The funding will help build the PilchConnect service, including the national rollout of its free telephone advice service.

PilchConnect is one of 17 strategic partners which will receive funding over the next three years.

"Each strategic partner was chosen for demonstrating alignment between their program and our engaged philanthropy strategy," said Simon Lewis, the head of strategic partnerships, communications and community at The Trust Company.

"They also demonstrated their ability to work with The Trust Company and collaboratively with the other chosen partners to deliver their programs in the best interests of the greater community."

The funding announcement comes on the back of a report by Deloitte Access Economics, which valued PilchConnect's contribution to the Victorian economy at $4.3 million in the 2010/11 financial year.

"We are privileged to be one of the inaugural recipients of funds as a partner under The Trust Company's new engaged philanthropy model," said Sue Woodward, the director of the PilchConnect service.

"Our service allows not-for-profit organisations to spend less time worrying about legal issues and more time on their core work. This new engaged philanthropy model is bold and innovative and, with its multi-year commitment, provides us with a welcome boost to help us expand our service to organisations outside Victoria for the first time. "