Giving
The ethos that underpins our Duchesne College community is to look beyond ourselves to the needs of others. In fact, 'giving back' is in our DNA.
Read about how the generous donations made in 2023 have impacted students' lives and the College in our 2023 Duchesne College Impact Report.
One of our greatest challenges is to ensure Duchesne can continue to provide a level of academic and wellbeing support that a broad-spectrum of women have benefited from across generations. This requires relentless attention to efficiently managing resources, investing in contemporary facilities, and providing more bursaries, as funding from all levels of government remains at zero. We also maintain a commitment to keeping fee increases to a minimum.
Duchesne College Bursary Program
Bursaries provide opportunities for a diverse range of young women. These are for families who would not otherwise have the means to give their daughters the chance to reside at Duchesne or, due to unforeseen circumstances, remain at the College.
The recent support from our generous community has grown our College Bursary offering – but we'd love to expand this even further. Your gift to the Bursary Fund will directly contribute to our shared vision to provide a supportive residential environment for women from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Create Change Create Wise Women Campaign
In 2021, The University of Queensland (UQ) offered to match dollar-for-dollar the pledges for bursaries until the end of 2025.
As a result, the $2.5 million 'Create Change, Create Wise Women' campaign was established with the grand goal of 25 $100,000 bursary endowments with half of the funds supplied by UQ. Endowed funds only use the funds they generate, which both preserves the capital and guarantees perpetuity.
Each $100,000 endowment generates one $5,000 means-tested bursary annually which becomes available again after a recipient vacates Duchesne.
Any additional funds generated are reinvested back into the endowment to help future proof the program.
Since 2021, individuals, families and 'giving circles' of like-minded people have already made possible 17 new bursaries as at the beginning of 2024. If contributing to endowed bursaries is close to your heart, please consider making a pledge of any amount over the year 2024 and 2025 by returning a pledge form.
Giving Day
For 85 years Duchesne College has been a home away from home for aspiring young women. Our annual Giving Day on Thursday 30 May is the one day a year when we ask our community to come together to support young women to live, grow and flourish.
Our 2024 goal was to raise $400,000+ in 24 hours to create four, even five new $100,000 bursary endowments, with every donation matched by The University of Queensland until we reached our goal!
We were thrilled to see our community come together and create six new $100,000 bursary endowments for deserving young women to reside at Duchesne College while pursuing their education at The University of Queensland.
Learn more about our 2024 Giving Day at We Are Family 2024 Giving Day
Leaving a gift in your Will
Whether you decide to leave an amount of money, a percentage of your estate, a particular asset or what is left over once you have looked after family and loved ones (the residual of your estate). It is easy to include a gift in your Will.
If you would like your gift to have an impact in perpetuity through the bursary endowment fund, or to create a gift to memorialise a loved one, Michelle Allan our Head of College and Chief Executive will work closely with you. She will ensure your wishes are clear enabling them to be carried out in the way you intend. Please contact Lea with any questions you may have, all details below.
If you would like some examples of wording, please find them here
Duchesne College Building Projects
We're currently reviewing our Masterplan – and the future looks bright! As a next step, we are developing a list of strategic building priorities, and will update the community once the next exciting project is approved.
Making a Gift
If you would prefer to make a pledge or regular donation, please take a moment to complete this form.
Ms Michelle Allan