Lighthouse has been awarded a multi-year funding grant from the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation to strengthen the social infrastructure that underpins its community-led efforts to support children and young people across the region.

The three-year funding will enable Lighthouse to strengthen its volunteer and partnership capacity, ensuring a coordinated approach to community-led initiatives. It will support the recruitment of skilled volunteers aligned with Lighthouse’s purpose, build stronger connections across the region, and promote aspiration in young people as they transition to adulthood. The grant will also enhance Lighthouse’s data, monitoring, and evaluation systems—tools critical to measuring what matters most to our community. Regular feedback and impact measurement, gathered from both volunteers and participants, will guide continuous improvement and ensure Lighthouse remains responsive, effective, and focused on delivering meaningful change.

Anita Hopkins, CEO, Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation said, “The Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation is proud to support Lighthouse in its work to bring together dedicated volunteers, families, and services to build shared solutions and strengthen the social capital that sustains community wellbeing and supports children and young people to thrive.”

“This generous support from the Brian M. Davis Charitable Foundation is not only an investment in our organisation but in the potential of Greater Shepparton’s children and young people,” said Amy Robinson, Executive Officer of the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project. “The Foundation’s values are closely aligned with ours, committed to equity, opportunity, and reducing disadvantage through collective action.”

Lighthouse delivers a broad suite of local initiatives, including Family Haven, the OLLY youth hub, Pit Stop, and Primary Projects, reaching children and families across all age groups. Volunteers play a critical role in these initiatives, supporting early childhood development, school engagement, youth mentoring, and transitions into employment.

With Greater Shepparton ranked as one of the most disadvantaged LGAs in Victoria, Lighthouse’s model leverages local goodwill to create scalable and sustainable solutions. The grant will also enable Lighthouse to further its partnership with Social Ventures Australia to embed the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology across its programs and better measure what matters from the viewpoint of the community we serve.

“This funding helps us deliver on our mission and empowers our community to be the driving force behind long-term, place-based change,” Ms Robinson said.

Below: Amy Robinson, Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project Executive Officer with volunteers (L-R) Pam, Karen and Irene from the Family Haven.