The Maria Vasas Foundation
The Maria Vasas Foundation was established by the late Maria Vasas in 2011 to support charities working in the arts, education and indigenous communities in perpetuity.
Maria was born in 1940 in Hungary and fled with her family to Australia following the second world war. She arrived in Australia, with her mother, father, and sister, onboard the ship Skaugum in 1949.
Maria taught herself English and developed a thirst for knowledge which fuelled a lifelong passion for the power of education. A pioneer in Australia’s self-storage industry, she founded a number businesses in the construction industry. While she had no children, was especially fond of horses and maintained a stable throughout her adult life.
Maria was naturalised as an Australian citizen in 1958 and valued hard work, resilience and was a great believer in individual agency. Maria's charitable intent, demonstrated through her sharing of time, expertise, and resources during her lifetime, continues through her Foundation.
The Maria Vasas Foundation is managed by co-trustees Australian Executor Trustees (AET, part of Equity Trustees) and Maria’s former financial advisor, Laurence Crawley, who continues to manage the investments of the Foundation today.
Eligible charities can apply for funding aligned with the Foundation’s funding strategy via an expression of interest process.
Advisory committee
The Foundation has an advisory committee comprising of Laurence Crawley and Maria’s original estate planning lawyer, Jennifer Wilson. They consider and review grant applications presented by AET (Equity Trustees) annually.
How granting decisions are made
The Foundation’s advisory committee evaluates grant applications based on the current funding strategy.
These include:
• Support for individuals who face financial, social, or cultural barriers to enhance their education and career development opportunities,
• Arts and education organisations whose programs provide personal and professional development opportunities for marginalised and/or disadvantaged children and young people.
Advisory committee members consider annual and multi-year applications for funding up to $50,000 from February to early May via SmartyGrants.
2025 Grant round opens 3 February and closes 28 February
Eligibility
The Foundation can only consider requests from organisations that:
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), and
- Are a Deductible Gift Recipient level 1 (DGRI)
The Foundation will prioritise requests from applicants based in Maria's home state of Queensland and/or initiatives that benefit Queensland communities, however national and interstate requests may be considered.
Application timeline
The funding round is based on the calendar year. The following table provides timelines for the application process.
| ACTION | DATE |
|---|---|
| Expressions of interest open | Monday 3 February 2025 |
| Expressions of interest close | Friday 28 February 2025 |
| Applications open | Monday 8 April 2024 |
| Applications close | Friday 3 May 2024 |
| Applicants advised of outcome | Friday 7 June 2024 |
Contact Us
For more information contact us by email charities@eqt.com.au or call us on 1800 684 672