Tomorrow Today is Benalla’s independent community foundation. We connect people, resources and ideas, to create a bright future for our great rural community. 

We believe that everyone should have the chance to thrive – and that education is the answer. Working together with families, schools and the community, we are leading a 20+ year project, the Education Benalla Program, to ensure all of our children and young people can achieve their potential in school, work and life.  

Local people are able to help shape our community’s future by donating time, money and skills through a trusted local organisation, dedicated to responding to local needs. 

Despite the many good things Benalla has to offer, it is identified as highly disadvantaged by the SEIFA index, the socio-economic measure of the Australian Bureau of Statistics.  

Jesuit Social Services has analysed social disadvantage by postcode nationally. Their 2007 and 2015 Dropping off the Edge (DOTE) reports provide vital information about the challenges faced by Benalla, that has informed Tomorrow Today’s work. 

Tomorrow Today works with groups and organisations across Benalla to help achieve our purpose.

Our Education Benalla Program is a place-based approach that depends on strong local partnerships to collectively find solutions to complex problems.   

The program actively collaborates with public and private agencies, community groups and businesses to work on shared objectives.
The collective impact for Benalla is much greater than the impact achieved by individual organisations working in isolation.

Major Education Benalla Program partners include the Victorian Government, Benalla Rural City Council, Benalla Health, NE Tracks Local Learning & Employment Network, and all local schools and kinders.  

One of the ways that we work with others to achieve change is by participating in a number of local committees and networks, including:

Chairing the Benalla Early Years Network, a collaboration of local organisations that provide child and family services. The network is focused on improving learning and development for Benalla children aged 0 to 8 years.

Chairing the Benalla Future Work Steering Committee, a collaboration of local organisations who are working together to improve career development for young people, expand the number engaged in work experience and school-based apprenticeships, and increase our community’s aspirations for young people to succeed.

Actively participating in the Benalla Youth Service Providers Network of agencies that provide youth services.

Actively participating in the Benalla Health and Wellbeing Action group, which is a collaboration of health and welfare agencies focused on health promotionstrategies andinterventions.

We work in partnership with over 120 local agencies, groups and organisations, ranging from recreational clubs to small and large businesses.

Tomorrow Today’s Board is made up of local people, with demonstrated skills and experience, who volunteer their time. 

Make a difference in your life and the lives of others. 

There are no positions currently available.

For volunteer positions, please visit Volunteering.

Benalla’s Liz Chapman OAM first raised the idea of forming a community foundation after conducting sessions at the 1999 Regional Australia Summit, which had explored ways to revitalise Australia’s rural and regional areas.

The National Summit had highlighted the potentially strategic role of philanthropy and encouraged communities to consider establishing community foundations which were relatively new to Australia.

Liz – who had agriculture and rural development qualifications and had worked for many years at local, regional and national levels – saw the potential of foundations to give people the means to support their communities. She raised the idea with other local people and, together with Sally Gamble, led the Foundation’s development.

A community foundation reference group was formed, starting discussions with community groups and networks on just what a community foundation could hope to achieve in Benalla that was not already being done.  A feasibility study grant from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) kick-started the establishment of what became the Tomorrow Today Foundation. 

Vision: A generous community, able to deliver a stronger tomorrow by challenging itself today.

Early on, the fledgling organisation demonstrated its value by providing Small Grants for good ideas generated by local groups of people.  The small grants were resourced by local businesses.  A part time project officer undertook supportive community development work which was funded by external grants.

Tomorrow Today identified its role as an active partner in local projects that could strengthen the community.

The Foundation also initiated and led projects, like the Education Benalla Program, which had the potential to create long-term benefits.

Tomorrow Today Foundation now has a reputation as an innovative and well-run organisation. It is a leading example of a rural community foundation that punches well above its weight.

A comprehensive history of the Foundation 2000-2014, which includes the early years of the Education Benalla Program, and the 10 year anniversary publication can be downloaded below.

Want to find out what programs are available for your child or young person? Interested in donating your money or time?  Seeking a grant? 

We would love to hear from you.