About Us
VISION AND MISSION
OUR VISION
To contribute to a stronger and healthier Victoria through thoughtful and purposeful charitable support and community involvement.
OUR MISSION
To invest in programs and initiatives that are expected to provide stronger and healthier communities and by supporting individuals through access to education.
A RICH HISTORY OF FREEMASONS BROTHERLY SUPPORT
1889 – 1989
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United Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Victoria (UGLV) formed.
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Benevolent Fund established to support Brethren who had fallen on hard times
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First donation of 500 pounds made by Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Sir William Clarke, Baronet.
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Compulsory levies included in capitation fees for benevolence (continued until 1970).
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First Freemasons scholarship awarded in 1912.
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Freemasons headquarters in Collins Street sold (owned by Benevolent Fund).
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1989
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The Freemasons Public Charitable Foundation established to receive the surplus from Centenary Celebrations.
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Registered as a public charitable trust and as a tax-deductible charity.
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Operated independently from Freemasons Victoria.
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2007 – 2014
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2007 - Freemasons Victoria engage consultant to recommend a framework for the future direction of the Freemasons Victoria philanthropy activities.
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2012 – Work commences on recommendations of consultant.
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Freemasons approve proposal to combine the Board of Benevolence with The Freemasons Public Charitable Foundation to establish Freemasons Foundation Victoria Limited.
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Freemasons Victoria Benevolent Fund provides corpus of $36 million.
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Combined corpus of $44 million.
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2014 – 2023
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Charities registered with Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
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The Freemasons Public Charitable Foundation
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Freemasons Benevolent Fund
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First meeting of directors held in December 2014.
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Operates independently from Freemasons Victoria.
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$18.8 million distributed
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$15.1m granting into the community
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$3.7m education support including scholarships
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