The SVA Future Trust

The SVA Future Trust (formerly known as SVA Capital Fund) is a segregated and professionally invested pool of money funded by those who are interested in supporting the long term security and viability of SVA’s model. Earnings from the investments are periodically distributed to SVA to support our ongoing work, while the capital remains professionally invested in perpetuity. Other organisations may refer to similar structures as ‘endowments’, ‘foundations’ or ‘capital funds’.

While SVA can legally access the corpus of the SVA Future Trust at any time, it is anticipated this would only occur in the event that SVA’s ongoing financial viability was in doubt.

The SVA Future Trust commenced in May 2007. Up until 30 June 2011 $3.0 million had been contributed to the Trust.

The SVA Future Trust was created because SVA recognises that without a permanent capital base to draw from, we must continually raise new funds from individuals, corporations and private foundations to support our work. Ironically, the more successful we are, the more funds we need. The cycle never ends.

While this type of ‘hand to mouth’ existence is not unique to SVA, it does pose risks to the stable, thoughtful and strategic way we work. Funding sources can be unpredictable depending on many external factors, including the health of financial markets and the economic prosperity of the time. A vehicle such as the SVA Future Trust helps minimise those risks as its earnings provide an ongoing income stream for SVA.

Additionally, a structure such as the SVA Future Trust can be useful as a vehicle to accept large ad-hoc donations, such as bequests, which can be invested and grown for enduring use rather than spent immediately.

The trustee of the SVA Future Trust is SVA Nominees Pty Limited, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of SVA.

Read more about the main corporate governance practices of SVA Nominees Pty Ltd and the duties and responsibilities of the Board in relation to the SVA Future Trust here. [PDF file size: 52KB]

Members of the Board are:

Chris Cuffe (Chairman) – Director of Third Link Investment Managers. Former CEO of wealth management organisations Colonial First State and Challenger Financial Services Group.

Arsenio Alegre – CEO of WorkVentures, a non-profit social enterprise focused on empowering disadvantaged people. Director of Social Ventures Australia.

Gary Gerstle – Managing Director of Man Investments Australia, an alternative investment manager.

Ian Martin – Company director and private investor. Former CEO of the BT Financial Group.

Stephen Roberts – Asia/Pacific Regional Business Leader for the Investment Management division of Mercer, a global provider of consulting, outsourcing and investment services.

Les Smart – Chairman of manufacturer Austral Comnia Group. Chairman of non-profit organisations, EACH Ltd and EACH Housing.

Michael Traill AM – Founding CEO of Social Ventures Australia. Director of GoodStart Childcare Ltd. Co-founder and former Executive Director of Macquarie Group’s private equity arm.

David Vaux – Former CEO of DCA Group, a leading healthcare company. Chairman of Langston Holdings and Genesis Care Pty Ltd, and a director of LBW Trust and Advent Legal.

Mark Worrall – Principal of asset finance, advisory and investment house Sturt Capital Partners. Former Executive Director of Allco Finance Group and Allco Foundation.

Company Secretariat services are provided by Frances Deegan.

Download the SVA Future Trust fact sheet. [PDF file size: 197KB]