Taking innovation to transformation

Ellen Koshland

Long-standing member of our giving community, Ellen Koshland, is a passionate supporter of equity in education. For Ellen, giving through a community foundation has brought a welcome sense of collaboration to her philanthropy.

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Ellen Koshland has been hailed as one of Australia’s most visionary philanthropists.

Her unwavering commitment to equity in education led her to establish the Education Foundation in 1989, which raised more than $10 million to fund 500+ innovative education programs across Australia.

In 2015, Ellen founded the Australian Learning Lecture, a 10-year initiative to demonstrate that new ideas in learning can better equip students for our changing world.

“Education is very important to me,” says Ellen. “I believe deeply that every child has a talent and that they deserve the opportunity to develop that talent.”

As one of Australian Communities Foundation’s largest fundholders, Ellen is also a passionate funder for the environment and the arts. In 2012, she became a founding patron of the Stella Prize, a major literary prize profiling and celebrating Australian women’s writing.

The throughline that connects each of Ellen’s philanthropic passions is a pronounced sense of activism which she attributes to her American family and her grandfather and philanthropic role model, Daniel E. Koshland, Snr.

“I absolutely think we need philanthropy and it’s a dimension that really needs to function well to have an active civic society. Philanthropy can pull levers because it can be a neutral, non-political catalyst acting as a hub,” she says.

For Ellen, giving through Australian Communities Foundation has brought a welcome sense of collaboration to her philanthropy.

“When that level of collaboration happens, it doesn’t matter as a philanthropist how much money you have – you can still make a contribution that’s invaluable.”

“I think the growth of community foundations is one of the greatest developments in philanthropy,” says Ellen.

“Giving is about building a better community… [But] when I started in philanthropy all those years ago, it felt as though it was all quite competitive. Everyone was trying to get money from this and that and on to the next thing. In contrast, now you have the collaborative and collective nature of community foundations.

“I love that organisations like Australian Communities Foundation and the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network work closely together and learn from each other. When that level of collaboration happens, it doesn’t matter as a philanthropist how much money you have – you can still make a contribution that’s invaluable.”

A centenarian’s view on giving

Meriel Wilmot-Wright

Meriel Wilmot-Wright is a pioneer of Australian philanthropy, and at age 100, she chose to create a lasting legacy by leaving a gift to her own Named Fund.

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Meriel Wilmot-Wright has dedicated her life to making the world a better place. From heading up The Myer Foundation to giving her personal support for organisations helping single mothers, Meriel has always given in one way or another. And at age 100, she has ensured her legacy of giving will last beyond her own lifetime.

After a conversation with a friend, Meriel decided to leave a gift in her Will to Australian Communities Foundation, establishing her own Fund to support her chosen cause. She named it the Beatrice Fund in honour of her beloved mother. Her bequest will help support women raising children alone – even after she passes, ensuring her love of giving lives on.

“My mother was very generous – she supported people in need of help and caring. With such a background, how could I not grow up believing that sharing was an important part of life?”

“My mother, Beatrice Charlotte Wilmot, was born in 1887. She was a saint and was adored by everyone who knew her,” says Meriel.

“Although my family was never well off, my mother was very generous, not only with the little she had to give away, but also with her time – she supported people in need of help and caring. With such a background, how could I not grow up believing that sharing was an important part of life?

“I first came to learn about professional philanthropy when I was employed by the Nuffield Foundation in London. Although I have lived in England for 33 years, I have retained all my personal funds in Australia.

“My friend brought Australian Communities Foundation to my attention and after reading several reports I realised it would provide me with the umbrella organisation for charitable giving in Australia I had been seeking.

“My advice for someone thinking of becoming involved in philanthropy for the first time is to study your community, find out both areas which are in need and those which are already well supported – and seek the advice of Australian Communities Foundation staff!”

‘Making a different difference’

donkey wheel Foundation

Australian Communities Foundation’s Advisory services provide additional support for trusts and foundations, including tailored packages for private foundation clients, such as donkey wheel.

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A prescribed private fund and charitable trust, donkey wheel was established by the Brunner family in 2004, with a view to supporting and nurturing the changemakers who have the potential to create a new world.

“The thing I value most about working with Australian Communities Foundation is that it’s full of people who have a deep understanding of the for-purpose space,” says Paul Steele, CEO of donkey wheel Foundation.

“I’m grateful that I don’t have to explain things over and over – they understand this space because it’s their core business, whereas a lot of accountants and lawyers don’t understand the nuances.”

“The thing I value most about working with Australian Communities Foundation is that it’s full of people who have a deep understanding of the for-purpose space.”

Paul has been at the helm of donkey wheel since 2010, and says he is passionate about “making a different difference that leads to systemic change”.

“We’re more focused on the environmental conditions that facilitate success, rather than the successes of single projects or organisations,” Paul explains.

With this in mind, donkey wheel regularly supports intermediary organisations that work with the changemakers on the frontlines. This has included organisations such as The Difference Incubator and The Australian Centre for Social Innovation.

Providing bespoke support to established trusts and foundations is an area of expertise for Australian Communities Foundation’s Director of Engagement & Advisory, Olivia Clark- Moffatt.

Olivia says donkey wheel occupies a unique space in Australia as a profound changemaker and supporter of changemakers.

“There are very few organisations that take such an open-minded and creative approach as donkey wheel to supporting the potential to create a better world,” she says.

“One of the ways we’re able to support that approach is by providing compliance support that lifts the administrative burden off the donkey wheel team so that all their energy can stay in the creative and liminal spaces where they’re able to get results.”

That support has helped donkey wheel stay focused on “the slow, hard work” of ecosystem building rather than “quick wins”.

“We’re not under any illusion that everything we try will work,” says Paul.

“But if we don’t think different and act different, we won’t be able to make a different difference.”

Getting started with giving

A new fundholder’s perspective

^{Catheryn Khoo (right) named her Gumnut Account the Patrica Tan Equality Fund in honour of her mother (left).}

Catheryn Khoo has always been passionate about giving, completing pro bono work across the globe and raising money for charities. This year, Catheryn began her structured giving journey by opening a Gumnut Account.

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Growing up in Malaysia, Catheryn Khoo was regularly involved in her local community and actively encouraged by her family to do her part to make it a better place.

Her early giving experiences and family influence led Catheryn to design a deeply philanthropic life. She studied and worked across the globe, all while completing pro bono work on the side.

Now, Catheryn is a Professor and Gender Expert for the United Nations World Tourism Organization and spends her time championing women’s equality in tourism.

“I have travelled and worked with people from all over the world, and I’ve seen the disparity of opportunities one gets in a country like Malaysia versus Anglo- Saxon countries,” Catheryn says.

“I know what the difference is, and what opportunities can do for someone like me.”

Her motivation to make a difference and have a sustainable impact prompted Catheryn to re-assess her giving and embrace a more structured model.

“I’ve always known that I would set up a fund someday, but I hadn’t known how to do or manage it,” Catheryn says. “Then I found Australian Communities Foundation online. Everyone at ACF was so helpful…it all felt very doable.

“Now I could just do the job of philanthropy without having to worry about the legal and financial details, which was what stopped me when I first had this seed of an idea.”

After discussions with the ACF team, Catheryn decided to open a Gumnut Account – The Patricia Tan Equality Fund, named after her mother.

“Now I could just do the job of philanthropy without having to worry about the legal and financial details.”

“The Fund will enable equal opportunities for people like my mum – talented, disadvantaged, and limited by a lack of education, resources and finances,” Catheryn explains.

“It will directly help reduce the barriers, encourage growth, stimulate career prospects, and provide a pathway to eradicate gender inequality and geographical disadvantage in developing nations.”

When asked about the advice she’d offer to people thinking of opening their own fund, Catheryn says it’s about making a start.

“Don’t be overwhelmed like me! Reach out to an organisation like ACF and start talking to people. Just start. Just start and everything will fall into place.”

Corporate giving for educational equity

GHD Foundation 

^{Students participating in an education program supported by ACF Advisory client, the GHD Foundation.}

Professional services firm GHD has a long history of supporting local communities. In 2020, the firm honoured this legacy by establishing the GHD Foundation. Australian Communities Foundation is now helping the firm increase its impact beyond local initiatives.

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With over 11,000 employees across 160 offices worldwide, GHD has evolved from a small engineering office in Melbourne into a global industry leader, but its culture of giving back has never been stronger.

“Since GHD opened its doors in 1928, employees have been helping the community in different ways – from fundraising to volunteering and undertaking pro-bono work,” explains Jo Metcalfe, GHD Foundation Managing Director.

With increasing global challenges – pandemics, natural disasters, racial and economic inequity, and climate change – local community work no longer “seemed enough,” says Jo. And with the resources to do more, the firm established the GHD Foundation.

“ACF has been there for us since right after we began, helping us structure our operations, execute major grant rounds and develop a stronger understanding of how to partner and give in ways that are effective.

“We’ve found that the best way to learn is to connect… Engage with organisations who can help guide you along the way.”

“The focus of our support is to widen access to STEAM education and careers. STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, and we know that greater diversity in these fields leads to solutions that better serve the community.

“We’ve found that the best way to learn is to connect. The ecosystem of relationships range from GHD to the team at ACF and the charities we walk alongside. It’s the diverse views, points of collaboration and at times co-creation that help us stay strategic.”

Honouring a loved one

Joanna Knight Scholarship

When Sydney barrister Joanna Knight passed away at just 36 years old, her family and colleagues established a scholarship in honour of her dedication to social justice. The Joanna Knight Scholarship Fund is now helping people from diverse backgrounds enter the legal profession.

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A lawyer and barrister, Joanna Knight had built an impressive career spanning legal aid and pro bono briefs over nearly 10 years in the sector.

She was first admitted as a lawyer in 2013, and up until her passing, worked at Culwulla Chambers in Sydney.

Jo’s friend and barrister at Wentworth Chambers, Gina Edwards, says Jo reflected “the very best of human nature.”

“She was genuine, good-natured, and a model family law practitioner,” Gina says. “To those who met her, Jo left a lasting impression.

“Throughout her legal career, she was passionate about public service, and believed that socio-economic diversity in the legal profession would strongly benefit both the system and the community.”

Studying law is time-intensive and expensive, and without a privileged upbringing, can be difficult to manage, limiting diversity in the profession.

“For many students, there is no easy road to being admitted into legal practice. This is especially the case for people experiencing financial disadvantage and for First Nations students.”

This is why, following Joanna’s death, the idea of a scholarship in Joanna’s name was raised.

“Joanna’s family and colleagues at the NSW Bar wanted to create scholarships to honour Joanna’s dedication to social justice,” Gina explains.

After exploring her options, Gina approached Australian Communities Foundation about opening a Scholarship Fund.

Following discussions with the ACF team and Community Legal Centres NSW, the Joanna Knight Scholarship Fund was established, with the scholarship’s selection criteria and purpose in line with Joanna’s family’s giving goals.

The Joanna Knight Scholarship Fund has three streams, each targeting a minority group that would benefit from financial assistance when accessing legal education.

“The scholarships aim to level the playing field, making it more accessible for people from diverse backgrounds to gain professional experience in community legal centres and become lawyers,” Gina says.

Giving together for women-led environmental and climate action

WELA Giving Circle

^{WELA Strategic Director, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg (far left), with participants from WELA’s National Leadership Program 2022.}

A new giving circle is tackling the climate crisis by getting behind women leading positive change.

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“Women and gender diverse people all over Australia are stepping up to the challenges facing our planet,” says Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Strategic Director of Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA), a not-for-profit connecting women for environmental and climate action.

“But women-led projects are chronically underfunded with less than 0.2 per cent of global charitable funding going to women’s environmental action,” says Victoria.

Enter the WELA Giving Circle – Australia’s only giving circle dedicated to funding women’s action on environment and climate issues.

In this Q&A, Victoria reflects on women’s leadership in environmental and climate action, and the value of collaboration, in both leading and giving to the movement.

Australia has a long history of women-led environmental action. How has that history shaped WELA into the organisation it is today?

WELA was founded in 2016 by a group of women who are essentially the matriarchs of the environment movement in Australia. These women ran the campaign to save the Franklin River in 1982. Over 40 years on, they were still seeing the same gender-based issues playing out that had plagued their whole careers, and decided to do something about it and started WELA.

It’s important to acknowledge that First Nations women have been leading for Country, Community and Culture for millennia. We recognise the strength of that leadership, and the central role this must play in any sustainable future we aspire to.

Collaboration is key to WELA’s approach. Why is collaboration important for environmental leadership?

Collaboration is the genesis of innovation, and we need innovation at a scale like never before. Collaboration is also a leadership style that is prevalent in women’s environmental leadership. Given the scale of the challenges we face, we need more of it.

“When we give together, we can multiply our impact, increase connection and build power.”

What advice do you have for funders looking to support climate action?

There is no shortage of opportunities to have an impact. If you find a project or a group that inspires you, go for it.

But when we give together, we can multiply our impact, increase connection and build power. That’s why we’ve started the WELA Giving Circle.

It’s exciting to bring people together to make and fund change. The benefits of a giving circle extend beyond the funds raised and granted, and into the power of networks to connect, inspire and enable impact and action.

Unlocking cultural ambition

Regional Arts Australia

^{Mimili Maku artist Linda Puna celebrating her fashion collaboration with Unreal Fur in her community, recipient of a Regional Arts Fund Grant, managed by Regional Arts Australia on behalf of the Australian Government.}

Not-for-profit Regional Arts Australia is the national voice for the arts in regional Australia. Executive Director, Ros Abercrombie, explains how the organisation is using a Future Fund at Australian Communities Foundation to fundraise and increase its core capacity.

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“What’s incredible is realising that wherever you land in this country, there’s an amazing breadth of cultural practice and experience and an incredible creative ecosystem embedded in the fabric of regional communities,” explains Regional Arts Australia (RAA) Executive Director, Ros Abercrombie.

As the not-for-profit peak body for regional arts in Australia, RAA works across all states and territories and all art forms. Its work includes a series of short and long-term capacity building programs and research-based advocacy designed to unlock the cultural ambition and potential in regional Australia.

“Our role is to ensure there are multiple generations of creative practitioners across regional centres because we believe the arts should be accessible for anyone to participate in and enjoy, regardless of where they choose to live, work or study,” she explains.

“Our job is to facilitate connections, connect the dots and open the doors.”

Celebrating its 80th year in 2023, Ros attributes RAA’s longevity to its ability to listen and respond effectively to the ever-changing arts landscape.

“RAA has changed and adjusted in order to respond to what’s needed at the time,” Ros explains.

Since 2001, RAA has managed the Regional Arts Fund on behalf of the Australian Government’s Office of the Arts. The Fund provides more than $3 million per year to support artists and communities in regional and remote areas.

A recent five-year impact analysis (2016-2021) of the Fund has shown that an investment of $14.57 million has supported 1,760 projects with 96,309 participants across more than 700 locations, reaching an audience of 8.3 million. Importantly, the funding leveraged a further $43.3 million, effectively trebling the initial investment.

This level of impact, Ros suggests, is something RAA’s founder, singer Dorothy Helmrich OBE, would have been immensely proud of.

It’s in Dorothy’s honour that RAA has launched the Pledge a Dot initiative using its Regional Arts Australia Fund, a Future Fund at Australian Communities Foundation.

The initiative, Ros explains, seeks to raise $1 million to increase core capacity in the delivery of support for arts in regional Australia.

“This initiative will help Regional Arts Australia continue to support artists and communities that want to tell Australian stories across all art forms and landscapes.”

Advancing equity for LGBTQIA+ communities

Pride Foundation Australia

^{Pride Foundation Australia Chair, Ruth McNair (fifth from left), at Sydney WorldPride.}

At Sydney WorldPride, Pride Foundation Australia Chair Ruth McNair spoke with us about current funding needs for LGBTQIA+ communities and the Foundation’s latest grant rounds, which are now being delivered through a partnership with ACF Advisory.

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Since 2004, Pride Foundation Australia (PFA) has been working to advance equity for Australia’s LGBTQIA+ communities and individuals facing discrimination and structural inequalities.

What is philanthropy’s role in supporting LGBTQIA+ communities in 2023?

Increasing levels of poverty and exclusion during the pandemic have exacerbated issues for so many sub-groups, such as young people trapped in abusive families, refugees trapped in home or transition countries, trans people unable to access life-affirming gender affirmation care, and so many more.

The role of philanthropy is to unapologetically raise awareness of the dire needs in our sub-communities, and to advocate for systemic change.

“ACF’s established but flexible approach to grant reporting enables a robust acquittal process to enhance our impact evaluations without placing undue burden on grantees.”

Tell us about PFA’s granting streams and the recent partnership with Australian Communities Foundation.

The Foundation generally awards grants through our regular Major Grants and Small Grants programs. In 2023, we have run Major Grant Rounds focused on supporting LGBTQIA+ communities in areas affected by recent natural disasters, as well as reducing harm from alcohol and other drugs. All the while, we have continued supporting groups and individuals promoting social inclusion through our Small Grants Round, which is open all year.

This year we partnered with Australian Communities Foundation to support our grant rounds. The ACF team has been working closely with us, providing administrative support and offering their expertise in grant making. We have realised that as our work expands, we need to invest financial resources into ensuring that we are utilising best-practice approaches. For example, the Foundation’s established but flexible approach to grant reporting enables a robust acquittal process to enhance our impact evaluations without placing undue burden on grantees.

What advice do you have for funders interested in supporting LGBTQIA+ communities?

Prospective funders and donors need to get to know the diverse array of communities within the LGBTQIA+ umbrella, to partner and ally with us, and to choose the right group to be involved with based on our mutual interests.

Taking clients on the philanthropic journey

Chris Wilson, Koda Capital

Professional advisers play an important role in helping people achieve their giving goals. Chris Wilson, Partner at financial advisory firm Koda Capital, knows firsthand how a community foundation can support advisers to meet increasing demand for philanthropic advice.

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Chris Wilson, Partner at Koda Capital’s Philanthropy & Social Capital division, has worked at the nexus of financial services and philanthropy for more than 14 years.

Philanthropy has been a key offering at Koda Capital since its inception and Chris says that’s because the company’s founders understood how critical philanthropy is for private wealth clients.

“For many of our clients, the philanthropy conversation is where they derive the most satisfaction and joy when it comes to their wealth planning,” Chris explains.

“It’s also where we get to truly know our clients, their passions and values – it’s often where we discover what is most important to them. If we can support their philanthropic goals and add value to this important part of their lives, it only works to enhance our relationship with them and their families.”

As philanthropic practices continue to evolve and change over time, so too are client expectations and their giving goals, Chris says.

“Clients want to be more engaged in the causes they are focussed on, understanding the issues and thinking strategically about where their dollars can have the most impact,” he explains.

“Many are looking at bigger picture systems change and thinking about their philanthropy as the risk capital that can create real change. For some, this is also about rolling up their sleeves and actively offering their time, talent and networks as well as their dollars.”

Drawing upon the deep philanthropic sector experience of the team at Australian Communities Foundation has helped Koda deepen client relationships and provide an accessible community of likeminded people clients can give alongside.

“What ACF offers is accessible philanthropy with the administrative burden taken care of so that our clients can focus on what’s important, which is giving the money away effectively,” Chris says.

“I’m convinced that community foundations like ACF are going to be the engine room of growth when it comes to structured giving in Australia and more and more advice firms like Koda are going to understand and appreciate the critical role community foundations can play in a client’s wealth planning.”

“For many of our clients, the philanthropy conversation is where they derive the most satisfaction and joy when it comes to their wealth planning.”