Effective giving is as much about pace as it is about purpose. An annual plan helps you balance regular support with the flexibility to respond, ensuring your Fund works for you across the year – not just at moments of urgency.
The ACF Good Giving Toolkit is designed to support this kind of thoughtful planning. Drawing on decades of grantmaking experience at Australian Communities Foundation, it brings together insights from our giving community, academic and community experts, and philanthropic peers, alongside practical guidance and tools to help turn intentions into action.
One of those tools is the Giving Planner. It helps you map the flow of funds in and out of your Fund, schedule planned and responsive granting, set decision points, and note other activities such as research, volunteering, or events you want to engage with over the year.
Before you plan: Revisit the basics
Before you begin building your plan for 2026, we recommend revisiting the foundational thinking in Sections 1 and 2 of the Toolkit (Self-reflection before you give and Figuring out where to give). These earlier steps ground your annual plan in your values, motivations and giving priorities – and they help ensure your activity across the year is aligned with what matters most to you.
One tool worth revisiting is How much do I want to give?, which supports you to clarify your giving capacity, the urgency of the issues you care about, and the timeframes you’re working toward. Many Fundholders find that once they have clarity here, the rest of the planning process becomes more intuitive. As the Toolkit notes, your giving ‘sweet spot’ often sits between what feels comfortable and what feels like a meaningful stretch, helping you maintain both momentum and intention over time.
Planning your year with the Giving Planner Tool
The Giving Planner Tool provides a simple but powerful structure for looking ahead across the year. It allows you to chart:
- Funds in and funds out, including regular contributions and your planned grantmaking
- Regular grants you already intend to make, and space for responsive support as needs arise
- Decision points for moments in the year when you want to pause, review, or make key commitments
- Planning and consultation activities, such as research, conversations, or events
- Other activities, including volunteering, networking or learning opportunities that help deepen your understanding of the issues you fund.
When the year is mapped out visually, you gain a clearer sense of your rhythm as a funder and can ensure your plans match your capacity – both financial and personal. The Toolkit encourages a flexible approach, and planning doesn’t mean locking yourself in. A good plan helps you stay focused while still allowing room to adapt as new insights or opportunities emerge.
Finding giving opportunities that align with your plan
Once your annual plan is in place, you can begin identifying giving opportunities that align with your focus areas and timeframe. Section 3.2 Identifying funding opportunities outlines several approaches – proactive, open, consultative and collective – and offers guidance on choosing the right mix for your capacity and interests.
A useful question to consider is how much you want to draw on the expertise and insight of the ACF team and other philanthropic networks, who can help you deepen your understanding, connect with organisations you might not otherwise find, and broaden your view beyond the most visible players. Engaging these networks can strengthen your giving and help ensure your plan reflects what’s happening across the philanthropic landscape.
A strong start to 2026
By taking time now to revisit the foundations of your giving, clarify how much you want to give, and map out your year using the Giving Planner Tool, you can set your Fund up for a thoughtful and well-paced year of philanthropy. A clear plan helps you stay focused on your intentions and be ready to respond when opportunities arise – key ingredients for effective, joyful giving.
If you’d like support using any of the tools, shaping your plan, or exploring networks and expertise relevant to your areas of interest, our team is here to help. Let’s make 2026 a year of impact grounded in clarity, purpose and connection.