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BRIEF HISTORY
The Thomas Foundation was established in 1998. After initially supporting projects in education, the arts and conservation, it narrowed its focus to terrestrial conservation, with the specific aim of halting the alarming decline of Australia's native animals, plants and forests – ie what scientists call our national biodiversity.
The Foundation’s total grants and commitments to 2010/11 exceed $16.6 million.
The Foundation's investment in the David Thomas Challenge generated an additional $20.1m in conservation commitments.
As a result some 5.3m hectares of land are under increased conservation management.
As the David Thomas Challenge concludes, its remarkable achievements are setting high standards for the Foundation’s next investment phase.
Recognising the tax benefits it enjoys, the Foundation’s finances are tightly controlled. Since 2004 its annual grant distributions have averaged 16% of total assets, while operating costs have averaged 6% per year of total outlays.
Some beneficiaries include:
Conservation
- Australian Bush Heritage (Anchors in the Landscape campaign; Melbourne relocation assistance; ecologists salaries; CEO professional development; Rick Farley scholarship; Cravens Peak; Bon Bon station)
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy (various projects including Kalamurina, Mornington and Wongalara)
- The Nature Conservancy (establishment of an Australian presence and program; Barbara Thomas Fellowships; scientific mentoring program)
- Australian Landscape Trust (support for Bookmark biosphere reserve program)
- David Thomas Challenge Grants (matching grants over five years for projects run by AWC, TNC, Bush Heritage, Greening Australia and Trust for Nature).
- Birds Australia (Great Western Woodlands study)
- Trust for Nature (Ned’s Corner; Land Trust Alliance)
- Greening Australia (fencing parts of the Katherine, Roper and Victoria Rivers catchments; Bunya Biolink)
- Australian National University (biodiversity monitoring; post-fire ecology study)
- TNC (David Thomas Challenge admin and funds distribution; Thomas Conservation Orations by Harvey Locke, Aaron Bernstein and Wade Davis)
Education
- The Smith Family (tertiary scholarship schemes)
- Barossa Regional Community Foundation (tertiary scholarships)
- Australian Catholic University (scholarship support for Sudanese refugees)
- The Asylum Seekers' Centre (supporting education and medical expenses for children of refugees)
- Victorian College for the Arts - founded the Barbara Manning Fellowship
- Pathways to Manhood
- National Gallery of Australia (support ‘Keeping Culture' exhibition tour)
- ANU (fire and social capital history study)
- Red Cross (psychological study of human response to floods)
- The Barbara Thomas Fellowship’s Ecological Sciences Program (three outstanding PhDs)
Glass and jewellery
- National Gallery of Australia (donation of Nekovar glass sculpture)
- Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (Kaneko glass acquisition)
- Queensland Art Gallery (regional exhibition tour)
- Ausglass (administrative support)
- Dowse Art Museum (biennial Gold Award for Jewellery)
- The Glassworks, Canberra (support for artist-in-residence program
- Numerous artists' fellowship awards and project support
- National Gallery of Australia (supported the Dale Chihuly exhibition and education program)
- Wagga Wagga Regional Gallery (supported acquisitions for its National Glass Collection leading to the opening of this centre, and exhibitions)
- Supported four leading glass artists exhibiting at GAS, Tampa, Florida
Music and festivals
- Victorian College for the Arts (purchase of instruments and scholarships)
- Musica Viva (younger audience projects)
- Australian Chamber Orchestra (Capital Challenge Fund support for emerging artists)
- Melb International Chamber Music Competition (commissioning new works by Peter Sculpthorpe and Ross Edwards)
- Noosa Longweekend (administrative support for its inaugural event, and for the festival's initial jazz program)
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TNC Photo - Mark Godfrey
TNC Photo - Mark Godfrey
TNC Photo - Mark Godfrey
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