ATC Foundation opens 10th round of community grant funding

The Australian Turf Club (ATC) Foundation has launched its 10th round of grant funding, inviting charities and community organisations across New South Wales to apply. The funding will support projects that benefit the racing industry or deliver broader community impact.

The latest funding round will distribute up to AU$150,000 across a number of successful applicants, taking the Foundation's total contributions since its establishment in 2018 to almost AU$2m. More than 80 charitable organisations and racing participants have received support through the programme to date.

Funds awarded by the Foundation are generated through official ATC merchandise sales, commemorative pin sales, saddle cloth auctions and other fundraising initiatives held at race meetings, together with donations from ATC members.

ATC Foundation Chair Caroline Searcy said this year's grants would continue the organisation's commitment to supporting both the racing industry and the wider community.

Adopting the theme 'Together, we make an impact', Searcy encouraged organisations undertaking projects aligned with the Foundation's objectives to apply for funding. 

She added that every dollar raised through Foundation events and donations is returned to charitable causes, continuing the racing industry's longstanding tradition of supporting people and communities in need.

To be eligible, applicants must be registered charities with Deductible Gift Recipient Item 1 and Tax Concession Charity status, hold an active Australian Business Number and provide financial information as part of the assessment process.

Applicants are also required to demonstrate how their activities support communities connected to ATC's geographical areas, including Randwick, Parramatta, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown. 

The announcement follows another recent initiative by the Australian Turf Club aimed at strengthening the state's racing industry. 

Last month, the ATC awarded Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott a lease for 65 boxes at the former Leilani Lodge stables at Royal Randwick, a move designed to improve safety by eliminating the need for horses to cross public roads between training facilities while further enhancing the racecourse's training infrastructure.