As we move into 2026, funders have an important opportunity to rethink how their giving can have deeper, more lasting impact. While community organisations continue to shoulder increasing pressures, there’s also real momentum behind more strategic, collaborative, and outcomes-driven funding.
Below are the eight trends we hope to see more of in 2026 – and, more importantly, what you can do next to help you evolve your practice and amplify your giving.
1. Building Trust and Investing for the Long Term
Project‑based, short‑term grants remain one of the biggest challenges for not‑for‑profits. They limit planning, inhibit staff retention, and keep organisations stuck in cycles of survival. Our NFP Resilience Report, published last year, reinforced what many organisations already know: long-term, flexible funding flips this dynamic, creating room for organisations to lead, innovate and grow. Predictable, multi‑year funding is foundational for sustainable impact. Simpler reporting also strengthens relationships and leads to more honest learning.
Resources and Next Steps:
- Download the ACF Good Giving Toolkit for practical guidance on structuring long-term support – see Fairer Funding Insights throughout for the most relevant tips.
- Shift at least one project grant this year into unrestricted funding and consider multi-year support.
- Ensure your reporting expectations fit the scale of your grant and replace detailed milestone reporting with narrative check‑ins or learning conversations.
2. Centring First Nations Leadership
There has been encouraging recent progress, particularly in Victoria, where Australia’s first Treaty was enshrined in law last year, and we hope to see continued momentum across Australia this year. We know that this requires ongoing funding, power-sharing and accountability. Centring First Nations leadership means funding organisations and initiatives designed and led by First Nations peoples, supporting self-determination, and committing for the long term.
Resources and Next Steps:
- Build partnerships with First Nations-led organisations already embedded in community. Better understand how to respectfully and effectively engage with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations by downloading Woor-Dungin’s ‘Right Way, Wrong Way, Which Way’ report.
- Support First Nations-led funding infrastructure by backing groups such as First Nations Futures – an economic justice organisation growing a First Nations-led funding ecosystem.
- Get involved with the national Together for Treaty movement for truth, Treaty and justice.
3. Strengthening Philanthropy for the Pacific
The Pacific is leading powerful work on climate resilience, gender equity and community wellbeing. Global attention on our region is growing, with Australia set to co-host the Women Deliver Conference in April and a Pre-COP event ahead of the international climate summit. These moments bring visibility, but support for local leadership must follow. Pacific expertise already exists; our role is partnership, not directional funding. Long‑term investment builds resilience and regional equity.
Resources and Next Steps:
- Learn about Women Deliver and ways to get involved, including funding the participation of Pacific and First Nations women.
- Reflect on how your giving meaningfully supports Pacific communities, especially in strengthening climate action ahead of COP31.
- Learn more about the priorities of Pacific Leaders set out in the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
4. Applying Lenses to Giving Practice
More funders are adopting ‘giving lenses’ to guide their decision-making, applying perspectives such as climate, gender, disability, equity, or place. This approach helps funders see more clearly who benefits, who misses out, and where unintended consequences may arise. Used well, lenses drive more equitable outcomes and greater impact. They don’t replace strategy; they help sharpen it. In 2026, we’re now seeing funders big and small use lenses to refine their giving strategies and strengthen outcomes for communities.
Resources and Next Steps:
- Learn more about lenses in the ACF Good Giving Toolkit (Section 2.5).
- Go deeper by exploring how-to guides for key lenses, including AEGN’s Climate Lens and AIIW’s Guide to Gender-wise Philanthropy.
- Choose one lens to pilot across your grants this year. Add 2-3 lens‑based questions into your giving due‑diligence process.
5. Investing in Giving Infrastructure and Reform
Giving infrastructure can matter as much as giving itself. Australia’s giving system has enormous potential, but current regulations limit rather than enable. New structures like Community Charity Trusts, including ACF’s Community Charity, open more flexible funding pathways, but broader system reform is still essential.
Resources and Next Steps:
- Learn about the new Community Charity Trust and what it means for the ACF giving community and the broader sector.
- Better understand the current limitations of Australia’s Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) system and support the work of the Unlock DGR campaign.
6. Paying What It Takes
Too often, organisations are expected to deliver complex outcomes without adequate funding for staff, systems and overheads. ‘Paying what it takes’ means funding the true cost of impact, including administration, evaluation and organisational wellbeing. In 2026, sustainable impact must replace artificial efficiency as the benchmark for good giving.
Resources and Next Steps
- Explore the Pay What It Takes campaign’s Resource Library and share resources with peers.
- Normalise conversations around overheads with grantees.
- Review your grant budgets and ensure they reflect the true cost of delivery by incorporating essential operational expenses.
- Sign the Pay What It Takes Reframe Overhead Pledge.
7. Giving Together and Building the Collective Giving Movement
Complex problems require collective responses. Giving together – through pooled funds, collaboratives and community foundations – enables donors to learn, share risk and amplify impact. Collective giving is rising across Australia as more donors choose connection and collaboration over working in silos.
Resources and Next Steps
- Get involved with a giving circle or funding collective. Learn about ACF’s flagship collective giving initiative, the ACF Impact Fund, and explore collectives that give through ACF.
- Learn more about how ACF supports collective giving, and consider starting your own Collective Giving Fund with your peers or community.
8. Strengthening Giving Governance and Compliance
With increased regulatory scrutiny from the ATO, donors are seeking simpler structures that uphold strong governance and compliance. Donor-advised funds (Named Funds) are the fastest-growing giving structure in Australia and globally because they’re simple, compliant, and cost‑effective.
Resources and Next Steps
- If you already have a giving structure, reflect on how it aligns with current goals and capacity. If running a foundation feels administratively heavy, consider a Named Fund to simplify giving while maintaining strong governance.
- If you are considering starting a new giving structure, review our Fund vs Foundation comparison.
Taken together, these trends reflect a growing shift toward philanthropy that is generous in spirit, grounded in trust, and shaped by community. If we embrace these trends, 2026 can be a year of deeper impact, greater equity and stronger relationships.
Looking for support with putting these tips into action?
Our team is here to help. Contact us for a conversation.
