Governance
The Nudgee Trust was established on 8 October 1869 by the Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Congregation. In 2018, the Sisters of Mercy Brisbane Congregation successfully applied to the Courts to transfer the Trustee role to the Board of Mercy Partners.
To strengthen the governance of the Nudgee Trust, the Trustees established two dedicated committees: the Investment Committee and the Grant Review Committee.
Nudgee Trust Trustees
With the transition of the Trustee role from the Brisbane Sisters of Mercy to Mercy Partners the Directors of Mercy Partners Limited are now the Trustees.
Investment Committee
The Investment Committee oversee the management of the Nudgee Trust investment portfolio and provides advice to the Trustees on the available funds each year.
The Investment Committee comprises of two Trustees and the Mercy Partners CEO as standing members. In addition, the investment committee includes an external member who brings specific investment skills to the Committee.
Grant Review Committee
The Grant Review Committee oversee the annual grants round and provides advice on the alignment to the established criteria of grant applications received and on the acquittals from previous year grants.
The Grant Review Committee comprises three Trustees from the Nudgee Trust and is supported by the Trust Administrator.
Nudgee Trust Policy Statement
The Nudgee Trust is a grant making body and the majority of distributions will be determined via an annual grant round. The Nudgee Trust makes grants to sponsored ministries of Mercy Partners Limited. The Trustee has established the following policy settings to guide the Trustees in decision making with regard to the disbursement of Trust Income.
Financial metrics
- The Nudgee Trust will distribute up to 85% of the net Trust income with the balance being held as working capital for the Trust.
- Larger grants will be disbursed half yearly or quarterly.
- Depending on the applications received the Trustees may resolve to make a single grant or multiple grants each year.
- The Trustees may resolve to commit to multiyear funding for a particular ministry or program.
- Multi-year grants will depend on adequate annual acquittals.
Grantees
- Grant recipients must be registered charities with Tax Concession Charity (TCC) status.
- There will be a preferential focus on Mercy Partner sponsored ministry, but no objection to other aligned charitable endeavours.
Projects
- Preference will be given to projects which have a direct service delivery focus.
- A program or project not in receipt of other funding will be given favourable consideration.
- The project endeavours to extend the reach of mission rather than subsidise existing activities.
- The Trustees may identify the area(s) of need, in line with the Trust objects, to be focused on in each annual grant round.
