This CEO letter accompanied the April 2026 edition of Community News.
As we move deeper into 2026, I’m struck by the scale of both the challenges we face and the opportunity in front of us. Across Australia and globally, communities are navigating increasing pressure – from humanitarian crises and climate impacts to inequality and social division. At the same time, I’m seeing a growing willingness to work differently: more collaboratively, more strategically, and with a longer-term view.
This week, the global Women Deliver 2026 conference kicked off in Melbourne, bringing together thousands of grassroots organisers, advocates, and changemakers alongside industry leaders and policymakers. It’s an important moment to focus attention on the issues affecting women and families, particularly as cost-of-living pressures, housing insecurity, and gender-based violence continue to rise.
Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) is proud to join a new coalition of funders for women and families, as announced by the Governor-General Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC at the Women Deliver opening ceremony. Together, we’re coordinating sustained support for community-led solutions, with a collective $30.8 million commitment over three years. This initiative is an exercise in best-practice philanthropy and reflects a shift toward longer-term, collaborative funding with a clear focus on sustained impact. There is an open invitation to fellow funders to get involved, and you can learn more about the coalition from its recent feature in the Australian Financial Review. ACF will also host an event to share the insights and learnings from Women Deliver and the arising funding opportunities – stay tuned for your invitation.
This shared commitment to multi-year funding is something we’re continuing to embed at ACF. In the coming weeks, we’ll announce the Impact Fund’s 2026 Catalyst Grant Partner, who will also be supported through a three-year commitment – building trust, strengthening communities, and driving lasting change. We invite funders to join us to meet this year’s Grant Partner and celebrate the launch of the 2026 program, with events in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and online.
The Impact Fund’s focus this year is the climate crisis – an area where the need for coordinated community-led action has never been clearer. I had the pleasure of sitting down with the Tuvaluan Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment, Dr Maina Talia, on his recent visit to Australia. Dr Talia spoke to the frontline challenges of Tuvalu, building relationships with Australian and island neighbours, and the power of philanthropy in supporting climate resilience.
In line with the Impact Fund’s focus on shared learning, I’m also pleased to share our new Climate Giving Resource Hub, which brings together practical tools, organisations, and insights to support informed, impactful climate philanthropy.
I hope to connect with many of you at upcoming events in the month ahead, whether that’s at South Australia Giving Week, the National Community Foundations Forum, or one of our Impact Fund activities.
Thanks, as always, to our giving community and partners for the role you play in making change possible.
Cheers,
Andrew Binns
CEO, Australian Communities Foundation
