grant is supporting an update of 'The Compass', CSI’s guide to navigating social outcomes and impact measurement; as well as a research project looking at the role of youth mentoring in wellbeing, economic engagement and supportive communities for young people. |
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| Cerebral Palsy Alliance Cerebral Palsy Alliance provides services to people with a physical or neurological disability. CPA won Macquarie's Social Innovation Award in 2017; our funding is supporting its ‘Remarkable Accelerator Program’, which provides seed funding and support to early stage start-ups using technology to facilitate improvements for people with a disability. |
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| Financial Markets Foundation for Children FMFC works to improve the health, welfare and well-being of Australian children. Our grant is used to fund research programs and other projects to support this work. |
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| Good to Great Schools Good to Great Schools supports schools in rural and remote communities across Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland to improve educational outcomes. Our grant is providing capacity building funding to help scale Good to Great Schools' work. |
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| Hello Sunday Morning Hello Sunday Morning encourages a healthier drinking culture in Australia. Our funding is helping HSM achieve long-term sustainability by adopting a scalable, integrated and preventative alcohol treatment model that integrates with the private health insurance sector. |
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| Jawun Jawun forms partnerships to benefit corporate, government and Indigenous Australia. Our grant provides capacity building support for Jawun's activities in the East Kimberly region of Australia. |
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| JDRF Australia JDRF Australia's funds research to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. Our grant supports the JDRF Macquarie Group Foundation Future Research Leaders Program which is developing type 1 diabetes research leaders for the next generation. |
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| KidsXpress KidsXpress helps children impacted by trauma through the use of expressive therapy. Our grant is supporting KidsXpress to translate what was once only a targeted (to children) therapy program into a comprehensive whole-school support program. |
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| Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia funds and coordinates MS research in Australia. Our grant supports a Senior Researcher and Practitioner Fellowship who will collaborate on research and the translation of this research into direct clinical practice. |
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| SEFA Partnerships SEFA Partnerships works with social purpose organisations to improve their capacity and work amongst disadvantaged communities and people in Australia. Our grant supports Kick Starter, a business planning mentoring and small grants program for early stage social ventures, as well as a robust evaluation of the program. |
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| Social Ventures Australia SVA works to improve the lives of people in need by offering funding, investment, and advice to support organisations to increase their social impact. Our grant is supporting SVA to strengthen the social impact bond market in Australia and build capacity amongst the sector. |
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| Stay Kind Stay Kind (previously the Thomas Kelly Youth Foundation) works to foster a responsible drinking culture, reducing alcohol and drug-related violence and anti-social behaviour. Our grant helped expand its Safe Space and TAKE Care Ambassadors program, assisting vulnerable youth to get home safely. |
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| The Big Issue The Big Issue magazine is a fortnightly magazine sold on the streets by homeless, marginalised and disadvantaged people. Our grant supports The Big Issue to host a Big Shift event in support of the Women’s Subscription Enterprise, creating work opportunities for vulnerable women who do not feel safe selling the magazine on the streets. |
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| The Funding Network Australia TFN facilitates giving through live crowdfunding events. Our capacity building grant is employing a pitch coaching manager who will increase the number of non-profits accessing TFN’s services. |
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| The Prince's Trust Australia The Prince's Trust Australia delivers social impact in a range of ways. Our grant supports its Enterprise For Veterans program, helping veterans and their families transition into small business self-employment. |
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| Women’s Community Shelters In partnership with local communities, Women's Community Shelters provides shelters for women and children in need of accommodation and other social services. Our funding supports the employment of a Shelter Network Manager who ensures the smooth operation and best-practice service delivery of each shelter. |
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Macquarie 50th Anniversary Award
In late 2018, Macquarie Group announced the Macquarie 50th Anniversary Award, a $A50 million philanthropic commitment, to initiate or build on bold ideas to address social need. Finalists were announced in May and winners will be announced in August 2019.
Find out more Watch finalist videoOur people
How we’ve supported the community in Australia over the year:
We helped SYC fund research into pilot solutions for long-term youth unemployment and supporting Aurora as it links senior Indigenous secondary students with high-achieving Indigenous university graduates for role modelling.
We supported batyr’s Get Talkin’ Tour, which helped young people in regional NSW feel less alone by providing mental health tips, and rallied together to raise money for a range of drought-affected communities.
How we’ve supported the community in the Americas over the year:
We helped raise the funds needed for the International African American Museum to open, so that largely untold stories can be showcased and preserved.
In New York, we worked with the Double Discovery Center at Columbia College, which helps low-income, first-generation youth through their high school and college educations. We also spent 800 hours mentoring and coaching underrepresented students across the region on college and career success.
How we’ve supported the community in Asia over the year:
We matched fundraising efforts and donated 200+ laptops and related computer equipment for the Cambodian Children’s Fund, supporting the provision of free healthcare, childcare, food and nutrition programs, education and housing in impoverished communities.
We’ve supported ChildFund in Korea to provide emergency treatment and protection, as well as intensive psychological treatment and consultation, to underprivileged children who’ve suffered abuse.
How we’ve supported the community in Europe, the Middle East and Africa over the year:
We worked collaboratively with local non-profits in the UK as part of the Community Resourcing programme (CoRe). It provides strategic advice and helps build the capability, capacity and sustainability necessary for meaningful community development.
We have supported our staff and the issues important to them such as 30 fundraisers in aid of Teach for Romania.
Foundation Week
$A10m donated over five Foundation Weeks
During our fifth annual Foundation Week in 2018, more than $A2.8 million was distributed to over 180 organisations around the world. In Foundation Week, non-profits receive double-matching of amounts raised up to $A5,000 by Macquarie teams, as well as additional ‘donations for doers’ charitable donations to recognise volunteering activities.
For the past five years, Macquarie Group staff in offices around the world have risen to the challenge of raising funds for causes close to their heart. Together, we have raised and donated $A10 million during Foundation Weeks alone. Thousands of staff have participated in a range of events, from fitness challenges to clothing drives to music and trivia nights.
Read more and view the photo library from Foundation Week 2018
My Community
Mary Reemst*
Chair, Macquarie Group Foundation
David Fass
Macquarie Asset Management,
New York
Tony Graham
Banking and Financial Services, Sydney
Stuart Green*
Financial Management Group, Sydney
Jackie Hamilton*
Corporate and Asset Finance,
New York
Shawn Lytle
US Country Head, Philadelphia
Elizabeth O’Leary
Macquarie Asset Management, Sydney
Lynnette Sarno*
Corporate Operations Group, Sydney
Jeff Shiu
Commodities and Global Markets, Hong Kong
Lisa Sonnabend*
Macquarie Capital, Sydney
Ben Way
CEO Asia, Hong Kong
We would like to thank Shemara Wikramanayake (Sydney), David Bennet (Alumni) and Tracey Macdonald (Sydney) who retired from the Foundation Committee in the last year.
*New Committee members in 2018.
Macquarie Group Collection year in review
For over 30 years, the Macquarie Group Collection has been supporting emerging Australian artists, in all media. The Collection was established in 1987 as part of the Macquarie Group Foundation and now includes more than 800 works that are displayed in over 40 Macquarie offices worldwide.
Under the theme of The Land and Its Psyche, each year a volunteer committee of Macquarie Group staff members and a curatorial expert select submitted works. This year, we celebrate the new remarkable contributions to our growing and significant collection.
Detail from “Around and Within” exhibition, Space Gallery, 2018. Image Flashpoint Labs.