Starting a Fund or Foundation

Getting started with structured giving

At Australian Communities Foundation, we help people and organisations make a difference through structured giving, also known as philanthropy.

There are two key ways to structure your giving with us. You can either set up a Named Fund (also known as a donor-advised fund) or establish your own Private Foundation (private ancillary fund).

What is structured giving?

How it works: Give, grow, grant

Structured giving refers to a strategic approach to charitable giving that allows individuals, families and organisations to provide support in a planned, impactful and tax-effective way.


1. Give

Structure your giving through contributions to your own Fund or Foundation

2. Grow

Your contributions can be invested for the long term and grow over time

3. Grant

Your funds become a source of support for your causes and communities

Key benefits of structured giving

A donation can make a difference, but when you structure your giving, real change becomes possible.

Simple and strategic

Simplify your giving by starting a Fund or Foundation with just one donation that can then support your favourite causes. Contribute over time and develop a long-term plan aligned with your values and goals.

Flexible and tax-effective

When you give through a tax-deductible Fund or Foundation, you receive the tax deduction now and the flexibility to distribute to your causes when you’re ready. You can plan when to distribute based on your goals and the needs of communities and not-for-profit organisations.

Growth and sustainability

Your contributions can be invested for the long term and grow over time. This tax-free growth means the pool of funds available for charitable purposes can increase, enabling your Fund or Foundation to become an ongoing source of support for communities.

Legacy

Through a long-term approach to your Fund or Foundation’s investment, you can support the causes you care about beyond your lifetime. Establishing a Fund or Foundation can also be a great way to establish a meaningful legacy that can be passed down, or to honour a loved one.

Engaging others

Opening a Fund or Foundation can also be a great way to engage your family or team in giving.

When you structure your giving with us, you can enjoy:

+ Philanthropic expertise

With over 27 years of experience, we’re experts in all the work that comes with giving: administration, compliance, grantmaking and more. We’re here to help you achieve your giving goals through expert support. We also offer additional tailored support through ACF Advisory.

+ 100% 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. For those with private foundations, we can connect you to responsible investment advisors.

+ Australia’s largest community of everyday philanthropists

When you give with us, you join Australia’s largest community of everyday philanthropists. Our giving community enjoys access to a range of perks that inspire smarter giving, including events, co-funding opportunities, and regular updates and giving inspiration.

Fund vs Foundation

Understanding the difference:
Named Funds and Private Foundations

In Australia, there are two main options for people who want to give in a structured way:

  • Named Funds – also known as donor-advised funds (DAFs), sub-funds or funds
  • Private Foundations – also known as private ancillary funds (PAFs) or foundations.

Both options enable you to make tax-deductible donations while building a lasting revenue stream for causes you care about, but there are some important differences between the two.


Funds vs Foundations at Australian Communities Foundation: Choose the right option for you

Named FundsPrivate Foundations
Tax-deductible donations
Public donations
Time to set up24 – 48 hours6 – 12 weeks
Minimum initial donation$10,000Ideally more than $1 million
GrantingCharities with DGR1 status
Note: Extension Funds can give to any charitable purposes.
Charities with DGR1 status
TrusteeAustralian Communities Foundation LimitedYou and the Directors you appoint
Minimum distribution requirementsNone ***5% of the opening value each financial year
Investment management100% responsible investing managed by our advisorsYou nominate an investment advisor or manage yourself
Income tax exempt
Refunded franking credits
Anonymity
Access to our online Fund Portal for making and receiving donations, requesting grants and reviewing activity
Benefits for our community
• Giving ideas and inspiration
• Events and Learning Circles
• Co-funding opportunities
Available through Private Foundation Packages
Establishment feesNo establishment fee$5,000 + disbursements
Administration feesView feesView fees
Suitable forFamilies and individuals, businesses, collective giving groups, scholarship providers, and not-for-profits building an endowmentFamilies and individuals, businesses, scholarship providers
Named FundsPrivate Foundations
Tax-deductible donations
Public donations
Time to set up24 – 48 hours6 – 12 weeks
Minimum initial donation$10,000Ideally more than $1 million
GrantingCharities with DGR1 status
Note: Extension Funds can give to any charitable purposes.
Charities with DGR1 status
TrusteeAustralian Communities Foundation LimitedYou and the Directors you appoint
Minimum distribution requirementsNone ***5% of the opening value each financial year
Investment management100% responsible investing managed by our advisorsYou nominate an investment advisor or manage yourself
Income tax exempt
Refunded franking credits
Anonymity
Access to our online Fund Portal for making and receiving donations, requesting grants and reviewing activity
Benefits for our community
• Giving ideas and inspiration
• Events and Learning Circles
• Co-funding opportunities
Available through Private Foundation Packages
Establishment feesNo establishment fee$5,000 + disbursements
Administration feesView feesView fees
Suitable forFamilies and individuals, businesses, collective giving groups, scholarship providers, and not-for-profits building an endowmentFamilies and individuals, businesses, scholarship providers

Get started

Contact us for a conversation

Give us a call on 03 9412 0412 or register below to book in your free consult and start a conversation about your giving journey.


Supporting all types of giving

Family & Individual Giving

Get started with specialised support for your giving journey and discover how you can make a lasting impact through philanthropy.

Click here to visit

Workplace Giving

Establish or extend your workplace giving program with a Corporate Fund and tailored support for organisations.

Click here to visit

Not-for-Profits

Learn how we support not-for-profits, including details on funding, grant processes and NFP Future Funds.

Click here to visit

Collective Giving

Harness the power of giving together. Pool your donations and maximise your impact with a Collective Giving Fund.

Click here to visit

Scholarships

Access specialised support for providing educational payments, prizes and bursaries to students across Australia.

Click here to visit

Getting started

Learn more about getting started with helpful resources and stories from our giving community.

Click here to visit

Introduction to Smarter Giving

Download our ‘Smarter Giving. Greater Impact.’ brochure for an introduction to structured giving and the benefits of joining our community.

Fund or Foundation?

Not sure which option is right for you? Contact us for a conversation.

Contact Us
Level 6, 126 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne VIC 3002

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Australian Communities Foundation is a proudly inclusive organisation and an ally of LGBTQIA+ communities and the movement toward equality.