STAN PERRON CHARITABLE FOUNDATION – FUNDING GUIDELINES and information FOR Health Research APPLICANTS

Consistent with Mr Perron’s passion to improve the health and well-being of Western Australian children, the Foundation invites applications from researchers whose work aligns with the Health Research Funding Guidelines outlined below. These Guidelines set out the types of activities considered for support and are used by the Directors of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Board in assessing whether to accept an application for funding.

Western Australia first and foremost

The Foundation generally does not provide funds for causes outside of Western Australia. The health and well-being of the Western Australian community is foremost in funding decisions.

The main applicant and lead institution must be based in Western Australia, with the main applicant employed by a Western Australian Health Service, University or affiliated Medical Research Institution at the time and for the duration of the proposal.

Research proposals must include community and consumer engagement, aim to solve problems and deliver tangible outcomes that will benefit children, adolescents or young people. Applications must be accompanied by institutional and collaborator letters of support.

The health and well-being of children

The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation supports research involving child health, inclusive of antenatal, adolescent and young adult health, only. Applications detailing innovative and transformative ideas may originate from basic, clinical, population health or health services research.

This aligns with the Foundation’s vision that every child deserves to live the healthiest and happiest life possible and to reach their potential.

The Foundation prioritises research that tackles the causes of health problems, has impact and builds research quality and capacity within Western Australia. Under its Health Research Grants, the Foundation has four funding schemes:

1. People Grants (Research Fellowships) with a focus on research careers and leadership;

2. Platform Grants that support the infrastructure and enabling capability for WA Child health research;

3. Program Grants that support large collaborative multi-year research programs; and

4. Partnership Grants that focus on and enable co-funded collaborations

1. People Grants (Research Fellowships)

The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation Research Fellowships provide exceptional long-term investment in research capacity in Western Australia, offering partial or full salary support for researchers for up to five years. Standard support for scientists is for five years and for clinician-scientists is for three years. In addition to the salary support, an annual research expense allowance of up to $20,000 is included in the fellowship.

These Fellowships are designed to support current or emerging research leaders, from PhD-level researchers through to senior investigators, whose work aligns with the Foundation’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children, adolescents and young people in Western Australia. Fellowship recipients need to be based in Western Australia for the duration of their fellowship.

By investing directly in people, the Foundation enables researchers to pursue impactful, innovative programs of work, build research and leadership capability and capacity and deliver long-term benefits for the WA community and beyond.

2. Platform Grants

Platform grants support the infrastructure and enabling capability required to conduct high-quality health research, including consumer and community engagement initiatives, data solutions, equipment, facilities, biobanks and research training. Priority is given to platforms that are accessible resources for health researchers across and between institutions and grow research capacity, quality and impact for Western Australia.

3. Program Grants

Program grants are for large programs of research usually involving multiple streams of research that are collaborative and outcome-driven for up to five years. Programs that involve partnerships and funding contributions from other bodies, which demonstrate significant innovation and/or build capacity within Western Australia, are especially encouraged. Collaborators may be from any state or country as long as the research is driven from Western Australia. Single research projects are not eligible for funding in this category.

4. Partnership Grants

Partnership Grants encourage collaborations between researchers and institutions to improve health outcomes for children in Western Australia. These may be in the form of single research projects or programs of research. Funding will be contingent on partnership support and co-funding (needs to be cash funding not just in-kind support) with the lead research institution based in Western Australia. Co-funding can be either already secured or being sought. With the latter, Foundation funding will be contingent on success of the application from other source – e.g. FHRI, MRFF, NHMRC, etc.

Solutions that focus on the origins of a problem

Much of Stan Perron’s early business success can be attributed to his inventive nature and his willingness to look for ways to use innovative thinking to overcome obstacles and challenges. This is reflected in the Foundation’s preference to fund programs that look to solve the cause of a problem rather than treating the symptoms.

Awarding organisations and individuals who give something back

One of Stan Perron’s greatest passions was his life-long involvement with the Rotary movement and its ideal of “service above self”. Mr Perron showed his commitment to Rotary by his “hands on” involvement – classically illustrated by his work for many years as a volunteer at his local Club’s Sunday morning “Swap Meet”. It is for this reason that the Foundation will always consider applications for funding that encourage people, especially the young, to engage in community service.

Big or small

The Foundation encourages applications regardless of the level of funds sought. Stan Perron never equated the size of a gift to its significance, recognising that a smaller amount can mean as much for a particular person or organisation in need as a larger donation for someone else.

Please note: All grants will need to satisfy an extensive process of due diligence.

Measurability and accountability matters

All successful applicants will need to show evidence that funds provided are wisely and effectively used.

Partnership funding

The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation rarely awards the full amount of any proposal. As a rule, especially for major gifts, the Foundation has a preference for applicants who are prepared to consider funding on a partnership basis. This means that the Foundation is not being relied upon as the sole funder of a project or activity but as a co-contributor.

Please ensure that you have alternative providers of funding, and that your application clearly considers any possible grant from the Foundation in this context. The other sources of funding may come from either private or Government sources.

Helping those who help themselves

The Foundation will not always fund the full amount requested. This could involve the Foundation taking the role as the “cornerstone” donor that enables a charity to attract other funding support.

Key exclusions

The Foundation will generally NOT fund organisations related to religious belief or political activity nor programs or activities that are clearly a core responsibility of Government.

New applicants may not be successful if they are seeking funding for similar causes, activities, health conditions or community services already being addressed by an existing Foundation grant recipient. For a list of the Health Research Grant recipients, click here.

Please note: While these Guidelines form the basis of a rigorous framework for the assessment of applications, the Foundation Board retains discretion in all decisions about the Granting of Foundation funds.

Organisations whose funding requests do not align with this category of funding should instead make their application for a Community Grant.

Important information about the Application process

• The Foundation’s Health Research Grant application processes are specific for each type of funding and may involve expressions of interest (EOI), full applications and/or interviews. All applications must be accompanied by institutional and collaborator letters of support.

• An invitation to submit a full application following an EOI, does not mean that your application will be funded.

• An advisory panel of health and medical research experts will assist the Foundation Board in assessing the merits of each application.

• The Foundation reserves the right to change funding priorities in the future in alignment with the core Funding Guidelines provided by our Founder.

• The decisions of the Foundation Board of Directors are final.

• All applications for funding, without exception, must be made via this website through the Foundation’s online application platform: SmartyGrants.

If you have any queries please contact us at: info@perronfoundation.org.au