Annual Report 2023/24

From the Chair

Welcome to Australian Communities Foundation’s (ACF) Annual Report for 2023/24.

This past year has been one of transitions for the organisation. It has been an honour to join the Board this year and step into the Chair role. I extend my deepest gratitude to Eric Beecher for his tenure as Chair (2018 – 2024) and to Maree Sidey for her impactful leadership as CEO (2015 – 2024).

Following Maree’s departure, we welcomed Andrew Binns as our new CEO in July 2024. With over 15 years of experience, Andrew brings deep expertise in community development and philanthropy to the role and our organisation.

Throughout this year of transitions, our core work in activating giving hasn’t slowed down, as reflected in the strong numbers highlighted in this report. Thank you to everyone in our community who gave this year. Your passion and your commitment to a fairer and more sustainable future is what drives our organisation forward.

This year saw the appointment of Koda Capital as our new investment advisors – a partnership we are confident will support the long-term growth and impact of our responsibly invested portfolio.

Another highlight was the release of the second edition of Savvy Giving: A roadmap for contemporary philanthropy in Australia, published by ACF and authored by philanthropy expert and longtime friend of the organisation, Genevieve Timmons. The book features many inspiring case studies from our giving community and is a wonderful gift to our growing sector.

In September 2024, we were saddened by the death of ACF Co-Founder, Marion Webster AM. Marion pioneered the community foundation model in Australia, inspiring a movement that now spans 40 community foundations nationwide. Retiring from the ACF Board in 2012 after 15 years of service, Marion continued to provide guidance to our organisation as Patron alongside fellow Co-Founder, Hayden Raysmith AM. Her vision of a more inclusive approach to giving has left a lasting impact on philanthropy in Australia, and we are grateful for her leadership.

Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Directors for their dedication, with special recognition to Sue Dahn AM, who stepped down from the Board this year. My deepest thanks also go to Andrew Binns and the outstanding ACF team, whose hard work provides the crucial underpinning for our mission to inspire more giving.

Fiona McLeayChair

From the CEO

In my first six months at Australian Communities Foundation, it has been an absolute privilege to get to know our vibrant giving community and hear from many of you about the causes you hold dear.

I love the role that ACF plays in making strategic philanthropy accessible. It’s what drew me to the organisation and it’s what stands out as I look back on this year of transitions. Throughout it all, we have made significant progress on our commitment to more accessible philanthropy across Australia. Key highlights include:

• Increased national activity: We hosted over 30 events across Australia this year, including new opportunities for our community to come together and share insights in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.
• More accessible Named Funds: In July 2024, we reduced our minimum Fund balance by half – from $20,000 to $10,000.
• Streamlined granting processes: Our Philanthropy Team has done some great work simplifying processes this year, easing the administrative burden often placed on grantees so they can focus on their vital work.

This report covers the 15-month period from July 2023 to September 2024, marking the transition to the organisation’s regular reporting cycle.

During this time, our giving community distributed $39.6 million through more than 1,800 grants to support over 1,000 organisations and individuals across Australia. As Australia’s largest community of everyday philanthropists, our average grant for the year was $5,000.

In its eighth year, the Impact Fund has grown in influence and scope, bringing together hundreds of funders who collectively contributed $2.5 million this year to address some of Australia’s most pressing challenges. In a highlight from the year, the Foundation won its fifth Australian Philanthropy Award, taking out the 2024 Collaboration Award for First Nations-led Impact Fund program, Voices for Impact. We are grateful to our partners in this initiative, Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, GetUp and Australian Progress.

Another highlight has been the continued growth of our ACF Advisory services, including the design and delivery of a bespoke giving model for Koda Capital.

Lastly, I extend a very warm welcome to the 130+ Funds and Foundations who joined our community this year, spanning families and individuals, workplaces, non-profits, collective giving groups and more.

At ACF, our community gives at all scales, but we are all part of the philanthropic ecosystem and united by our desire to make a difference. As we enter the final stage of our 2023-25 strategy, I look forward to what is set to be another year of inspiring impact on our journey towards a fairer and more sustainable future.

Andrew BinnsCEO