The Nelson Meers Foundation was the first Prescribed Private Fund (PPF) to be set up three and half years ago, but it’s also a pioneer foundation for other reasons.

The Nelson Meers Foundation was the first Prescribed Private Fund (PPF) to be set up three and half years ago, but it’s also a pioneer foundation for other reasons.

“Our family has always had a deep interest in the arts and Dad was keen to set up something that would formalise and perpetuate his commitment to supporting Australia’s cultural sector,” says 38-year-old Samantha Meers, who is the day-to-day manager of the Nelson Meers Foundation.

The foundation is different from other PPF’s for two main reasons. Firstly, it has a public face through its website and encourages applications.

“Most PPF’s are very private about their giving – which is very acceptable. However we don’t believe in ‘philanthropy by stealth.’ We like to encourage other philanthropy, so if our giving influences others to give then that is the perfect result.”

“Whilst receiving unsolicited applications adds to our workload, it also enables us to learn about many great initiatives we just wouldn’t hear about otherwise.”

The other distinguishing feature of the foundation is that it has a regular staff member. Most PPF’s have no staff, but Samantha works three days a week administering the applications, supervising existing grants and managing other foundation affairs.

“It’s very hard to decide which projects to run with. We get so many fabulous submissions so its difficult to say ‘no’.”

Samantha says the federal government is to be congratulated for creating the environment to establish PPF’s as they are a user-friendly vehicle for making philanthropic grants.

“It’s been a steep learning curve for us as the first PPF, but fortunately PPF’s are relatively low on administration.”

“Dad sometimes jokes that he’s giving away my inheritance! We’ve always had a very close relationship and working on the foundation together has not only added another dimension, but has involved the whole family in different ways.”