In 1988 the Friends of Ballarat Botanical Gardens Inc. in conjunction with the City of Ballarat established the Ballarat Botanical Gardens Community Fund, for Tax Deductible donations.

In October 2018 The Friends of Ballarat Botanical Gardens Inc. to further pursue its aims initiated and created the Ballarat Botanical Gardens Foundation Limited as a public ancillary Fund. The Foundation is a company limited by guarantee. The initial directors being Peter Wilson, Robert Selkirk, Daina McLeod, Mark Schultz and elected Chair Elizabeth Gilfillan.

The Foundation registered as a charity with Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC) endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) by the Australian Taxation Office. The funds remaining in the original Community Fund have now been transferred to the BBG Foundation.

The Foundation’s overriding Purpose is to raise funds to provide a strong, sustainable financial basis to support the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. Other purposes include advancing the natural environment in the Botanical Gardens and, in so doing, advancing and preserving the Heritage of the Gardens as a Horticulture museum.

To achieve the Foundation’s objectives the Foundation will:

• undertake activities to generate financial and community support for the maintenance and development of the Gardens.
• develop relationships with key stakeholders, in particular the City of Ballarat.
• in all its endeavours apply the principals of good governance and meet all compliance and regulatory requirements.
• provide a mechanism for the broader community to contribute financially to the long term benefit of the Gardens.

Historically, private philanthropy has played a vital role in maintaining the quality and evolution of our Gardens and we invite you to continue the tradition with your support of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens Foundation.

Elizabeth Gilfillan