Raymond J Kirby AO
The James N Kirby Foundation is a private fund established by my father, the late Sir James Kirby, in 1967. Since its inception, we have donated nearly $13 million across a broad charitable spectrum and we are currently distributing approximately $1m in grants each year.
In establishing the Foundation, Sir James' goal was to advance Australia's technical and managerial fields with the aim of exporting that talent overseas. He hoped "It will assist young Australians to reach top international standards in business and management. Naturally I am going to lean towards technical education grants because I have always been involved in secondary industry."
He also aimed to improve Australia's communal and national interests. With this in mind, my fellow directors and I always focus on his wishes and ensure that our support makes a significant impact on both small and large Australian charitable organisations.
As the Foundation enters its fifth decade, it is pleasing to witness the third generation of Kirby's proudly embracing Sir James' philanthropic philosophies. Together with the board we oversee a breadth of grants that impact not only towards the future educational and technical development of young Australians, but also on the health and welfare of many Australians in need. The Arts and the environment have more recently seen an increase in grants as we respond to the changing nature of our global community.
Thank you for visiting our website. If you would like further information with regards to our Foundation, please contact Kay McDowall on (02) 9212 2711.