Leeton IRCF Journey
Welcome
Through the IRCF program in Leeton, local community facilitators have contributed to supporting the Leeton not-for-profits (NFPs) to build relationships, connect across the region, and work together on activating a Community Roadmap, a shared vision for Leeton and surrounds.
Contacts:
Program Manager Nancy Sposato – 0477 395 381
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News & Events
IRCF Timeline
Participating NFPs
Leeton IRCF Goals
Leeton is a rural community in the Riverina region of NSW in the country of the Wiradjuri nation. The IRCF program in Leeton encompasses the Leeton local government area and includes the villages of Yanco, Wamoon, Whitton and Murrami.
The Leeton area has a total population of 11,600, with almost 120 NFP organisations supporting the community.
The community roadmap articulates the goals decided by the community, for the community. Applications for funding should be for projects that align with the goals found in the community roadmap.
Community Roadmap
Culmination Plan
As the IRCF program winds down in Leeton, granting and program priorities have been identified and confirmed by communities. Learn more about these Culmination Priorities.
project funding
Developing leadership capabilities, a renewed sense of community spirit and fostering skill development to create strong organisations that bring together various leaders, groups and residents.
- Attract people to capture new volunteers, including young and skilled people.
- Promote leadership development and mentoring opportunities to support people to step into NFP committee positions.
- Encourage and promote more people with transferable skills i.e., grant assistance, mentoring, legal and accounting.
- Develop digital literacy in NFP members and groups.
project funding
Fostering relationships and practises that support efficient and effective collaboration with other not-for-profits to enhance community impact.
- Centralised coordinator established to support local NFP sector including the development of a communications strategy.
- Communications Strategy to be sustainable.
- Online central source of information established offering training resources for volunteers and community members.
- Internal and external platforms for NFPs developed.
project funding
Supporting community leaders to input new insights and energy to effort by providing lessons, systems and structures that demonstrates best practice.
- Increased NFP succession planning attracting new diverse volunteers and younger volunteers (consolidate into existing People goal).
- Comprehensive NFP database, directory and digital resource library.
project funding
Providing tools and measures that support and enable the sustainability of organisations well into the future.
- Leeton Connect maintains and builds upon an attractive value proposition of service offerings and secures ongoing revenue stream and membership.
- Not-for-profit sector of Leeton organisations meet a minimum higher standard of governance structure/procedure/competence.
FRRR Contribution
Partnership Grants
Toolbox Grants
Toolbox Funds Remaining
As part of the IRCF program the communities of Junee, Leeton and the Nambucca Valley were allocated $1million in grant funds. To date, the granting process has been through Partnership Grant Rounds or ongoing quick response Toolbox Applications. As part of the culmination of the IRCF program for these communities, all remaining funds will now be granted through the Toolbox Grant Application process using the following guidelines.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DATE AND WHAT IS ON THE HORIZON
Click on the arrows at the sides of the page to move back and forth through the activities
Final Evaluation Data Collection Events
During November 2023 FRRR has hosted the final evaluation data collection events in the VFFF communities of Junee, Leeton and Nambucca. We would like to thank all the community members who took the time to engage in these events, many who have been participating since 2020! Through conversations with
Toolbox Grant to Facilitate Conference Attendance for Leeton Delegates
Leeton Jumpstart Fund received a $2,575 grant through Toolbox Funding to support a professional development opportunity for a Leeton delegate to the Social Impact in the Regions Conference. The opportunity offering learning and networking to strengthen current and future initiatives for the Leeton NFP sector. Throughout their IRCF journey, the
May Evaluation – Community Insights Leeton
Sally and Nicole from Matrix on Board joined Program Manager Nancy and Community Facilitator Kate in Leeton for the May program evaluation cycle. We heard that it's now second nature for local NFPs to work together, which is so exciting. Some other themes or things we noticed included: There's a
Toolbox Grant for Leeton Connect
Leeton Connect received $24,954 through the Toolbox Grant mechanism to connect and upskilling the Leeton NFP sector with expert volunteer and grant writing workshops. Leeton Connect empowers community members and aid in driving the vibrant NFP sector. Leeton Connect has previously run very successful networking breakfasts focusing on grants and
Leeton Community Evaluation
November Evaluation Event Highlights An important part of FRRR’s Investing in Rural Community Futures Program (IRCF) is an evaluation process that has occurred every 6 months since 2020. The focus of this work is to try to capture the impact of the program at a community level and the journey
Round 4 Partnership Grants for Leeton
Three organisations shared in over $150,000 in funding in the 2022 IRCF Leeton Grant Round. These recipients and their projects are outlined below. [ninja_tables id="4421"]
2022 Partnership Grants Open
Eligible not-for-profits in Leeton are now invited to apply for a partnership grant, with the 2022 grant round now open until 31 August 2022. FRRR and the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) have a shared belief in the critical role of not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in building and supporting vibrant communities,
2022 Roadmap Review
During June 2022, community not-for-profits came together in Junee, Leeton and Nambucca Valley to review the IRCF roadmap and reflect on opportunities for the coming year.
Program Evaluation Leeton
The IRCF program is evaluated every six months in Leeton. Organisations who have been funded through the IRCF program meet with consultants to reflect on the program and measure the impact of funds granted. To support this process, an overall IRCF Evaluation Framework has been developed. This allows for reflection,
Round 3 Partnership Grants for Leeton
In the third year of the IRCF program, $286,318 was awarded to Leeton not-for-profits (NFPs) as part of the Round 3 Partnership Grants. Four Leeton NFPs successfully applied for funding, with these recipients and their projects outlined below. [ninja_tables id="3251"]
Program Evaluation for Leeton
The IRCF program is evaluated every six months in Leeton. Organisations who have been funded through the IRCF program meet with consultants to reflect on the program and measure the impact of funds granted. To support this process, an overall IRCF Evaluation Framework has been developed. This allows for reflection,
Leeton Roadmap Review
The Leeton Community Roadmap aims to identify local not-for-profit needs that align with the IRCF programs Priority Areas and the programs intention to strengthen how not-for profit organisations function and support sustainability. The roadmap articulates the steps required to guide the sector in achieving shared goals. The purpose of a roadmap is to both guide the local not-for-profit sector to better understand how it can be sustained into
Leeton Toolbox Grant Awarded
Leeton Connect received a $9,950 grant through Toolbox Funding to deliver a Governance and Grant Writing Workshop with fellow NFPs in Leeton. The workshop aims to increase skills and knowledge of Not-for-Profit organisations in the Leeton Shire regarding Governance and Grant Writing. Through these learnings they will strengthen and build
Round 2 Partnership Grants for Leeton
Round 2 of the Partnership Grants for Leeton were announced in August 2020. In this round of the partnership grants, four projects in Leeton were successful in their application, sharing in $276,963 in funds. These recipients and their projects are outlined below. [ninja_tables id="3250"]
Round 1 Partnership Grants for Leeton
In the first round of the Partnership Grants for Leeton, four not-for-profits (NFPs) shared in $139,143 of funding. These four organisations and their projects are outlined below. [ninja_tables id="3249"]
Meet our Leeton Facilitator
Hi, I am Claire Williams, your local community facilitator. My role is to support the Leeton Not-For-Profits (NFPs) to build relationships, connect across Leeton and work together on seeing through the Community Roadmap to successful completion of a shared vision for Leeton. You can get in touch with me on
Leeton Community Roadmapping Workshops
On 31st March 2020, a group of passionate volunteers, board members, leaders and team members from community based not-for-profit (NFP) organisations in Leeton were invited to the community Roadmap Workshop at Leeton Soldiers Club, and an online session via zoom. Over these sessions, attendees from a broad range of NFPs
Leeton announced as partner community for IRCF
Leeton was announced as a partner community for the IRCF program in January 202, along with Junee and Nambucca Valley, following a successful Expression of Interest from the community. Five communities in NSW were selected to participate in the Start-Up grant round of the IRCF program. Following the successful implementation
Expressions of Interest to Participate in IRCF
The Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) and the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation (VFFF) recognise the fundamental roles that not-for-profit (NFP) organisations play in building and sustaining the social and economic fabric in their communities. The desired outcome of the Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF) program is to
Leeton Start Up Grants
As part of the IRCF program launch, Leeton Shire Council has received $60,000 to kickstart Leeton Connect.
Evaluation – NFP Health Check
The IRCF program is being independently evaluated by our delivery partner Matrix on Board for the life of the program. As part of this evaluation, FRRR is measuring the change and impact of the program at three different levels, this is being measured by using a series of tools.
There are three components to the evaluation of the IRCF program:
1. The change and impact on the capacity and sustainability of the individual NFP organisations involved in the program. One of these tools is an organisational self-assessment for committees to collectively discuss the current health of their organisation. It was designed specifically for the program looking at the four pillars of Strategy, People, Systems and Efficiencies. The assessment measures each pillar using a 5 point scale out of 12 areas of organisational competency, giving organisations a score out of 60, we are using a mean of this score across the funded organisations to monitor an overall health of these organisations and to track any impact, the program may have. All funded organisations take part in the self-assessment. These assessments are undertaken every six-months, with an additional one-on-one interview with each organisation.
2. The impact of the program on overall community change as a result of the work of the organisations. This will be measured through the engagement of all organisations in the community through a Community Workshop facilitated by the Evaluation Team using the Harwood Index. In each community there has been a range of external individuals to the project selected that meet with the evaluation panel every 6 months for breakfast to discuss the impact IRCF is having.
3. FRRR’s own impact on the program. Most of this performance is in the form of measurable data such as dollars spent, the number of organisations who have been able to participate in the program and the number of people impacted by the programs/projects delivered. Reporting and interviews are employed to capture the effectiveness and impact of the Community Facilitators employed to support the organisations.
We acknowledge and extend our appreciation to the Traditional Owners of the land, the Wiradjuri people, on which Leeton is located and the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work, play and live.
We pay respect to their ancient and continuing cultures, their connections to the land, and to the Elders, past, present and emerging.
