We’re Into Our Hands Community Foundation (IOHCF), a not-for-profit organisation based in North East Victoria. Our mission is simple but powerful: to grow community wealth and support local people solving local problems.
We’re a community foundation, which means we help people give to the causes they care about and make sure that wealth stays and grows in our region. Our purpose is long-term which is why we’re building a Future Fund and investing. The donations we receive don’t just support today’s needs, they’re invested to create a permanent source of funding for generations to come.
What we do and who we support
Our work spans across North East Victoria and supports a wide range of community priorities right now through our subfunds. These include:
- Give Wangaratta – supporting local community groups and causes.
- Garry Nash & Co Community Fund – helping local families and services.
- Grow Myrtleford+ – investing in Myrtleford and surround’s future.
- Alex’s Fund – supporting access to the arts and humanities for students in North East Victoria.
- Project 365 – raising awareness and generating support of mental health in our region.
- Angie’s Angels – helping kids who lose a parent.
We also are building the Into Our Hands Community Foundation Future Fund and offer commercial grantmaking services to local businesses. You can learn more about what we do and contribute to our work here.
Why we decided to invest
Like many community foundations, we see investing as essential to our long-term impact. By investing donations rather than holding them in cash, we’re able to grow a Future Fund that can support our region in perpetuity. Every dollar we invest today is a future grant, a future program, a future solution.
And since we did not have the luxury of a large initial bequest like some foundations, investing wisely from the outset is key to becoming financially sustainable.
Choosing the right investment partner
When we began looking at options for investing, we needed more than just a platform. We wanted a partner who understood community foundations and the responsibilities that come with managing donations on behalf of others.
After reviewing multiple options, we chose Stockspot.
“We are stewards of the community’s money and we take that responsibility seriously. Stockspot took the time to understand our model and offered a low-cost, transparent structure with excellent support.” — Sylvie Huigen, Executive Officer, IOHCF
Key reasons why we chose Stockspot:
- Specialist support tailored for not-for-profits.
- Clear, all-inclusive fees with no hidden cost.
- Fully diversified portfolios that are regularly rebalanced.
- Strong reporting tools that help us keep our stakeholders informed.
- Sustainable investment options for the future.
- Easy access to funds if needed.
IOHCF selected the Turquoise portfolio, a balanced investment option with a mix of growth and defensive assets. This approach aligns with our investment policy and supports a medium-term investment horizon of five or more years.
How Stockspot helps us focus on our purpose
Since partnering with Stockspot, we’ve been able to spend less time worrying about markets and more time doing what we’re here to do: support and build the community.
Having a trusted partner means we’re not just investing money. We’re investing with confidence, clarity and a long-term lens.
Our advice to other charities and foundations
If you’re holding funds in cash, consider investing. The peace of mind and long-term growth are worth it. For our board and donors, knowing our investments are working in the background has been a huge reassurance.
Making a difference today: further examples of our work
While the Future Fund is designed to provide long-term support, many of our subfunds are already delivering meaningful outcomes for the community.
GIVE Wangaratta – 2024 Grant Recipients
GIVE Wangaratta recently awarded six community grants totalling $30,000, bringing its total contributions to nearly $200,000 since inception. The grants were made possible through the success of GIVE Wangaratta’s $100K Challenge, which raised $70,000 last year.
Chair Sarah Thompson said the focus was on improving wellbeing, especially mental health: “Each of these organisations is dedicated to fostering positive change and addressing critical needs within our community.”
2024 grant recipients:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters Programme – Youth mentoring.
- Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria – Accessible activities for people with vision loss.
- Centre Against Violence – Champions against violence program.
- Gateway Health – Growing recovery initiative.
- Wangaratta MS Peer Support Group – Travel and health education support.
- Open Door Neighbourhood House – Food pantry project.
Grow Myrtleford+
This subfund distributed $25,000 to support six community projects in the Myrtleford region last year, and manages the much-loved Myrtleford Twilight Carols.
Garry Nash & Co Community Fund
Focused on helping local families and services, this fund recently announced its 2025 grant recipients.
Disclaimer: Stockspot ABN 87 163 214 319 is a licensed Australian Financial Services provider (AFSL 536082) regulated by ASIC. Any advice contained is general advice only and has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs except in circumstances where you have provided your personal financial details via our online application process and received a Statement of Advice from us. Before making any investment decision we recommend that you consider whether it is appropriate for your situation and seek appropriate taxation and legal advice. Past performance of financial products is no guarantee of future performance. Please read our Financial Services Guide before deciding whether to obtain financial services from us.
