Following the recent launch of Australian Communities Foundation’s 2026 Impact Fund program, our giving community is coming together behind a new opportunity: supporting farmers as they navigate Australia’s changing energy landscape.

More than $160,000 has already been raised – $90,000 committed by ACF and $70,000 contributed by ACF Fundholders. The next step is to reach $300,000 and expand this work across regional Australia.

The opportunity and challenge facing regional Australia

Recent global energy shocks have exposed how vulnerable Australia remains to volatile fossil fuel markets and how urgently we need a secure, affordable energy system built here at home. Regional Australia sits at the centre of that solution. 

However, detractors would have the public and policymakers believe that farmers are the victims of renewables, instead of the beneficiaries they are.

Across the country, hundreds of renewable energy projects on farms are already stabilising household and regional incomes while keeping land in food and fibre production. Renewables often provide hosts long-term income certainty and reduce exposure to fluctuating energy costs. Nationally, this work is critical to lowering power prices, cutting emissions, and strengthening Australia’s energy security. 

There is support for renewables in the regions. Polling shows 63% of Renewable Energy Zone residents across NSW, QLD and VIC support Australia’s shift to renewable energy. And yet a false narrative of widespread rural opposition continues to dominate—fuelled by vested interests and misinformation. 

This disconnect has real consequences. Hosts are increasingly subject to harassment, with some families withdrawing from projects altogether, delaying essential infrastructure and deepening division between city and country.

National not-for-profit organisation, RE-Alliance, has spent more than a decade working alongside regional communities to improve how renewable energy development happens in practice – experience that’s shaped a clear focus: making sure impacted people are supported to navigate change on their own terms.

“Regional communities are right at the centre of this energy shift – and that means they deserve more than just a seat at the table,” says National Director Andrew Bray. “Our job is to make sure they have the relationships, the knowledge, and the confidence to drive decisions that actually work for them and their communities.”

Watch: Introducing the Impact Fund 2026 Program and RE-Alliance

A network led by farmers

With support from the Impact Fund, RE-Alliance is building the Australian Renewable Energy Farmers Network – a national, farmer-led movement designed to:

• Connect farmers and build solidarity, reducing isolation through trusted peer-to-peer support
• Empower farmers as leaders, strengthening confidence to navigate renewable projects and community conversations
• Cut through misinformation, sharing real stories from the paddock to build trust and social license
• Drive better outcomes, advocating for fair industry practices and policies that work for farmers and regional communities

What sets this Network apart is its focus on engaging farmers from across the spectrum – not just those already engaged in the climate debate, but also those seeking credible information to support farm viability and long-term sustainability.

It’s a simple idea with real potential: when farmers have spaces to connect and learn from each other, they’re better equipped to make informed choices and engage with confidence.

For farmers like Susan Findlay-Tickner, whose family hosts renewable energy infrastructure on their property, the transition is about both resilience and opportunity.

“We wanted to contribute to Australia’s future as we work towards net zero,” said Susan. “We are really proud to walk out of our farm door and see those turbines spinning in our paddocks – producing energy for 220,000 homes.”

Get involved

We’re inviting our giving community to help reach $300,000 so the project can scale faster, support more farmers, and strengthen community leadership across regional Australia.

“This is a clear opportunity to back communities at the centre of the transition,” says ACF’s Community and Philanthropy Lead, Laura Mannix. “Your contribution goes directly towards practical, community-led work – and joins a collective effort that’s already gaining real momentum.”

Your contribution goes directly towards practical, community-led work – and joins a collective effort that’s already gaining real momentum.

ACF CEO, Andrew Binns, sees the Network as exactly the kind of work the Impact Fund was designed to support.

“The work RE-Alliance is doing is a practical, hopeful response,” says Andrew. “It puts regional communities in the driver’s seat – supporting farmers to lead Australia’s energy future and ensure the transition works for them.”

Fundholders can contribute directly from their ACF Fund, and donations are also welcome from the broader community. Follow the link below to pledge your support for RE Alliance – and to learn more about other ways to get involved with the Impact Fund, including strengthening the grants pool and supporting the collaborative giving model that makes this work possible.

Get involved and pledge your support here

View the photo gallery from the Melbourne launch event on 7 May

About the Impact Fund

The Impact Fund is Australian Communities Foundation’s collective giving initiative, powered by people who believe that lasting change is something we create together. The Fund unites donors at every stage of their journey around bold, community-led solutions to Australia’s toughest challenges. By combining thoughtful grantmaking, shared learning, and coordinated action, the Impact Fund helps transform individual generosity into collective influence – unlocking impact none of us could achieve alone.