Development
The Grammar Foundation, the fundraising arm of Melbourne Grammar School, was established in 1974 to develop and improve the standards, facilities and well-being of Melbourne Grammar School and secure its financial security and independence.
In particular, it aims to:
- Attract and retain for the School the continuing interest and financial support of its Old Melburnians, Parents and Friends
- Solicit donations, gifts, bequests and other forms of financial assistance to or for the benefit of the School
Fundraising Staff
Michael Joyce
Director of Development
Ext 7683
Kerry Holdsworth
Development Manager - Stewardship
Ext 7688
Development Coordinator
Ext 7682
Giving Programs
The Grammar Foundation
Melbourne Grammar has many fine traditions including outstanding academic results, numerous sporting achievements, a challenging and diverse co-curricular program, dedicated staff and a strong sense of fellowship. One hallmark, since Dr Bromby's founding days, has been the strong philanthropic' support of each generation to develop and advance the School.
While tuition fees cover a major portion of a student's education at Melbourne Grammar, fees do not and cannot provide all the funds we need to:
- Undertake building projects
- Assist students with financial support through scholarships and bursaries
- Provide a wide range of activities and facilities for the curricular and co-curricular programs.
There is a mistaken perception in the community that Melbourne Grammar has adequate funds to draw upon. The reality is that without strong support from the Grammar Community, the School would not have the financial capacity to complete many projects that enhance our educational environment. This is why The Grammar Foundation - the School's fundraising arm -was established in 1974. Its mission is to seek philanthropic support for the School's on-going development and to protect it against declining government funding. The funds raised ensure that we remain at the forefront of education in Australia by maintaining, updating and expanding our facilities and programs.
Gifts and Pledges
The School has a number of major capital projects that are essential to sustain its educational excellence. Key gifts are sought to raise the funds needed for these identified projects.
Gifts of varying amounts according to the donor's capacity, are either pledged over several years or given as a single gift.
In recent years the Physical Education Centre at Grimwade House, the redevelopment of Wadhurst including the McKeown Art School, the Motor Works, Camp Dowd and the new boarding precinct have all been secured with generous philanthropic support from the Grammar Community.
Leadership gifts, covering a significant portion of the cost of a project, can be directed for specific parts of a project with naming opportunities. All donations to the Grammar Building Appeal are tax deductible.
Annual Giving
Every year Grammar asks all members of its community for a modest gift as part of a mailed Annual Appeal. Gifts can be directed to:
- Grammar Building Appeal – tax deductible and used to finance capital projects
- Endowment Fund – non tax deductible and used to provide scholarships, bursaries and finance non building projects
- Library Fund – tax deductible and used to provide fiction and reference material, library equipment and resources.
Bequests, Scholarships & Endowment Gifts
The Endowment Fund is a fund where the capital amount is preserved in perpetuity in the interest of future generations.
The School spends only a portion of the income of its endowment to that the fund maintains its value in real terms. The endowment is therefore permanent, a lasting investment in the future of the School.
Endowment income is used to provide bursary assistance for students in need, to support a variety of scholarships, to minimise fee increases and to enhance the curricular and co-curricular programs of the School.
Donations can be made directly to the Endowment Fund or by way of bequest. Donations can be directed to a specific purpose or left for use at the discretion of the Headmaster. These donations are not tax deductible.
A bequest donor can become a member of the Witherby Tower Society which honours and thanks those who remember the School in their wills. When considering a bequest we encourage donors to first discuss their plans with the Development Office.