Helen Macpherson Smith Trust

The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust (known prior to 2001 as the Helen M Schutt Trust) was established in 1951. "Today the capital of the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust is valued at in excess of $75 million. Since 1972 total grants made exceed $57 million. Each year grants of over $5 million are now given to a wide spectrum of Victorian charities." [1]

Large grants given in 2003-04 (AU$100,000 or more)

Total Community Support grants AU$1,188,507

• Macpherson Smith Community Alliance - Establishment of a $1 million fund on the basis of a matched grant from the Victorian State Government to support projects identified by the Community Capacity Building Initiative - AU$500,000

Total Health grants AU$1,645,116

• Burnett Centre - Contribution towards the fit-out of the viral cultural laboratory in the Prahran Precinct (total commitment $500,000) - AU$100,000
• Central Gippsland Health Service (Sale) - Contribution to the development of the Health Professionals Learning Complex - AU$225,000
• The Jean Hailes Foundation (Clayton South) - Contribution to the Research project: ‘Health and Well Being After Breast Cancer’ - AU$180,000
• Mental Health Research Institute (Parkville) - Establishment of a new Research Program in the Helen Macpherson Smith Laboratory which will provide a greater focus on identifying new drug targets for the treatment of serious mental illnesses - AU$300,000
• RDNS – Community Health - Contribution to the establishment of Helen Macpherson Smith Institute of Community Health (total commitment $750,000) - AU$100,000
• St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research - Refurbishment and preservation of facilities (total commitment $300,000) - AU$100,000

Total Arts, Culture and Heritage grants AU$756,500

• Australian Centre For Contemporary Art - Five year program of contemporary art commissions at ACCA which will be gifted to regional galleries - AU$300,000
• Museum Victoria – Immigration Museum - Major support for the exhibition ‘Station Pier – Gateway to a New Life’ highlighting immigrants to Melbourne over the 150 years of Museum Victoria - AU$100,000
• Orchestra Victoria - Implementation of the second stage of the Regional Visits

Program in 2004-05 - AU$100,000

Total Disabled Care and Support grants AU$613,946

• MS Society - Contribution to the Nerve Centre – a Lifestyle Assessment

Planning Service (total commitment $300,000) - AU$100,000

Total Environment grants AU$372,500

• Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne - The Orchid Undercroft at the Australian Gardens, Cranbourne - AU$215,000

Total Aged Persons Care and Support grants AU$514,020

Total Education grants AU$104,338 Total Employment grants AU$14,500

• Total of grants listed 2003-04 AU$5,209,427 Source

Trustees

• Mr Darvell M. Hutchinson AM - Chairman of Trustees
• Mr J. Barry Hutchins OAM - Trustee

Staff

• Mr Darren McConnell - Finance Executive
• Ms Liz Gillies - Grants Executive
• Ms Sarah Bartak - Grants Administrator
• Ms Pamela Beech - Secretary

Investment Committee

• Darvell M. Hutchinson AM, Chairman
• J. Barry Hutchins OAM
• J. Gordon M. Moffatt AM
• John A. Bryson

Publications

• Annual Report 2004 (Pdf)
• Jane Sandilands, Biography of Helen Macpherson Schutt, Commissioned by the Trustees of the Helen M Schutt Trust, 2001.

Contact

Level 43, Nauru House

80 Collins Street

Melbourne Victoria 3000

Tel: (+61 3) 9662 1951

Fax: (+61 3) 9662 1930

Email: info (AT) hmstrust.org.au

Website: http://www.hmstrust.org.au/

Related sourcewatch resources

• Council on Foundations
• Funding Exchange (Progressive foundations)
• Philanthropy Australia
• The Foundation Center
• Humanitarian Crisis Hub