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About Us

The Foundation pays homage to the late Ian and Shirley Norman, who worked tirelessly to successfully establish the retail business of Norman Ross followed by Harvey Norman. The family is very proud of their parents’ work and charitable giving and now, with the generous support of the three Norman children, Karen, Tracy, and Glen, the Foundation has been set up to continue their parents’ substantial philanthropic efforts.

The Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation will provide support to projects that focus on:

  • Pillar 1: Being Ecologically Sound
  • Pillar 2: Protecting People from Harm
  • Pillar 3: Walking Together with Traditional Custodians
  • Pillar 4: Empowering Communities

We structure philanthropic work around four key pillars

Pillar 1

Being Ecologically Sound

  • Encourage and support sustainable environmental practices in agriculture
  • Encourage and enhance reuse/recycle/ regenerate programmes and behaviours
  • Support innovation and technology that ensures a “greener” tomorrow

Pillar 2

Protecting People from Harm

  • Support programs that improve resilience and mental health
  • Support efforts to reduce all forms of violence against women and children
  • Support affordable and safe housing projects

Pillar 3

Walking Together with Traditional Custodians

  • Support initiatives that preserve and enhance cultural practices
  • Support language programmes
  • Support on-country activities
  • Support and promote reconciliation across Australia

Pillar 4

Empowering Communities

  • Enhance educational outcomes for women and children
  • Support the early years of child development
  • Improve pathways for young people to education and work
  • Engage with young people to create brighter futures

Our values are at the centre of everything we do

Family

All families are unique and constructed differently – to belong to one is that sense of coming home and being with your people.

Integrity

In all our dealings we listen and we will be honest, principled and kind.

Innovation & Taking Risks

We understand that creating real change can require doing things differently – we are happy to walk out of step.

Community Capacity Building

We want to work alongside communities in a way that is positive, empowering, respectful, and grows active citizenship.

The Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation will operate:

In deep engagement

  • With communities
  • With individuals committed to change
  • With other Foundations and NFP
  • With government (local, state, federal)
  • With Universities and research institutes

Safely

  • Ensuring physical safety
  • Ensuring psychological safety
  • Ensuring cultural safety

With an evidence base

  • Researching beforehand
  • Measuring impact
  • Peer reviewing
  • Seeking and keeping good data

Sustainably

  • With a small environmental footprint – treading lightly on the planet
  • Ensuring community self-determination in all that we do

We don’t just donate

The Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation has been set up with a long-term funding view that backs innovation, is comfortable with risk and empowers communities to take on the challenges of our time.

Our 5 key strategies

01/
Funding & working in partnership with established charities / NFPs / Foundations
02/
Engaging in advocacy (finding our voice)
03/
Setting up charities that can do the work that isn’t being done (filling gaps)
04/
Seeking, sharing and implementing new ways to deliver support services
05/
Funding training and support to reduce barriers and enhance capability of vulnerable people, staff and volunteers in our partner organisations.

Our logo

Reminiscent of Ian & Shirley Norman’s era – monograms were often used on luggage for travellers. The Foundation’s logo was created as a reference to Shirley’s English background and to highlight the importance of family. The ampersand will celebrate people coming together, partnerships and collaborations.

Read Our Annual Reports

Read our Annual Report 2024/25

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A decorative image featuring the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation logo

Read our Annual Report 2023/24

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Read our Annual Report 2022/23

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Read our Annual Report 2021/22

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