Australian Communities Foundation has joined a new coalition of philanthropic funders committing more than $32 million to support community-led work focused on women and families. The coalition will take a shared approach to co-funding, learning and impact, backing solutions that are already working in communities.
Bringing together 11 philanthropic funders committed to improving outcomes for women and children, the initiative is convened by the Paul Ramsay Foundation and starts from a simple premise: communities are already leading effective solutions. Philanthropy’s role is to provide support that is sustained, aligned and responsive.
The coalition was announced by the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, at the opening of the global Women Deliver 2026 conference in Melbourne.
The group’s work will centre on strengthening women’s leadership in place by investing in community‑led leadership and local solutions, while also addressing family violence through prevention efforts and sustained support for women and children in recovery and long‑term safety.
For organisations working on the ground, navigating multiple funding sources with different priorities and timelines can dilute impact. This coalition shifts the model toward coordinated investment, with funders working together on shared goals rather than in isolation.
“At Australian Communities Foundation, we’re proud to invite and support our community of Fundholders and Clients to resource these solutions on the journey towards a thriving and inclusive Australia,” said CEO Andrew Binns. “Collaborations like this are key to best-practice giving and better outcomes for communities.”
Collaborations like this are key to best-practice giving and better outcomes for communities.
Other participating funders include Andyinc Foundation, Barr Family Foundation, Bell Family Foundation, Fondation CHANEL, Minderoo Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Snow Foundation, The Myer Foundation, and others who wish to remain anonymous.
Initial co-funding opportunities include:
- Common Threads, supporting First Nations-led, community-driven solutions (established with support from the ACF Impact Fund)
- Community Foundations Australia, growing local giving for gender equity initiatives
- Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia, strengthening women’s leadership in communities navigating climate transitions (WELA also runs a Giving Circle through a Collective Giving Fund at Australian Communities Foundation)
- Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, supporting women recovering from family violence and financial insecurity.
Further initiatives will be added as the coalition evolves. Funders can also align existing or new investments with the coalition’s shared priorities, supporting a broader range of organisations and approaches.
The coalition reflects a broader shift in philanthropy towards collaboration, longer-term investment and community leadership. By aligning capital and effort, funders can support more connected responses to complex challenges and help deliver better outcomes for women, children and families.
Get involved
ACF Fundholders and Clients are encouraged to join us by supporting one of the initiatives above, or other organisations working with women and families. You can request a grant by logging in to your Fund Portal or via the grant request web form. For a conversation about the coalition or how your funding can support women and families, contact our Philanthropy Team at [email protected] or call us on 03 9412 0412.
Pictured above: (L-R) Prof Kristy Muir, Georgie Byron AM, John Hartman, Stella Avramopoulos, Leonie Bell, Fiona McLeay, the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Stacey Thomas, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Annika Freyer, Tamika Sadler. Michael Barr and Kerry Gardner AM, not pictured. Image courtesy of Hynesite Photography.
