The money can be found if the fit is right! That's the message that came out of a session called 'Meet the Grantmakers' at the International Philanthropy Australia Conference.

Teresa Zolnierkiewicz, the manager of ANZ Trustees told conference delegates that there isn't a project that can't be funded if the giver/recipient 'fit' is right.

Zolnierkiewicz used the Cinderella's slipper analogy to explain her view.

She said if the slipper fits you marry the Prince and get the money. If it doesn't fit don't force it because you won't be able to wear the slipper for too long and it could cause irreparable damage to you (and your foot). So go and find a different slipper!

ANZ Trustees manages 300 charitable Trusts valued at around $850 million. Some $40 million is available annually for distribution involving around 1000 charities.

Zolnierkiewicz says NFPs should ask three questions before they apply for funds.

What is the solution to the problem?
Why do you want Foundation money to fund it and
What will happen at the end of the funding period?

Liz Gillies CEO of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust urged NFPs to share the journey of the thinking with the Foundations they are seeking funds from.

Gillies says NFP's should challenge Foundations the way Foundations and Trusts challenge them.

She says her organisation receives four to five hundred applications a year for funding so NFPs need to explain how the project will make a difference, how is it sustainable beyond the project and offer a clear plan of who will benefit.

Gillies says the Macpherson Trust and many Foundations are bridge builders, pulling together others to talks about and develop a proposal and to take everyone forward, and they are keen to roll up their sleeves on difficult projects and put in the time.

From Pro Bono Newsletter

Links:http://www.hmstrust.org.au/
http://www.anz.com/aus/fin/Trustees/default.asp.