
Building a Culturally Vibrant Society

Building a Culturally Vibrant Society is one of our Focus Areas
While our community supports a broad spectrum of causes, we track our impact as a Foundation across five Focus Areas.
Featured grantee: Jam Factory
We support organisations and projects that facilitate creative expression. We see the arts as integral to healthy public debate, a robust civil society, social cohesion and the celebration of our differences.
Building A Culturally Vibrant Society aligns with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
Arts News & Resources
Explore Grants
In 2023/24, our giving community distributed $2.1 million to organisations and projects building a culturally vibrant society.
Looking for granting ideas?
Explore our Funding Platform for organisations and projects building a culturally vibrant society. Filter by Focus Area.
Contact us
Got a question about our Focus Areas? Contact our Philanthropy Team.

Strengthening Democracy

Strengthening Democracy is one of our Focus Areas
While our community supports a broad spectrum of causes, we track our impact as a Foundation across five Focus Areas.
Featured grantee: Diplomacy Training Program
We support organisations and projects working to strengthen the foundations of Australia’s democracy. We encourage trust and accountability, civic participation, a diversity of voices in public debate, and an improved, more inclusive and representative democratic system.
Strengthening Democracy strongly aligns with the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:
Democracy News & Resources
Explore Grants
In 2023/24, our giving community distributed $2.1 million to organisations and projects strengthening democracy.
Meet our Impact Fund Partners
The Impact Fund is our flagship fund for best-practice collective giving. It is the vehicle through which we mobilise support for Australia’s leading changemakers working across our Focus Areas.
Filter by Strengthening Democracy
Looking for granting ideas?
Explore our Funding Platform for organisations and projects strengthening democracy. Filter by Focus Area.
Contact us
Got a question about our Focus Areas? Contact our Philanthropy Team.

Supporting First Nations
Communities
Supporting First Nations Communities is one of our Focus Areas
While our community supports a broad spectrum of causes, we track our impact as a Foundation across five Focus Areas.
Featured grantee: Karrkad Kanjdji Trust
We support organisations and projects pursuing First Nations justice, with a focus on those that are led by First Nations peoples, who are best placed to improve outcomes for their communities. We stand behind Indigenous peoples in their fight for truth, treaty and self-determination.
Supporting First Nations Communities aligns with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including:
First Nations News & Resources
Explore Grants
In 2023/24, our giving community distributed $10.2 million to organisations and projects supporting First Nations communities.
Meet our Impact Fund Partners
The Impact Fund is our flagship fund for best-practice collective giving. It is the vehicle through which we mobilise support for Australia’s leading changemakers working across our Focus Areas.
Filter by Supporting First Nations Communities
Looking for granting ideas?
Explore our Funding Platform for organisations and projects supporting First Nations communities. Filter by Focus Area.
Contact us
Got a question about our Focus Areas? Contact our Philanthropy Team.

Safeguarding the Environment
Safeguarding the Environment is one of our Focus Areas
While our community supports a broad spectrum of causes, we track our impact as a Foundation across five Focus Areas.
Featured grantee: Bush Heritage Australia
We support organisations and projects protecting Australia’s natural ecosystems and working towards a safe and stable climate. We identify and amplify sustainable solutions to our changing climate and seek justice for those adversely affected by the impacts of climate change.
Safeguarding the Environment aligns with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including:
Environment News & Resources
Explore Grants
In 2023/24, our giving community distributed $3.3 million to organisations and projects safeguarding the environment.
Meet our Impact Fund Partners
The Impact Fund is our flagship fund for best-practice collective giving. It is the vehicle through which we mobilise support for Australia’s leading changemakers working across our Focus Areas.
Filter by Safeguarding the Environment
Looking for granting ideas?
Explore our Funding Platform for organisations and projects safeguarding the environment. Filter by Focus Area.
Contact us
Got a question about our Focus Areas? Contact our Philanthropy Team.

Tackling Inequality
Tackling Inequality is one of our Focus Areas
While our community supports a broad spectrum of causes, we track our impact as a Foundation across five Focus Areas.
Featured grantee: M’Lop Tapang
We support organisations and projects working to combat the unequal distribution of opportunities across the social, economic, political, and cultural spheres. We seek to reduce inequalities along the lines of race & culture, gender & sexuality, faith, age, ability and location.
Tackling Inequality aligns with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including:
Inequality News & Resources
Explore Grants
In 2023/24, our giving community distributed $22 million to organisations and projects tackling inequality.
Meet our Impact Fund Partners
The Impact Fund is our flagship fund for best-practice collective giving. It is the vehicle through which we mobilise support for Australia’s leading changemakers working across our Focus Areas.
Filter by Tackling Inequality
Looking for granting ideas?
Explore our Funding Platform for organisations and projects tackling inequality. Filter by Focus Area.
Contact us
Got a question about our Focus Areas? Contact our Philanthropy Team.
Investment Updates
Latest Update September 2024
Koda Capital: Our new investment advisors
As Australia’s largest independent wealth management firm, Koda Capital manages over $12 billion of client assets, including $3 billion for non-profit and philanthropic clients. Learn more

Portfolio Performance
(SINCE INCEPTION) AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
Portfolio | 3mths | 1yr | 3yrs (p.a) | 5 yrs (p.a) | Since inception |
Main (LT) | 3.60% | 15.40% | 3.66% | 5.11% | 7.27% |
Extension | 3.56% | 15.42% | 3.83% | 5.30% | 7.19% |
Scholarship | 3.89% | 16.31% | 3.16% | 4.97% | 7.24% |
Main (ST) | 2.33% | 9.14% | 2.72% | 2.91% | 4.03% |
Performance Against Benchmark
(SINCE INCEPTION) AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
Strategic Benchmark (in accordance with ACF Investment Policy): Long-Term: CPI + 3.9% | Short-Term: AusBond Bank Bill Index + 1%
Portfolio Composition
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
LONG-TERM STRATEGY

SHORT-TERM STRATEGY

Market Commentary
FROM OUR INVESTMENT ADVISOR KODA CAPITAL
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
The third quarter of 2024 brought mixed news for global markets, but overall, there were signs of optimism.
Global Trends
After a shaky August marked by economic uncertainty, international share markets rebounded strongly over the quarter, with investors anticipating interest rate cuts in the US and a scenario where the country avoids a recession. Technology stocks lagged the broader market.
Australian Market Highlights
Closer to home, the Australian stock market (ASX200) had an impressive run, gaining 6.5% – its strongest September quarter since 2013. This growth was primarily driven by a long-anticipated stimulus package from China aimed at revitalising its slowing economic growth.
Inflation and the US Election
While inflation concerns had moderated throughout the quarter, the November US Presidential Election brought a new inflationary concern – more tax cuts and steep tariffs that could reignite economic growth as well as widen the government deficit. Bond markets reacted by increasing the yield on longer term bonds, indicating that interest rates may be higher in the future (despite cuts expected in the short term). As markets digest the impact in the US, we see diverging economic prospects in other regions as well as heightened geopolitical risk.
Portfolio Commentary
FROM OUR INVESTMENT ADVISOR KODA CAPITAL
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024
The Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) portfolio has performed well over the year, achieving a strong 15.4% return for the 12 months to 30 September 2024. The portfolio remains well-positioned to deliver robust outcomes over the longer term..
Quarterly Highlights
- ACF’s Australian equities portfolio delivered strong results, balancing underperformance in international equities.
- While the portfolio’s overweight cash position impacted short-term returns, it provides flexibility for future rebalancing and reflects a prudent approach amid global economic uncertainty.
- The Alternatives allocation continues to play a valuable role in diversification, though higher interest rates have led to some revaluations over the past year.
The portfolio’s strong annual performance can be attributed to strong equity market returns and higher interest rates in more defensive asset classes. Koda Capital is pleased to have commenced its advisory role for the ACF portfolio effective 1 October, and looks forward to implementing considered changes to the portfolio over the coming quarters.
Got a question?
Want to know more about investment performance? Contact our team for a conversation.
Victorian Climate-Smart Agriculture Fellows participating in a workshop. The Fellowship is led by Impact Partner, Farmers for Climate Action.
Become an Impact Funder
There is great joy in coming together to back a positive vision for our future. Interested in becoming an Impact Funder or continuing your support? We invite you to join us because smart changemakers need wise backers who understand that change takes time.
There are three key ways you can become an Impact Funder or extend your existing support.
1.
Support the work behind the Impact Fund
Support the Impact Fund’s core costs so we can continue to build this important work. This model adds so much value, but it is resource-intensive, and necessarily so.
Your support will mean we can mobilise even more ambitiously for our partners and continue to grow this game-changing and high-impact approach to giving.
Contribute directly via the form below
2.
Give an untied donation or bequest to the grants pool
When you give an untied donation to the Impact Fund, you enable our community to respond to windows of opportunity for positive change.
If you are interested in leaving a legacy to the people who come after us, consider leaving a bequest to the Impact Fund.
Contribute directly via the form below
3.
Give to an Impact Partner
We are so excited about the breadth of talent in the Impact Fund, game-changers one and all, who are continuing their important work towards a fairer and more sustainable Australia.
Explore our cohort of Impact Partners here and contact us to make a contribution.
Donate now
Your support means we can continue to grow this high-impact approach to giving, and will ensure the Impact Fund is ready to respond to windows of opportunity for positive change.
If you are an ACF fundholder, please contact us to donate from your fund. Alternatively, you are welcome to make a direct donation using this form.
“The Impact Fund curation has been fantastic. You share in the enthusiasm about impact with other donors – you all feel good about it. I’m so used to deliberating long and hard about how and why we donate. The idea it can be organised collaboratively and effectively with an eye to real impact is very compelling.”
Jackie Yowell (Fairer Futures Fund), Impact Funder
Contact us
Got a question or want to discuss how you can get involved? Contact the team.
Making change together
The Impact Fund is a way for you to get involved in best-practice collective giving. Backed by a growing community of funders and changemakers, the Impact Fund supports the boldest solutions to the biggest issues facing Australia.
The Impact Fund is the heartland of the 600+ Funds and Foundations that make up the giving community at Australian Communities Foundation.
Meet our Impact Partners
Meet some of our incredible Impact Partners and hear their reflections on what we’ve been able to achieve together across the Impact Fund’s first five years.

Get involved
Interested in becoming an Impact Funder or continuing your support? We invite you to join us because smart changemakers need wise backers who understand that change takes time.
Impact Areas
Tackling Inequality
Impact Funders support people working to increase opportunity across social, economic, political, and cultural arenas.

Strengthening Democracy
Impact Funders support work that strengthens Australia’s democracy.

Supporting First Nations Self-Determination
Impact Funders support projects and organisations that are led by First Nations peoples – the best people to improve outcomes for their communities.

Safeguarding the Environment
Impact Funders protect Australia’s natural ecosystems by supporting people working towards a safe and stable climate.
Impact Partners
The power of giving together
$9+
million raised
150+
funders giving together
45+
civil society partners supported
15+
positive policy reforms
10+
social infrastructure groups and initiatives established
4x
funding leveraged
Figures last updated December 2023
Frequently asked questions
1. Supporting the work
Your donation to the Impact Fund is pooled with others. All donations are responsibly invested and income from investments helps grow the Fund. This is just one way you can show your support. You can also contribute directly to the work of Impact Partners (co-funding) or support the work behind the Fund.
2. Identifying opportunities for change
Australian Communities Foundation works with the Impact Fund community and civil society experts to identify priority issues and windows of opportunity for change across four Impact Areas: inequality, democracy, Indigenous self-determination, and the environment.
3. Making change together
Once we identify an organisation or project working on a priority issue, Australian Communities Foundation commits funding from the Impact Fund, which is pooled with contributions from Impact Funders towards the Impact Partner’s work.
Large Grants: Impact Funders join forces annually to give meaningful support to community organisations. These grants are often over several years, which gives our Partners much-needed stability, and usually range from $50,000 to $250,000.
Agile Grants: Impact Funders often step in to give rapid agile funding to urgent needs. We work hard to get agile funds out the door quickly so we can make full use of unexpected opportunities to advance a fairer and more sustainable Australia.
The Impact Fund community’s strongest focus to date has been on building public awareness of issues and advocating for policy change. This is closely followed by the community’s focus on building and strengthening social infrastructure. In addition, a quarter of work supported has focused on collaboration between different civil society groups.
Invited applicants are shortlisted based on the Impact Fund’s five key selection criteria:
- Alignment with impact area
- Timeliness/urgency of opportunity
- Potential for systemic impact
- Evidence base
- Potential to influence change
Support the Impact Fund
Interested in becoming an Impact Funder or continuing your support? We invite you to join us because smart changemakers need wise backers who understand that change takes time.
THANK YOU
Thank you to Joan and David McLennan, Joan Nelson, Ruth Dixon, Dianne Lesley Young and Lydia M MacMichael, whose bequests enabled Australian Communities Foundation to establish the Impact Fund.
Focus Areas
Tracking our impact
At Australian Communities Foundation, you can give to the causes and organisations of your choosing. As a Foundation, we track our impact across five Focus Areas.
Back to Our Impact: Overview
Australian Communities Foundation is a non-profit organisation that supports and enables smart, rewarding and effective giving.

Responsible Investing
Increasing the impact of your giving
100% responsible investing
At Australian Communities Foundation, we put our values at the centre of everything we do, including how we invest pooled philanthropic assets. That’s why 100 per cent of our investment portfolio is responsibly invested.
Our approach to responsible investing
When you open a Fund with us, your donations are responsibly invested, meaning your money can both grow and do good while you take the time to find the right opportunities for granting.
Our responsible investing approach has many benefits, including: (1) contributing to a stronger, fairer and more sustainable world; (2) providing both financial and social/environmental return on investment; and (3) achieving greater strategic alignment across investments and grants.
With the support of our investment advisors Koda Capital, we actively seek out investments with a strong financial return and a positive social or environmental impact. As the first Australian philanthropic foundation to become a signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, we’re proud to augment the impact of your giving by ensuring your philanthropic assets are 100 per cent responsibly invested.
We recognise that the stewardship of our community’s philanthropic assets is a significant responsibility. Our philanthropic assets are overseen by an Investment Committee to ensure that the portfolio meets financial and ESG objectives in accordance with our Investment Policy and Responsible Investment and Impact Policy.
Portfolio Options
We offer three investment options to meet your giving goals. All three options consider environmental, social and governance factors across each of the underlying investments.
NOTE: ACCESS TO OPTIONS 2 AND 3 ONLY AVAILABLE WITHIN MAIN FUND
Option 1 Long Term
for funds that will be granted out over a longer horizon
40% fixed interest and cash / 60% Australian and global equities
Investment objective: to provide a risk-adjusted return over time that allows for funds to meet granting requirements and modest capital growth of the fund.
Option 2 Short Term
for funds that will be granted out over a shorter horizon
85% fixed interest and cash / 15% Australian and global equities
Investment objective: to prioritise capital preservation and an income return to allow for granting of the capital and income over a shorter time horizon.
Option 3 Cash
for collective giving + flow-through funds
100% cash
Investment objective: to ensure the preservation of the capital given immediate requirement for grantmaking of collective giving funds.
Impact Investments
As part of our responsible approach, we actively contribute to positive outcomes through impact investments aligned with our Impact Areas.
Inequality
First Nations
Environment

Side by Side Social Impact Bond
A partnership between Berry Street Victoria and the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Side by Side SIB funds educational programs to improve the engagement and learning outcomes of young students.
Read more

Conscious Social Housing Fund 1
A partnership between Conscious Investment Management, HousingFirst and the Victorian Government, the Conscious Social Housing Fund provides social and affordable housing to Victorians in need.
Read more

Conscious Social Housing Fund 2
Building on the success of the first Conscious Social Housing (CSH) Fund, CSH Fund 2 invests in social, affordable and specialised housing in partnership with the community housing sector and government agencies.
Read more

Infradebt Ethical Fund
Aligning with our focus on safeguarding the environment, Infradebt funds new solar and wind energy infrastructure.
Read more

Palisade Impact Fund
The Palisade Impact Fund invests in next generation infrastructure for zero emissions, zero waste and zero inequality.
Read more

For Purpose Investment Partners
For Purpose Investment Partners supports specialist disability accommodation, social housing, mental health, aged care and Vocational Education and Training.
Read more
Read more about investments
Quarterly Investment Updates
We share updates on investment performance in newsletters to our giving community every few months. If you are a fundholder and are unable to locate the latest update, please contact us for a copy.
Contact us
Got a question about responsible investing? Contact our team.