The Ross Trust

What The Ross Trust does

The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust established in Victoria, Australia in 1970 under the will of Roy Everard Ross, a regional Victorian surveyor, engineer, quarry owner, and investor. The Trust's corpus comprises the residual estate of Mr Ross, including a diversified investment portfolio and the wholly-owned subsidiary Hillview Quarries Pty Ltd, which operates a quarry at Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula and is the sole such arrangement in Australia where a trust's grant-making income derives from quarry operations.

The Trust's core activity is philanthropic grant-making, concentrated since 2019 on two priority areas: educational equity for young Victorians facing systemic barriers (First Nations students, those in out-of-home care, regional and rural learners, and youth in contact with the justice system), and biodiversity conservation across the state. Grants are disbursed via an invitation-only model using three formats — Smart Grants (up to $40K/year for three years), Advocacy Grants (up to $50K/year for three years), and Challenge and Change Grants ($40K-$100K/year for three years) — with multi-year, flexible, trust-based terms. Direct grantee support has averaged $3.5M-$4.3M annually over the past five years, bringing cumulative grants paid since inception to $156.6M.

Governance rests with five Trustees and a small executive team (three staff) led by Executive Officer Meghan Weekes. The Trust complements grant-making with a small impact investment portfolio (covering affordable housing, environmental conservation and educational engagement) and a small set of ecosystem-level partnerships, including a $5M five-year co-funding partnership with FRRR (May 2024) and co-founding of The Collective Leadership Council with three other Victorian philanthropics (November 2025). Its geographic remit is Victoria, with named priority regions including the Mornington Peninsula, South-West Coast, Central Victoria, and Outer West Melbourne.

Name

The Ross Trust

Legal name

The Ross Trust

Website

https://rosstrust.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust established in 1970 in Victoria, Australia, that funds educational equity and biodiversity conservation projects through grants generated primarily by its wholly-owned Hillview Quarries subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Foundation / Philanthropic Grant-making

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Charitable foundations
• Philanthropic grants
• Educational equity
• Biodiversity conservation
• Community funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Hillview Quarries Pty Ltd: The Ross Trust owns Hillview Quarries Pty Ltd, which operates a quarry at Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula. The quarry generates income that is distributed to the Trust each year and distributed by the Trust as charitable grants. The Ross Trust is the only trust in Australia which derives its income from the profits of a quarry. Roy Ross founded Bayview Quarries in 1959; after its takeover by Boral Ltd in 1968, he formed Hillview Quarries to operate an existing quarry at Dromana.
2. Impact Investments: From time to time, the Ross Trust has engaged in impact investing aligned with their current strategy and funding priorities. The Ross Trust is currently invested in three impact investment initiatives which focus on affordable housing, environmental conservation, and educational engagement.
3. Investment Portfolio: The original corpus of the Ross Trust comprised the whole of the Estate of Mr Roy Everard Ross, who left in his will a portfolio of assets including shares, real property and a quarry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Ross Trust is a Victorian charitable trust that funds social and environmental projects through grants. Its philanthropic offering centres on two grant themes — Educational Equity (supporting young people aged 12–25 to re-engage with education) and Biodiversity Conservation (supporting integrated landscape conservation across Victoria) — delivered through multi-year, invitation-only partnerships with not-for-profit organisations. The trust's grant-making is sustained by income from its wholly-owned subsidiary Hillview Quarries Pty Ltd and a managed investment portfolio.

Product overview

The Ross Trust is a perpetual charitable trust established in Victoria in 1970, operating primarily as a grant-making philanthropy rather than a technology product company. The Trust's core offering consists of grant programs in Educational Equity and Biodiversity Conservation, funded through income from its unique asset: Hillview Quarries. The Trust offers various grant types including Smart Grants (open applications), Advocacy Grants, and Challenge and Change Grants (by invitation). The Trust's funding priorities focus on supporting vulnerable Victorians, particularly young people, First Nations communities, and environmental conservation efforts across regional Victoria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Educational Equity Grants

Quantifiable outcome

• $156.6 million in total grant payments since inception
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal (FRRR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2024The Ross Trust joined three other Victorian philanthropics in a unique $5 million partnership with FRRR to strengthen the capacity and resilience of rural and regional communities over five years. This partnership is designed to back rural communities facing disadvantage.
• Trust for NaturecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002The Ross Trust partnered with Trust for Nature in 2002 to purchase Neds Corner Station - 25,000 hectares along the Murray River, Victoria's largest private conservation reserve. The Trust contributed $1 million ($225,000 cash for deposit plus three-year interest repayment commitment on loan). The Ross Trust has also partnered on Hillview Bushland Reserve, gifting 47 hectares to Cardinia Shire Council, protected by Trust for Nature conservation covenant.
• Hillview Quarries Pty LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHillview Quarries is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Ross Trust, operating a quarry at Dromana on the Mornington Peninsula. The quarry generates income that is distributed to the Trust each year for charitable grants. The Trust is the only one in Australia deriving income from a quarry. Mr Ross founded Bayview Quarries in 1959; after its 1968 takeover by Boral Ltd, he formed Hillview Quarries. Hillview Quarries operates on Bunurong people land and the Trust acknowledges them as Traditional Owners.
• Rosebud Secondary CollegesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ross Trust provided $150,000 grant to Rosebud Secondary College for their SAIL (Student Attendance Ignites Learning) program helping re-engage absent students. The program addresses school disengagement through empathy, trust, and partnership with students and families.
• GanbinacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 20-year partnership spanning nearly $2 million in grants. Ganbina supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth aged 5-25 through education, employment, and training programs. Ross Trust provided $300,000 untied grant for national expansion of Jobs4U2 program. Ganbina achieves 88.7% Year 12 completion rate for participants.
• Learning Creates Australia (LCAust)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$300,000 grant for 18-month Wellbeing for Learning project examining how schools can better support student engagement and wellbeing. LCAust is an independent not-for-profit committed to dismantling barriers and advancing innovation in Australia's learning systems.
• Human Rights Law CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ross Trust has been a strong supporter of the Human Rights Law Centre since its beginnings 20 years ago. Provided $300,000 grant in 2024 for research and advocacy to end cruel and inhuman conditions in prisons, including publication of Ending Strip Searching in Australian Prisons report.
• Ignatius Learning Centre (Jesuit Social Services)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$50,000 grant for trauma-informed education program at Richmond campus and new Sunshine campus for boys aged 15-17 disengaged from education or involved in youth justice system. The school provides safe, holistic, therapeutic learning environment.
• Smart Justice for Young People CoalitionsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$300,000 over three years to coalition of 40 organisations convened by Westjustice, Youthlaw and Centre for Innovative Justice. Coalition works to create change for children and young people in contact with criminal legal system, focusing on over-represented groups including First Nations and multicultural backgrounds.
• Willum Warrain Aboriginal AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner$110,000 grant for youth activities including Koorie Kids Days, holiday programs, and cultural immersion tours. Ross Trust board visited when organisation was in crisis and immediately funded coordinator to renew momentum. 680 adult members, representing Indigenous population of Western Port and peninsula.
• Beyond the BellsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$120,000 grant for First Nations Leadership Program for primary students and resource manuals for school staff and Indigenous families in Warrnambool region. Addresses double the absenteeism rate of First Nations students in years 7-8.
• Stars FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$150,000 over three years (matched by William Buckland Foundation) for expansion of school-based mentoring and engagement program for First Nations young women in Victoria. Aims to improve attendance, retention, Year 12 completion and transitions to education, training and employment.
• The Colman Foundation / Our PlacesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$300,000 over three years for establishing Our Place in Frankston North, addressing educational under-attainment at Aldercourt and Mahogany Rise Primary Schools and Monterey Secondary College through partnership with schools, early learning providers, local council, and non-profits.
• Mackillop Family ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$120,000 over three years for therapeutic life story work program addressing poor educational outcomes for children and young people living in Out of Home Care in Greater Geelong area.
• Victorian National Parks Association (VNPA)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$223,000 over three years for advocacy to protect critically endangered grassy ecosystems, woodlands of high conservation significance, and threatened forests across Victoria.
• Alliance for Gambling ReformsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$110,000 over three years for Champions for Change program training people who have experienced gambling harm to advocate for legislative reform in Victoria.
• Kilfinan AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$150,000 over three years to build capacity to provide mentoring service to Victorian not-for-profit CEOs in sectors facing significant challenges including disability, Indigenous sector, and rural and regional areas.
• Conservation Ecology CentresupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$500,000 impact investment loan for Wildlife Wonders eco-tourism project near Apollo Bay, Otways. Project generates ongoing funding for conservation in the region and creates approximately 35 full-time jobs.
• The Nature Conservancy AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$287,000 over two years for reef restoration project in Port Phillip Bay off the coast of Dromana to bring back Victoria's lost reefs.
• OdonatasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$200,000 over two years to establish safe haven for reintroduction of Eastern Bettong and other priority endemic endangered species within the Orrible Conservation Reserve.
• Watertrust AustraliasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$1,000,000 grant as founding supporter of new national independent policy centre for water policy reform and Indigenous water rights.
• SNAICC - National Voice for Our ChildrensupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$150,000 over three years for advocacy to increase early learning participation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 0-5.
• Sustainable Farms (Australian National University)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner$300,000 to support salaries of field ecologist and engagement officer from July 2022 to June 2025 for work on Victorian temperate woodlands conservation on farms.
• Education Equity Alliance (EEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides backbone support for The Collective, a collective impact initiative bringing together 25 peak education equity stakeholders. EEA aims to address systemic barriers preventing vulnerable students and teachers from reaching their potential.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR): Australian rural-focused philanthropic partner with whom The Ross Trust has a $5M coalition partnership. Operates in similar geographic focus areas (regional Victoria) and deploys pooled multi-funder capital.
• William Buckland Foundation: Victorian philanthropic foundation that explicitly co-funds education programs with The Ross Trust (e.g. matched grant with Stars Foundation). Operates in the same Victorian geography and education equity focus.
• Trust for Nature: Victorian conservation organisation with whom The Ross Trust co-purchased Neds Corner Station (25,000 hectare conservation reserve). Directly comparable in Victorian biodiversity conservation focus, though Trust for Nature is operational while Ross Trust is a funder.
• Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation: Melbourne-based perpetual charitable foundation supporting disadvantaged communities, education, and the environment. Directly comparable in geographic focus on Victoria and similar granting scale.
• Sidney Myer Fund: Companion Australian philanthropic fund to The Myer Foundation, supporting education, the arts, and disadvantaged communities through grants. Comparable in perpetual trust structure, Victorian heritage, and educational equity grantmaking.
• Paul Ramsay Foundation: Major Australian philanthropic foundation focused on education equity and disadvantage reduction, using multi-year, flexible funding and partnership approaches. Directly comparable in mission and trust-based philanthropy methodology.
• The Myer Foundation: Long-established Australian private foundation funding the arts, education, and environment through grants. Shares the perpetual foundation structure, multi-decade track record, and Australian geographic focus with The Ross Trust.
• Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation: Australian family-founded philanthropic foundation supporting young people, education, and community resilience. Comparable in family-trust origins, perpetual structure, and grantmaking to Victorian-based not-for-profits.
• Ian Potter Foundation: One of Australia's largest private philanthropic foundations, established by Sir Ian Potter, with a comparable perpetual foundation structure funding education, science, the arts, and environment. Highly comparable grantmaking model and scale.
• Reece Group Foundation: Corporate-affiliated Australian philanthropic foundation supporting education, community, and water-related causes. Comparable as a perpetual, geographically-focused Australian grantmaking entity with education and environment priorities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ross-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Ross Trust