Beyond personal goals, the start of a new year offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on how we can make a meaningful difference in our communities and the world.

For philanthropists, big and small, crafting New Year’s resolutions for your giving can help ensure your impact is thoughtful, strategic, and aligned with your values. Here are five resolutions to consider as you shape your philanthropic journey in 2025.

Feature image (L–R): Members of our giving community at our 2024 End of Year Lunch at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

1. Align Giving with Your Values

The most fulfilling philanthropy often stems from causes that deeply resonate with your personal values. Take time to reflect on the issues that matter most to you. Start by revisiting your mission statement – or create one if you don’t have one yet. A clear vision will guide your efforts and help you make decisions that align with your goals.

2. Set SMART Goals for Your Giving

Effective philanthropy is built on clear and measurable objectives. Adopt the SMART framework to guide your efforts: make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of a broad aim like “support education initiatives,” you might resolve to “fund scholarships for 10 students from underrepresented communities by the end of 2025.” SMART goals provide focus and accountability, helping you track progress and celebrate milestones.

3. Explore Collaborative Giving

In 2025, consider joining forces with others to amplify your impact. Collaborative giving – such as pooling resources through giving circles or partnering with other donors—can increase the reach of your contributions and foster a sense of community. At Australian Communities Foundation, for example, fundholders often collaborate to tackle complex issues that require collective action through initiatives like the Impact Fund. By working together you can achieve more than you might alone while also learning from the experiences of others.

4. Prioritise Learning and Feedback

The philanthropic landscape is ever-evolving and staying informed is essential to making a difference. Commit to learning more about the causes you support and seek feedback from the communities you aim to help. Attend webinars, read reports, and engage directly with nonprofit leaders to deepen your understanding of the challenges and opportunities in your focus areas. This continuous learning will empower you to adapt your strategies and increase the effectiveness of your giving. Explore Events and News & Resources

5. Build a Legacy of Impact

Think long-term as you plan your philanthropy. How do you want your giving to shape the world in 10, 20, or even 50 years? Consider using a giving structure like your own donor-advised fund, to sustain your impact over time. Legacy planning not only ensures your contributions endure but also inspires future generations to carry forward your commitment to positive change.

A Fresh Start for a Meaningful Year

By aligning your efforts with your values, setting clear goals, collaborating with others, prioritising learning, and planning for the future, you can create lasting, meaningful impact in 2025 and beyond.

In today’s fast-evolving philanthropic landscape, funders face the challenge of moving beyond traditional funding practices to maximise impact.

Philanthropy is no longer confined to a small group of high-net-worth individuals or established foundations and trusts. Now, many people have their fingerprints on effective giving, including people with large or moderate amounts to give. With this in mind, here are four tips from Savvy Giving author Genevieve Timmons to encourage focus and enhance the value of every philanthropic dollar.

Tip 1: Understand the contemporary philanthropy ecosystem

The first tip is to recognise and understand the evolving philanthropy ecosystem. Many people are actively engaged with the work of philanthropic giving and mobilising resources for a better world, and everyone has a role to play in securing impact from philanthropic dollars.

It’s important to recognise the people who take on roles as wealth distributors, value adders and value creators. This includes board members, staff and advisors of giving funds, membership networks, community and corporate leaders, policymakers and researchers, managers of technology platforms and information systems, and many more.

Most importantly, value creators such as not-for-profits and community leaders are pivotal in bringing money to life. They take forward the strategic intent of funders, connecting with the many causes and communities philanthropy is there to serve. Remember without the value creators, all we have is money.

Tip 2: Seek out peer alignment and collaboration

With the increase in dollars and new giving infrastructure, there are more ways for funders to share knowledge and form partnerships for greater efficiency and impact. Funders are now moving beyond working in silos and choosing their giving focus based on personal experience and known networks.

Countless players are bringing new partnership options to the table, offering ways to pool funds and collectively share knowledge. Large scale funders are inviting collaborations to achieve impact at scale; community foundations are offering a safe and informed pair of hands for donor-advised funds and geographic focus; specialist networks, giving circles and social entrepreneurs are leading out with sharpened focus on specific issues and targeted giving. All these players welcome peer engagement and shared vision on how and where philanthropic dollars flow.

Aligning with relevant partners who share your values helps maximise the reach and effectiveness of your giving. Other mutual benefits include support for practical management of giving, increased creativity in approaches and ideas, risk analysis and mitigation, and shared knowledge and learning that can be tailored to ensure best outcomes. 

Take the chance to share knowledge and collaborate with others through initiatives like the ACF Impact Fund or Mannifera, and watch the value your granting can deliver.

Tip 3: Maintain an open mind and continual learning stance 

A learning mindset is essential for effective giving and does not always require significant time or resources. Learn by sharing evidence, monitoring emerging trends, and engaging with specialist networks and the peak body Philanthropy Australia. 

Leaning into new conversations and emerging ideas enriches your practice, and helps you apply contemporary thinking to your work. Information, data and stories are all readily accessible and willingly shared across the philanthropic ecosystem. Concepts such as Pay What It Takes, lived experience, self-determination, community-led, place-based, and systems change are all worth exploring to enhance your impact.

Learning involves both looking outward at the impact of the work you are funding, and inward at your practice and progress as a funder. Capturing insights from everyone involved and keeping an open mind will lead to continuous improvement – ‘we don’t know what we don’t know’. This commitment to learning is a perfect match with the pace of change in the philanthropic landscape – the best impact is assured with an open dashboard.

Tip 4: Find the right balance in funding partnerships

Funders are increasingly aware of how administrative demands and due diligence processes can drain resources unnecessarily. The final tip here is to take the lead in lightening the ‘funding burden’, which means ensuring the cost to potential partners seeking funds and reporting on grants is fair and appropriate.

Wherever possible, promote light-touch relationships as the ideal for everyone involved, which also lightens the load for funders. Practical ways to do this include offering untied funding, encouraging simple proposals, and designing grant agreements to meet compliance needs without being overly demanding.

When engaging with potential grant recipients and funding partners, proposals will ideally cover four critical components to shape a strong initiative:

• Values alignment: What is the vision for the world we are contributing to, and what are the values that underpin this work?
• Practical information: What are the relevant governance and compliance considerations, timeframes, budgets, operational requirements and fiduciary details?
• Creativity: How is the human face and social identity of the work brought to life?
• Commitment to learning: Where is evidence and past lessons built into the work, and how are learning loops built into the work going forward?

A final word on risk and compliance from Georgia Mathews, philanthropy consultant and former ACF Director of Philanthropy, as quoted in Savvy Giving: “The longer I am in the space the more evident it is that we need to unlearn some of our long-held beliefs around the question of risk…… Ask yourself if the organisation is eligible to receive funds from my entity? Have I taken steps to ensure I’ve paid the funds into the correct account, and confirm they have been received? If the answer is yes, from a compliance standpoint, you’re good. Philanthropic grants are gifts, and any other conditions we place upon them are a choice.”

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Philanthropy today is about more than just giving away money – it’s about being an active participant in creating positive change. By understanding the contemporary landscape, seeking collaborations, committing to learning, and finding the right balance in funding partnerships, you can make sure your philanthropic dollars have the greatest possible impact. These four savvy tips will help you give more thoughtfully so you can make a lasting impact on the causes that matter to you.

Learn more about Savvy Giving and order your copy here: savvy-giving.com

^{Feature image: Impact Fund 2024 Collaborations: A Place to Call Home, Building Power for Climate Justice, Common Threads, and Countering Disinformation (from top left to bottom right)}

How do we give for lasting change? It’s a common question from our community, and one we seek to address through the ACF Impact Fund.  

As our flagship fund for collective giving, the Impact Fund brings together hundreds of funders and changemakers each year to drive long-term, meaningful change for a fairer and more sustainable Australia. 

Since launching in 2017, our journey with the Impact Fund has taught us a lot about what it takes to fund change. Here are five key takeaways and an update on this year’s Impact Fund program. 

Tip 1: Think long-term for real impact 

Creating lasting, systemic change takes time, patience and persistence. Real impact doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a commitment to the cause and a willingness to support long-term strategies, even when progress seems slow or setbacks occur. 

A great example of this is the Impact Fund’s support of advocacy for improved energy efficiency standards in Australian homes. The Impact Fund first invested in national sustainability organisation Renew to lead this work in 2018. While we didn’t see immediate progress in this space, Renew’s advocacy ultimately secured policy changes four years later. All new homes in Australia now need to meet these improved energy standards, reducing both emissions and energy bills. 

Tip 2: What feels like a step back can still be progress 

Setbacks are inevitable, however they don’t necessarily mean progress has halted. Even when a movement doesn’t achieve a key goal right away, your support is still strengthening the movement itself. Think of it like building a team of doctors to treat an ongoing health crisis. You may not solve the crisis immediately, but you now have more hands and minds to tackle the problem moving forward. 

When ACF supports organisations in building movements, it recognises that the journey can be as valuable as the destination. Campaigns aimed at policy reform may not always yield immediate wins, but they often lead to greater awareness, stronger alliances, and a more mobilised community ready to continue pushing for change. Each effort builds the movement’s capacity to achieve future victories. 

Tip 3: Movements need to be led by those with lived experience 

One of the most crucial elements of effective change-making is ensuring that those directly affected by the issue are at the forefront of the movement. Funding leaders with lived experience means communities can take charge of their narratives with solutions that are relevant, authentic, and sustainable. 

This approach is central to the Impact Fund 2024 Collaborations: 

• A Place to Call Home: Co-creating a rental system that works for everyone 

• Building Power for Climate Justice: Uniting the movement 

• Common Threads: Harnessing the power of First Nations movements 

• Countering Disinformation: Equipping campaigners with tools to respond

Tip 4: Give together, work together 

There is power in numbers, especially when it comes to philanthropy. Collective giving allows individuals and organisations to pool their resources, making a greater impact than they might achieve alone. It also provides a sense of shared purpose and community among funders and a shared learning experience, where funders can exchange insights and strategies, amplifying the overall impact of their contributions. By combining resources, we can also fund initiatives that might be too ambitious for a single funder. 

The Impact Fund brings together hundreds of funders every year to support critical issues in Australia. Our annual Impact Fund event is coming up on 10 October – a great opportunity for you to be part of a growing collective giving community.  

Tip 5: Giving goes beyond money 

Funding is undoubtedly vital, but lasting change requires more than just financial support. True impact often involves giving time, expertise and advocacy, and leveraging networks and spheres of influence. Funders who go beyond giving money better contribute to the sustainability and effectiveness of the movements they support. 

At Australian Communities Foundation, we encourage funders to get involved in various ways. This holistic approach to giving not only maximises impact but also builds stronger, more connected movements. 

Want to put these tips into action?

Join our upcoming Impact Fund events.

Join us at the Impact Fund Showcase in Melbourne on Thursday 10 October. If you’re based in Sydney, come to the Sydney Watching Party to be part of the experience. 

For ACF fundholders living interstate, consider making a trip to either event – your travel costs can be deducted as a Fund Expense. Can’t make it in person? Presentations at the Showcase will be recorded and shared shortly after. 

Australian Communities Foundation’s recent Tackling Inequality Learning Circle, with Tracey Martinovich, Zoe Chan, Simon Quilty and Maiy Azize provided great insights for better giving to support safe, affordable and sustainable housing in Australia. 

From declining home ownership and social housing to rising homelessness and rental stress, our national housing crisis requires a combination of interventions. Learn more about the powerful role philanthropy can play with the summary below.

If you would like to learn more about initiatives addressing the housing crisis and best-practice giving, please contact our team on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au

Zoe Chan, Principal Lawyer, Anika Legal

Zoe serves as the Principal Lawyer at Anika Legal, a free not-for-profit legal service for renters, fighting for a fair housing system through casework, innovation and systemic advocacy. Zoe is responsible for developing and delivering Anika Legal’s service to address rental inequity.

Maiy Azize, National Spokesperson, Everybody’s Home

Maiy Azize is the National Spokesperson for Everybody’s Home, a national campaign calling on the government to fix Australia’s housing crisis to bring balance back to the system, so that everyone has a secure home. Maiy has also written several major studies, including Priced Out, a report that analyses Australia’s renting crisis and proposes solutions to make housing more affordable.

Simon Quilty, CEO, Wilya Janta

Simon Quilty serves as CEO of Wilya Janta, an Aboriginal not-for-profit cultural consultancy that promotes community agency in the design and construction of housing in Indigenous communities. Simon has a strong background in innovation, research and evaluation within the remote Warumungu context, and is dedicated to making homes that are safer for Indigenous culture and celebrate climate.

New research suggests Australians are among the most concerned globally about the rise of mis- and disinformation.

“From Covid lockdowns to the Voice referendum, we’ve seen in Australia how mis- and disinformation exacerbates crises, polarises public debate and incites hatred,” says Alice Drury, Acting Legal Director at the Human Rights Law Centre.

The latest research from the University of Canberra shows that three in four Australians are now concerned about online misinformation – a 10 per cent increase since 2016 and well above the global average of 54 per cent.

It’s an area rapidly attracting interest from donors too, says Laura Mannix, Philanthropy Lead at Australian Communities Foundation (ACF).

Donors are increasingly aware of how the spread of false information can undermine their giving

“We’re seeing this growing concern reflected within our giving community,” says Laura. “Donors are increasingly aware of how the spread of false information can undermine their giving and the work of the non-profits they support – no matter the cause area.”

So, what can we do about it? Join our Learning Circle next Wednesday 24 July and learn more about the role we can all play, both as donors and citizens, in combatting disinformation.

Mis- and disinformation: A rising challenge for every donor

Mis- and disinformation are terms increasingly used to describe the spread of false information. The difference is that while misinformation is spread regardless of intent to mislead, disinformation is the spread of deliberately misleading or biased information.

“While both can have catastrophic effects, it’s the intent behind disinformation that’s of particular concern,” explains Laura, “particularly as we approach the next federal election.

“We know that a healthy democracy needs an informed public, but the rise of mis- and disinformation puts this essential foundation at risk. It threatens the core vision of ACF’s Impact Fund for a more just and sustainable Australia. That’s why disinformation is one of the Fund’s specific focus areas for 2024.”

Philanthropy waking up to the threat

Despite growing concerns about disinformation, our civil society sector remains “woefully under-resourced in this space,” says Lizzie O’Shea, Chair at Digital Rights Watch. “We need philanthropists who will invest sustainably over the long term.”

“Donor support for Impact Fund partners working in this area has grown in recent years,” says Laura. “But there’s much more to be done.”

Funders can play a critical role in this pivotal moment to advance collective action

Mannifera is a collective of values-aligned Australian funders also leading the way in supporting civil society to combat disinformation.

The collective is one of few philanthropic groups with a focus on supporting democracy. Harriet McCallum, Executive Officer at Mannifera, says the collective has recently been focused on the “profound impact dis/misinformation is having on our democracy, social cohesion, and public discourse.”

“Funders can play a critical role in this pivotal moment to advance collective action against the mounting impacts of dis/misinformation,” says Harriet. “We know that advocacy working on system-level reform is where our funding can make the biggest contribution, and where there is also a significant funding gap.”

Organisations leading the way

Civil society organisations are working to address the spread of mis- and disinformation in a variety of ways.

The Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) and Digital Rights Watch (DRW) are two organisations leading this work in Australia. Both are advocating for policy reform to hold digital platforms accountable for the spread of disinformation.

“The Human Rights Law Centre is focusing on the key players in spreading disinformation: the digital platforms like Meta and Google, which profit from its amplification,” explains HRLC Acting Legal Director, Alice Drury.

Meanwhile, Digital Rights Watch is targeting platforms using a human rights approach.

“Digital Rights Watch has a long history of advocating for bold privacy reform,” says Lizzie O’Shea, DRW Chair. “We have plans for how to give people the opportunity to exercise their rights at scale against these platforms. We also think there are a range of other measures Australia could consider adopting from overseas.”

 The Australian Democracy Network is another group taking a different approach by building the capacity of non-profits to better respond to disinformation.

“Australian Democracy Network is working with researchers to understand the drivers and beneficiaries of disinformation,” says Bethany Koch, ADN Fundraising and Development Coordinator. “We aim to bring the sector together and offer training in understanding, identifying, assessing and responding to dis and misinformation.

“In this moment, funding is needed to help build our shared understanding of this threat and to give civil society organisations the skills to identify and respond to the anticipated swell of disinformation at the coming federal election.”

Learn more and get involved

Combatting Disinformation Learning Circle: Join the webinar next Wednesday 24 July to learn from Mannifera, the Human Rights Law Centre, Digital Rights Watch and the Australian Democracy Network.

Impact Fund 2024 Showcase: Funders are invited to register for our Impact Fund 2024 Showcase: Collaborations for Justice, coming up on Thursday 10 October. Hear from changemakers leading solutions across the Fund’s current priority issues, including disinformation.

Want to have a conversation about your giving in this area? Contact Laura Mannix, Philanthropy Lead: laura.m@communityfoundation.org.au

Australian Communities Foundation’s recent First Nations Learning Circle, with Millie Telford and Rona Glynn-McDonald, provided great insights for better giving to support First Nations communities. 

This National Reconciliation Week, take the time to reflect on your support for First Nations communities with the summary below.

If you would like to learn more about First Nations-led initiatives and best-practice giving, please contact our team on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au

Amelia (Millie) Telford, Acting Co-Executive Director and First Nations Justice Director, Australian Progress

Millie is a Bundjalung and South Sea Islander woman, aiming to build the capacity of First Nations-led movements and advocacy across the country. Before joining Australian Progress, Millie co-founded and led Seed, Australia’s first Indigenous Youth Climate Network. Since its launch in 2014, Seed has expanded rapidly, becoming a national grassroots network of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to protect country, culture and communities from climate change.

Rona Glynn-McDonald, Director, First Nations Futures + Founding CEO, Common Ground

Rona is a Kaytetye woman who grew up in Mparntwe on Arrernte Country. With ties to storytelling, economics and narrative change, Rona works with First Nations organisations to shape future systems that centre First Nations people, country, knowledge, cultures, truth-telling and solutions.

Are you curious about what it takes to make a bigger impact with your philanthropic giving?

This episode of Q&A with S&A from Australian Communities Foundation client Aintree Group provides a great introduction to structured giving, with insights from ACF’s very own Olivia Clark-Moffatt (Director of Engagement & Advisory).

Olivia shares insights from her experience in helping everyday Australians make a bigger impact with their charitable giving, and recounts her own journey in establishing her family’s Named Fund.

Discover how families, businesses, and individuals can do more with structured giving.

Philanthropy’s appetite for supporting advocacy has grown significantly in recent years.

Many funders who seek to achieve lasting impact on the issues that are important to them are turning to advocacy as a way of nurturing or creating the conditions for systemic change.

Rather than funding the ‘downstream’ consequences of an issue, advocacy is an ‘upstream’ activity that tries to address the issue at its root cause by promoting ideas that help define, reframe or raise awareness. It can help engineer new service delivery models or generate or improve policy at government level, ensuring community interests and voices are centered.

For example, instead of (or as well as) funding a charity that provides support services to people experiencing homelessness, a funder might choose to support organisations that are advocating for housing policy reform which, if enacted, might reduce the need for many of these support services.

In this sense, advocacy is less about traditional notions of charity that focus on easing the effects of a problem, and more about intentionally investing in systems change to eliminate the problem.

In practical terms, advocacy activities might include research, movement building, direct action, lobbying, litigation and more. Advocacy can be both proactive and reactive – advocating for new legislation or defending a law that is under threat and would halt or undo progress on an issue.

Here are five tips for funders who are thinking about supporting advocacy:

1. Be clear about what you want to achieve

Spend some time learning as much as you can about the issue you want to have a positive impact on. Start by talking to those working on the issue, and identifying what stage of the movement life cycle the issue is at.

Is it an emergent issue with low public awareness? Where does it intersect with other issues? Is the issue growing and reaching a point of coalescence? What is the level of political appetite for action on the issue? Is the movement in decline after a ‘peak’ period?

Think deeply about where you sit on the spectrum of involvement as a philanthropic funder. What is your risk appetite? How agile is your funding? The answers to these and the questions above might help you focus in on the types of interventions you’re willing to get behind.

When you’ve gained a clearer picture, it becomes much easier to find and connect with the best approaches for funding this issue.

2. Understand that advocacy is a long-term commitment

Successful advocacy takes time. If you’re choosing to fund advocacy, understand that you need to be in it for the long haul and that progress on an issue usually isn’t linear, it’s lumpy.

Funding the capacity of organisations that are on the front lines of advocacy initiatives can help build a movement’s ability to be strategic. Similarly, funding research that helps establish an evidence base can provide a solid foundation for the issue to progress further.

If you’re choosing to fund advocacy, understand that you need to be in it for the long haul and that progress on an issue usually isn’t linear

Equally important is a willingness to provide rapid response funding when it’s required. Many advocacy organisations can seize critical developments or moments in time to drive progress forward, but only if they’ve built their capacity to do so in advance of the opportunity or the threat arising.

For all these reasons, it’s often important that funders are prepared to support the lifecycle of the issue, rather than making a one-off 12-month grant.

3. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can’t measure advocacy

If you’re looking for a tidy evaluation report six months after you distributed your funding, then it’s true that advocacy may not be for you because of its long-term nature and the many factors that contribute to structural change.

Measuring advocacy usually requires funders to think about their contribution to broader change rather than a single output. The SIPSI Framework (Significant Instances of Policy and Systems Improvement) can be a helpful tool for this purpose.

Don’t be afraid to fail. Issues and the environment in which you’re tackling them change over time

In a similar way, as your understanding of the issue and your relationships with the groups you’re supporting deepens over time, you’ll see from the inside how your support is enabling change.

When we’re working for systemic change, we also need to be aware that no single funder and no single organisation can achieve it  on their own.

Successful advocacy is usually the result of many coordinated efforts.

4. Prioritise the voices of lived experience

The people who know best what’s needed to change an issue are the people who are most impacted by the issue.

People and communities with lived experience of the issue you’re supporting have valuable insights and perspectives that need to be invited, respected and centered.

Make the social change mantra “Nothing about us without us” your touchstone.

5. You don’t have to go it alone

This is perhaps the most important piece of advice. It takes courage to fund advocacy because the outcomes are uncertain, and pushing for change can generate backlash (as we’ve seen in the movement for transgender rights here in Australia and abroad), but you don’t have to go it alone.

As you dig into an issue, you’ll often find formal or informal networks of philanthropic funders you can join, fund alongside, and learn from. Take inspiration from those you’re supporting on the front line and be brave.

Finally, don’t be afraid to fail. Issues and the environment in which you’re tackling them change over time – sometimes very suddenly. Advocacy is a learning journey for everyone involved, but when you see a structural change happen, you’ll know it’s been worth the journey.

Georgia Mathews is Director of Philanthropic Services at Australian Communities Foundation (ACF). She is a respected leader in the Australian philanthropic sector with over a decade of experience at a range of philanthropic intermediaries and funding organisations. She leads the work of ACF’s Impact Fund, a movement of funders and changemakers creating a fairer Australia. She is also the Founder of LGBTIQ+ funding and advocacy organisation GiveOUT.

• Visit Philanthropy Australia’s Better Giving Hub to learn more about funding advocacy

With June 30 just around the corner, our Relationship Manager, Thomas Lopez, is here to answer our giving community’s frequently asked questions for the end of financial year.

Efficient, charming, and boasting an extensive knowledge of structured giving, Thomas is passionate about helping our community get the most out of their giving.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting him yet you’d be forgiven; compared to the lovely Raz – who has been with the ACF team for nearly 20 years, Thomas is a relatively new face.

To help everyone get to know him better, we’ve asked Thomas to introduce himself and answer some of your most-asked end-of-financial year questions – including where to find your donation receipts, how to access past statements, and where to find giving inspiration.

Of course, if you get stuck with any of the instructions below or we’ve missed a question, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call on 03 9412 0412 or email admin@communityfoundation.org.au.

HI THOMAS, WHAT SHOULD FUNDHOLDERS KNOW ABOUT YOU?

Hello! I’m ACF’s Relationships Manager, which means I work with fundholders to find the right solutions for their giving goals and ensure they get the most out of being part of our giving community.

Before joining the incredible team at Australian Communities Foundation a little more than two years ago, I worked at Australian Schools Plus as their State Manager for Victoria and Tasmania, and at the Myer Family Company as their Philanthropy Compliance and Operations Officer.

A fact about me… I’m passionate about running! I also enjoy spending time with my three kids.

HOW DO FUNDHOLDERS DONATE INTO THEIR FUND BEFORE JUNE 30?

There are a few ways fundholders can donate. I’ll break them down below.

Donate online: The quickest way to donate is to access your fund by heading to our Fund Portal, logging in using your email and password, and clicking the Donate tab.

From there, you need to select your fund, enter your desired amount, and click Add to cart. Then go to Checkout and your details should be pre-filled. You can pay with either a credit card or direct debit.

If you don’t want to use your pre-filled details, that’s okay, too. Simply head to our public Donations Portal, search for your fund, and complete your donation there.

Donate via cheque: You can make cheques out to Australian Communities Foundation (please remember to clearly identify your fund name). Cheques dated and sent prior to June 30 will be provided with a current financial year date stamp (this option is only available to fundholders).

Donate via bank transfer (for large transactions): If you would like to make a direct deposit, please get in touch with the team for account details – we’re happy to help.

HOW CAN OTHERS DONATE TO FUNDS?

Anyone can search for a fund on our Donations Portal (unless a fundholder has asked for their fund to be anonymous), and fundholders can send anyone a direct link to their fund’s donation page.

To do this, type your fund’s name in the search box and then click the fund. Copy and paste the link from your browser’s address bar and send it to whomever you want – this will take anyone directly to your fund’s donation page.

Visitors to our website can also browse a list of all funds on our website, where you can filter by area of interest. We add ‘Support this fund’ buttons for funds upon request. Want to add a button to yours? Get in touch here.

WHERE CAN FUNDHOLDERS FIND DONATION RECEIPTS?

Fundholders can view a list of their receipts in the Receipts tab on the Fund Portal.

To access this, simply view and download a receipt and click the blue number in the ID column. This will open the receipt in a browser where you can either print or save it to PDF.

If you have any issues accessing your receipts, get in touch with me here.

HOW DO FUNDHOLDERS ACCESS 22/23 STATEMENTS?

Fundholders can view a list of their monthly statements in the Statements tab on the Fund Portal.

To view and download a statement, click the blue View button on the right-hand side.

Annual fund statements for 2022/23 will be available for download as soon as our investment managers have finalised distributions, likely by early October – we’ll send all fundholders an email notification as soon as they’re ready!

HOW CAN FUNDHOLDERS CHECK THEIR FUND’S BALANCE?

Via the Fund Portal. When logging in, you should see your Current Balance on the first page.

Tip: Available Cash not what you were expecting? Available Cash takes into account any pending grants (i.e. not yet approved) and any committed payments for multi-year grants, as well as your fund’s required minimum balance ($20,000).

If you have any questions about your balance, get in touch here.

HOW CAN FUNDHOLDERS REQUEST GRANTS FOR THEIR EOFY GIVING? WHAT’S THE DEADLINE?

Fundholders can request a grant via the Grant Requests tab on the Fund Portal.

Alternatively, our Grants Manager, Charlene Yum, or Philanthropy Lead, Gabby Lam, can be reached on: grants@communityfoundation.org.au.

So that the team has the best chance of paying grants by the end of financial year, we ask that requests are in by 5pm Wednesday 14 June.

SAY A FUNDHOLDER WANTS TO GIVE THIS EOFY BUT NEEDS IDEAS AND INSPIRATION – ANY TIPS?

Our Granting Opportunities platform is the best first port of call. It contains hundreds of proposals from not-for-profits across Australia seeking funding. The platform can be filtered by location, focus areas, and target population, and know that we’ve done our due diligence on each organisation.

If you’re looking for more specific advice on where to direct your EOFY giving, contact Gabby or Charlene on 03 9412 0412 or email grants@communityfoundation.org.au

IF A FUNDHOLDER WANTS TO ESTABLISH ANOTHER FUND BEFORE JUNE 30 – WHAT’S THE EASIEST WAY?

For anyone looking to open a fund, whether it’s their first or not, I always think it’s best to give us a call and chat through your giving goals to make sure you get the right fund for your needs. Call us on 03 9412 0412 or email admin@communityfoundation.org.au. Remember, new funds can be established within 24-48 hours!

If you’re already 100% sure about the details of your new fund, head to our Fund Establishment Form and follow the prompts.

Tip: Your fund’s name can be changed at any time, so no need to decide on one before June 30 – just enter a dummy name when filling out the form and we can change it for you when you’re ready.

HOW CAN FUNDHOLDERS BEST INTRODUCE POTENTIAL GIVERS TO ACF?

We have a page on our website dedicated to introducing people to funds and foundations at ACF. Anyone with the link can jump on and see how easy it is to get started: communityfoundation.org.au/get-started-with-giving. There are stories from the community, tips for getting started, and a brochure with all the different ways ACF can support giving journeys.

After someone fills out the form on that page, one of us from the ACF team will be in touch to give advice on the best giving options tailored to that person.

IF IN DOUBT – CALL US!

The team can be reached on 03 9412 0412 during business hours. We’re on standby to answer all of your EOFY queries!

Chris Wilson, Partner at Koda Capital’s Philanthropy & Social Capital division, has worked at the nexus of financial services and philanthropy for more than 14 years.

Alongside his career in wealth management, Chris has also been heavily involved in philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector as a director of the Betty Amsden Foundation, co-founder of Plus One, a founding committee member of Impact100 Melbourne and former chair of the Reach Foundation.

“We are so lucky to live in this country in this time and it’s ingrained in me that we have an obligation to give back and share that luck,” Chris explains of his intrinsic motivation. “It’s something I want to instil in my three kids.

“Plus, it’s fun, rewarding, challenging and enlightening. I firmly believe it helps bring balance, perspective and fulfilment to one’s life. Fortunately, I’ve been able to build a career around philanthropy and I’ll be forever grateful for that.”

Chris recently shared his thoughts about the changing expectations of philanthropy and the value a conversation about giving can bring to deepen relationships with private wealth clients.

Philanthropy has been a key offering at Koda Capital since its inception. Can you talk about the central role giving plays at the company?

CW: Philanthropy has been a core component of Koda’s service proposition since the very beginning. As a business, the Founders understood how critical philanthropy is to private wealth clients and that it had to play a fundamental role at Koda.

For many of our clients, the philanthropy conversation is where they derive the most satisfaction and joy when it comes to their wealth planning. It’s also where we get to truly know our clients, their passions and values – it’s often where we discover what is most important to them. If we can support their philanthropic goals and add value to this important part of their lives, it only works to enhance our relationship with them and their families.

Has the way clients engage with philanthropy changed over time? What are they looking for and what do they value most?

Absolutely. They want to be more engaged in the causes they are focussed on, understanding the issues and thinking strategically about where their dollars can have the most impact. Many are looking at bigger picture systems change and thinking about their philanthropy as the risk capital that can create real change. For some, this is also about rolling up their sleeves and actively offering their time, talent and networks as well as their dollars.

More people are willing to get out into the world to talk about their philanthropy, share their experiences and learn from others. Ten years ago, philanthropy felt a lot more private but today, there’s far more collaboration and openness as we’ve seen in the rise of giving circles and major philanthropists talking publicly about their giving and encouraging others to give generously.

We have also seen philanthropists think about other parts of their lives and the impact they are having on the world. This might be their investments, businesses, careers or consumption. They are better aligning these elements of their lives with their values and philanthropy. This is evidenced by the rise of responsible and impact investment. People are realising that they can do good in the world, whilst simultaneously creating wealth and opportunity for themselves and their families.

I think there is also a greater appreciation of the positive impact philanthropy can have on the next generation. It’s the ideal place to begin the intergenerational wealth transfer process. It’s a place to explore important values with the next generation and teach them the value of a dollar in the community. That responsibility comes with wealth. It’s also a safe, fun and rewarding place to introduce the next generation into the wealth management conversation, helping to skill them up for the future. 

One thing that I think is still a challenge is the underappreciation of how little you actually need to be a structured giver. You can set up a sub-fund at a community foundation and do the exact same structured giving that multimillionaires or even billionaires do with PAFs.

From a professional adviser point of view, there’s still a lot of work to do to make sure all the financial planners out there are equipped with the knowledge that philanthropic vehicles are available to suit most clients.

What is the most useful lesson you’ve learned in terms of broaching the topic of philanthropy with clients?

Listen first and talk second. Once you get clients talking about their values, family, passions and work in the community, you quickly discover the important role philanthropy can play in their wealth management planning and how best to position it.

When I think about my role, I’m not worried about how much someone gives in the first instance – I just want them to take that first step and make sure their experience is a positive one. They’ll get the reward and the fantastic feeling that comes from giving and they’ll want to do more of it. The growth and larger commitment will come in time. Really, it’s about getting people to take that first step.

How does Australian Communities Foundation help your clients?

What ACF offers is accessible philanthropy with the administrative burden taken care of so that our clients can focus on what’s important, which is giving the money away effectively. It also offers clients a community of likeminded people they can learn and give alongside.

I’m convinced that community foundations like ACF are going to be the engine room of growth when it comes to structured giving in Australia and more and more advice firms like Koda are going to understand and appreciate the critical role community foundations can play in a client’s wealth planning.

From an adviser perspective, the beauty of working with ACF is that you’re working with a partner that is an expert in philanthropy.

ACF will help you take your client on the philanthropic journey and you will get the benefit of sitting alongside your client as they talk about what’s important to them, their values, how they want to give back to the community, and how they want their kids to be involved in the process. That opens up the discussion about wealth transfer and gives you the opportunity to connect with the next generation.

In my experience, philanthropy is a value-add for your clients which, in the long run, makes them happier and more engaged clients.