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Endeavour Foundation
Endeavour Foundation was established in Brisbane in 1951 by a group of families, with Elizabeth Jameson AM serving as Chair of the Board for over four decades.
Endeavour Foundation
Endeavour Foundation was established in Brisbane in 1951 by a group of families, with Elizabeth Jameson AM serving as Chair of the Board for over four decades. The foundation emerged from a community need for educational and support services for people with intellectual disability, and it has since scaled into one of the country's largest for-purpose organizations. Endeavour Foundation generates revenue through an integrated portfolio of social enterprises, including a network of tip shops and recycling markets operated under the Charitable Recycling Australia umbrella, a commercial lottery program featuring prize homes in Palmview, Maleny, and Yandina Creek, and a disability housing portfolio spanning Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria. The foundation also maintains a direct creative asset — QArt Studio in Kew, Victoria — that produces and sells artwork by artists with disability. These enterprises collectively fund the foundation's core mission rather than serving as peripheral fundraising activities. The organization is led by CEO Andrew Chesterman and a board chaired by Jameson, with Scott Ellis serving as Deputy Chair. Endeavour Foundation operates a subsidiary, Community Solutions Group, which maintains membership in the National Apprentice Employment Network. The foundation also manages an Endowment Challenge Fund, though specific allocation figures remain undisclosed. Its corporate community partnerships include the Brisbane Broncos. Endeavour Foundation's structural differentiator is its near-total reliance on operating businesses rather than endowment drawdowns or government grants to fund disability services. The charity operates tip shops, lotteries, a commercial kitchen in Kingaroy, and real estate ventures as primary funding engines — a model that makes it behave less like a traditional grantmaking foundation and more like a holding company for mission-aligned enterprises.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1951
Location
Region
Oceania
Country
Australia
City
Brisbane
Corporate office
33 Corporate Drive, Cannon Hill QLD 4170, Australia
Principals
Andrew Chesterman
Chief Executive Officer
Elizabeth Jameson AM
Chair of the Board
Scott Ellis
Deputy Chair of the Board
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How does Endeavour Foundation generate its operating revenue?
Endeavour Foundation funds its disability services primarily through a portfolio of social enterprises rather than grants or an endowment drawdown. Key revenue streams include a network of tip shops and recycling markets operating under Charitable Recycling Australia, a commercial lottery program featuring prize homes in Queensland, and a disability housing portfolio across three states. The foundation also operates QArt Studio and Kingaroy Kitchen as earned-income ventures.
Who runs investment and operational decisions at Endeavour Foundation?
Andrew Chesterman serves as Chief Executive Officer, overseeing day-to-day operations and strategic direction. The board is chaired by founder Elizabeth Jameson AM, with Scott Ellis as Deputy Chair. Investment decisions, including management of the Endowment Challenge Fund, are governed by the board and executive leadership, though the foundation does not publicly disclose a dedicated investment committee structure.
What is Endeavour Foundation's relationship with Community Solutions Group?
Community Solutions Group operates as a subsidiary of Endeavour Foundation and maintains membership in the National Apprentice Employment Network. The subsidiary extends the foundation's workforce development and community services footprint. Financial and operational reporting for the subsidiary is consolidated under Endeavour Foundation's governance.
Does Endeavour Foundation operate as a traditional grantmaking foundation?
No, Endeavour Foundation does not function as a traditional grantmaking foundation. It is a direct service provider and social enterprise operator, using revenue from recycling operations, lotteries, real estate, and creative ventures to fund disability services in-house. The foundation's Endowment Challenge Fund exists, but the organization's model relies on earned income rather than distributing grants to external nonprofits.
What assets does Endeavour Foundation hold?
The foundation holds a commercial head office in Cannon Hill, Queensland, a disability housing portfolio across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, multiple residential prize home properties for its lottery program, QArt Studio in Kew, Victoria, a commercial kitchen in Kingaroy, and tip shop and recycling market locations throughout Queensland. It also holds a 2024 Mercedes Benz GLB 200 SUV and a BMW X1 as associated assets.
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