Applications for Greater Charitable Foundation funding open until 19 July 2013.  

 Charities in the Hunter Region have the opportunity to obtain funding for projects that will make a lasting difference to the lives of families and communities with the Hunter-based Greater Charitable Foundation's annual funding round now open.

 Foundation CEO Anne Long said each year the Foundation provides approximately $1million per annum to programs. Funding is a minimum of $75,000 for a one year project to a maximum of $500,000 for a three year program.

 Established in 2011, the Foundation is funded out of the profits of the Greater Building Society. Anne said as well as providing funding the Foundation also provides staff from the Greater Building Society to volunteer to work with the charity partner on the project.

To date, the Foundation has allocated almost $3 million to nine charity partners (see list below) and 120 Greater staff have volunteered for those charity partners, providing in excess of 50 days volunteering support.

 “We partner with a small number of organisations at a time to ensure the programs are well resourced and supported,” Anne Said. “We want to make sure we maximise the value of the funding to improve life outcomes for people living in the building society's area of operations.”

“The Foundation is another way The Greater gives back to its customers and the broader community,” she said.

 The customer-owned Greater Building Society offers financial services to more than 250,000 customers across NSW and south-East Queensland.

Making life greater – projects funded to date in the Hunter

• Starlight Children's Foundation | Establishment of regular Captain Starlight visits in regional hospitals (Gosford, Maitland, Tamworth, Armidale, Lismore and Gold Coast) and regional Wishgranting program 
• Hunter Institute of Mental Health | Pilot program to help support children with a chronic illness and their families
• Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) | Pilot of an Early Intervention Readiness Program to help families with a newly diagnosed child to access a range of support services.
• Heal for Life Foundation | Expansion of Eva House residential program to cut waiting lists for young women who have survived childhood abuse or trauma
• HMRI | Funding for two medical research trials for Stroke. A trial of a new clot busting medication and a trial of interventions to get stroke survivors active in rehabilitation
• Cerebral Palsy Alliance | Mentoring programs for young people with cerebral palsy (CP) and funding for a social group for young people with CP.