ANNUAL REPORT 2021/22
Welcome
From the Chair
Welcome to Australian Communities Foundation’s Annual Report for 2021/22.
With this being the Foundation’s 25th year, I would like to begin by recognising the contributions of our co-founders and Patrons, Marion Webster OAM and Hayden Raysmith AM.
The Foundation was established in 1997 as the Melbourne Community Foundation and ran out of Marion’s spare bedroom in its early years. It is difficult to imagine that Marion and Hayden could predict at the time just how far the Foundation would come in 25 years. As one of the largest charitable foundations in Australia today, we are indebted to their ongoing guidance and support.
In 2021/22, we achieved new giving records with 38 per cent more funding out the door than last year. Thank you to our giving community for stepping up in these uncertain times.
While this time of crises has resulted in volatile financial markets, the Foundation’s dedication to supporting communities is clear: this year we distributed 16.2 per cent of the corpus (up from 12 per cent last year).
In a difficult year for investors, we remained committed to 100 per cent responsible investing and were named a leader in this space by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia.
Other milestones include our ongoing Covid relief funding, the expansion of our impact investments into social housing, and the publication of our first report on the Impact Fund’s achievements to celebrate its fifth anniversary.
As Chair, I would like to thank my fellow Directors for another year of inspirational work. This year the Board farewelled long-standing members Michael Gilmore and Sarah Hosking, and welcomed Rueben Berg, Chris Croker and David Ritter, who each bring extensive experience from the for-purpose sector.
My final thanks go to Maree Sidey and the ACF team. Their hard work provides the crucial infrastructure that supports our growing and vibrant giving community.
Eric Beecher
Chair

Eric Beecher
Chair
“In 2021/22, we achieved new giving records with 38 per cent more funding out the door than last year.”
Governance
Australian Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Operations are overseen by a voluntary Board of Directors made up of leaders representing a broad cross-section of the community.
2021/22 Board of Directors
- Eric Beecher (Chair)
- Rueben Berg (Joined July 2021)
- Penny Burke
- Chris Croker (Joined July 2021)
- Sue Dahn
- Michael Gilmore (retired June 2022)
- Sarah Hosking (retired June 2022)
- Adam Milgrom
- Glen Noonan
- David Ritter (joined April 2022)
- Cath Smith
- Malinda Wink
- Sue Woodward AM (since retired in November 2022)
The ACF Board consists of four committees, which meet quarterly: the Finance, Risk, Audit & IT Committee; the Investment Committee; the Philanthropy & Impact Committee; and the Nominations Committee.
Lastly, ACF co-founders Hayden Raysmith AM and Marion Webster OAM continue to provide guidance as Patrons of the organisation. The ACF Board and team appreciate their ongoing support and dedication to community philanthropy.
We thank our Board, committee members and Patrons for their generous contribution of time and talent to the organisation.
“Australian Communities Foundation is a structurally important institution, crucial to the mission of building a more deeply democratic and compassionate Australia – a nation with the best interests of people and nature at the heart of decision-making… the strength of the ACF community – it is a precious thing.“
David Ritter on joining the Board in April 2022
From the CEO
In this year of challenges, Australian Communities Foundation has again stepped up alongside our partners, demonstrating the crucial role that community philanthropy plays in this country.
In 2021/22, our giving community distributed more than ever before – $18.5 million (up from $13.4 million last year) via 1,240 grants to 716 organisations and individuals. This figure is all the more remarkable when you take into account the challenging economic conditions of the last 12 months.
Throughout the year, the Foundation responded to the needs of communities most affected by Covid, the floods in eastern Australia, and the crisis in Ukraine, giving a total of $3.2 million in crisis response funding.
We also saw a rise in collective giving this year with more contributions to our flagship funds, the Impact Fund and the National Crisis Response Fund. In its fifth year, the Impact Fund increased its distribution times nine, mobilising $1.6 million for partners at the forefront of progressive change in Australia.
The Fund continues to back partners doing important work to progress the Uluru Statement, develop meaningful climate change policy, and promote integrity in politics. Celebrating the Impact Fund’s fifth anniversary at the Victorian Pride Centre was one of the year’s highlights.
Across the year, we welcomed over 100 new givers to our community through 74 new funds and foundations. The stories in this Annual Report showcase the unwavering generosity of our community during difficult times.
Thank you to everyone who has supported Australian Communities Foundation this year, particularly our Patrons, our Chair and Board, our fundholders and donors, the fabulous ACF team, our sector partners, and the changemakers and organisations we’re supporting on our shared journey towards a fairer and more sustainable Australia.
Maree Sidey
Chief Executive Officer

Maree Sidey
Chief Executive Officer
“In this year of challenges, Australian Communities Foundation has again stepped up alongside our partners.”
Our Team

“I work with hands-down the best team in philanthropy. We have great leadership across the organisation and a group of passionate, enthusiastic professionals who come from many different walks of life but are united around the belief that we can support people and inspire great giving.”
Maree Sidey, Chief Executive Officer
Meet our Board
Eric Beecher (Chair)
Eric joined the Board as Chair in 2018, bringing with him a long career in media and journalism. Eric is the founder and chair of Private Media, publisher of news website Crikey, and chair of Solstice Media. In 2007, he received the Walkley Award for Journalistic Leadership. Eric is one of Australia’s leading voices on the need for public interest journalism.
Rueben Berg (joined July 2021)
Rueben is a proud Gunditjmara man who is committed to using his skills and expertise to continue to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Rueben is a member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, a Commissioner for the Victorian Environmental Water Holder, a member of the Heritage Council of Victoria and a Director at Westernport Water. In addition, Rueben is a founder of Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria, and the Indigenous Ultimate Association and is the Chair of the Ultimate Rules Sub-committee for the World Flying Disc Federation. He has a Bachelor of Architecture. Rueben joined the Board in July 2021.
Penny Burke
With more than 30 years’ experience in marketing, Penny is a customer and brand expert. She is the founder and Director of research and strategy consultancy, Essence Communications, and consults to all levels of governments and a range of private sector clients. She has held a number of board positions across sectors such as construction, retail, real estate, training, and medical research.
Chris Croker (joined July 2021)
Chris is Managing Director at Impact Investment Partners, founded in 2014 to apply social impact principles to large-scale investments that improve social and economic outcomes for Indigenous communities. Born and raised in Darwin, NT, he is a Luritja man from Central Australia with a vision for sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. He is an experienced strategy advisor with Indigenous economic development, asset management, corporate strategy, and infrastructure construction expertise. He has held positions in leading companies, including Horizon Power, Boston Consulting Group, and Australian mining and civil engineering contractor Henry Walker Eltin. Chris is the Chair of CASSE Australia, Director and Chair of the Finance and Risk Audit Committee for Desert Knowledge Australia, and Managing Director of Impact Investment Partners.
Sue Dahn
Sue has over three decades of experience in the provision of financial and investment advice and proudly serves a select group of private clients, charitable trusts, professional, industry, educational and government bodies. Sue has been a champion of philanthropy for well over a decade and in 2019 she was named Australia’s number one financial adviser.
Michael Gilmore (retired June 2022)
Michael has 30 years of experience in the financial services industry across institutional and consumer markets in Australia, Asia and Europe. For the past 15 years Michael has worked in leadership roles, including at ANZ Private Bank and ipac securities limited. In his current role at TelstraSuper, Michael is the Head of Practice Operations for the Member Engagement & Advice division and a Responsible Manager of TelstraSuper Financial Planning.
Sarah Hosking (retired June 2022)
Sarah is a clinician and researcher having spent 25 years in academia, latterly as a professor in both ophthalmology and optometry in institutions in Australia, the UK and China. She is currently CEO of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and has held a number of executive and non-executive roles in health, research and education.
Adam Milgrom
Adam is an active impact investor, having built a portfolio of investments across a wide range of industries and asset classes that align profit with purpose. He is Venture Partner of Giant Leap Fund, established by Impact Investment Group as the first Australian venture capital fund 100 per cent committed to investing in impact start-ups.
Glen Noonan
Glen is a Partner with PwC in the Management Consulting practice with 32 years’ advisory experience including 23 years as a Partner as well as being an experienced Board member. He has extensive expertise in formulating and executing business strategies, building and leading teams and successful leadership in sales and P&L performance.
David Ritter
David is the Chief Executive Officer of Greenpeace Australia Pacific. A widely published commentator on politics, law, history and current affairs, David’s most recent book is The Coal Truth: The Fight to Stop Adani, Defeat the Big Polluters and Reclaim our Democracy. He holds honorary affiliations with the University of Sydney and the University of Western Australia. Prior to joining Greenpeace, David was one of Australia’s leading Indigenous rights lawyers
Cath Smith
Cath is founder and Principal of Changesmith Consulting, providing strategic advice to organisations on how they can make a positive difference. She has over 30 years’ experience in the not-for-profit space, including within the environment movement, the international development sector, and as CEO at the community sector peak body Victorian Council of Social Service. She is also a Trustee Director of industry super fund HESTA and President of the Collingwood College Council.
Malinda Wink
Malinda is Global Director, Good Pitch at Doc Society (formerly BRITDOC). From 2013 to 2019, Malinda served as Executive Director of Good Pitch Australia and Shark Island Institute. Her professional experience spans senior roles within the corporate, political, philanthropic and NGO sectors. She also currently serves as Deputy Chair of The Caledonia Foundation and Trustee of The Reichstein Foundation. Malinda joined the Board in June 2021.
Sue Woodward AM (since retired in November 2022)
Sue co-leads Justice Connect’s Not-for-profit Law service and was the inaugural Director of Policy & Education at the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Sue is a prominent advocate for legal and regulatory issues of importance to Australia’s not-for-profit sector. She is a member of the Law Council’s Not-for-Profit Practice and Charities Committee, the Australian Taxation Office Not-for-Profit Stewardship Group and a Board member of the Human Rights Law Centre and the Victorian Council of Social Service. Sue has s