A common pitfall in philanthropic giving is the belief that donors should be the ultimate experts on where their funds will have the greatest impact or who the best recipients are.

“The fact is,” says Genevieve Timmons, author of Savvy Giving: A Roadmap for Contemporary Philanthropy in Australia, “we can accumulate some expertise and engage people to take our giving forward, but whatever we fund, we need the people who have first-hand experience of the ideas and challenges we are focused on to make sure our money is spent well. 

“When it comes to community philanthropy, the people with lived experience know how best to turn our dollars into social value.

“For example, communities recovering from natural disasters can tell us how the floods or bushfires are affecting their region, and where the next opportunity is [for money] to help recover and rebuild their communities.

“First Nations people can lead out with the latest approaches that build allyship and advance the progress of their communities and all Australians … People with disabilities have the expertise we need to keep up with national policies and programs, making sure we have up-to-date information and relevant ideas to optimise where our funding lands,” Genevieve explains. 

Community foundations in Australia are uniquely positioned as socio-economic platforms for local and national giving, bringing forward a range of services and skills, including lived experience. They are ideal structures for the growth of community philanthropy, which has recently been strengthened by newly minted legislation, says Genevieve.

“We can now tap into the expertise of these contemporary giving organisations that are there to back up effective giving – they are the destination experts. 

“Organisations like Australian Communities Foundation make it their business to be connected with communities and leaders, and watch the trends and opportunities to keep everyone informed about the most relevant giving.”

From First Nations justice, education and international development, here are three case studies from Genevieve Timmons’ book Savvy Giving, highlighting how success is inextricably linked with lived experience and community knowledge, essential components for impactful giving.

Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership

The Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership is a powerful partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, dedicated to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in Victoria. 

It was founded by a group of donors who recognised that true, lasting change comes when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are given the opportunity to lead progress within their own communities. 

This approach acknowledges that the most meaningful and sustainable solutions come from those with lived experience or deep knowledge of the issues at hand. 

“We realised that change was needed to remove barriers and accelerate progress by investing in real social change work that Indigenous leaders were already driving,” says Maree Davidson AM, Director and Founding Chair.

The Fellowship was inspired by the impactful work of Paul Briggs AO, a Yorta Yorta man, whose leadership demonstrated the importance of supporting Indigenous leadership in a way that respects their expertise. In 2025, Paul is powering on with a groundbreaking initiative: the Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity and Productivity Plan.

By amplifying Aboriginal voices and prioritising the decisions of Indigenous leaders, the Fellowship has delivered meaningful outcomes in health, education, cultural preservation, and social justice.  

Small Change Foundation

Improving public education has always been Ellen Koshland’s passion. 

She is wholly committed to equity for all children, and believes high-quality public education is vital to a democratic society. 

This is why, in 1989, she co-founded the Small Change Foundation to provide financial backing for teachers to implement projects they knew would make a difference for their students. 

At a time when public schools were largely seen as the responsibility of the government, Ellen sought to inspire other donors and foundations to invest in public education. 

As co-founder Margaret McCaffrey recalls, “We began with the philosophy of supporting classroom teachers because they were the ones equipped to know what works best for their students.” 

Small Change eventually became part of the Education Foundation, which for nearly 21 years generated fresh ideas and strategic alliances to ensure quality learning for all young Australians. 

 “Philanthropy is about seizing the chance to make a real impact where it counts the most,” says Ellen, “and education is the foundation for everything else.”

Adara Development

Founded by Audette Exel AO, The Adara Group combines business and philanthropy to improve the lives of people living in extreme poverty, delivering health and education services in some of the world’s most remote regions. 

A key lesson in Adara’s approach to international development has been the importance of listening to local communities and incorporating their feedback into projects. 

One early example of this came from a waste management project in Nepal.

Adara had worked to improve sanitation in a remote district, but upon returning to the site, they discovered the toilets were being used for purposes far from their original intention, such as pickling turnips and sheltering livestock. 

“This was an opportunity to learn from our mistakes,” says Exel.

Rather than viewing this as a failure, Adara recognised the importance of understanding the community’s priorities and cultural context. 

The experience prompted Adara to rethink its approach, embracing a model of co-design and consultation. 

“We recognised the significance of feedback loops and open communication,” Exel explains.

By engaging directly with local communities, Adara ensures that projects meet real needs, fostering trust and creating sustainable, impactful solutions.

Get more great insights by purchasing your own copy of Savvy Giving 

No matter your role or the amount of money you can give, Savvy Giving is an essential read for anyone committed to shaping a better world with philanthropic dollars. 

Building on the best-practice insights and tools in the 2013 original, author and philanthropy expert Genevieve Timmons offers fresh ideas and perspectives for effective contemporary giving. 

The publication of this new edition was made possible through the generous support of many donors, including ACF Fundholder Ede Horton. 

“Savvy Giving provides the guidelines and tools for anyone to think more about how to give, and understand what is needed to make sure money is well directed,” says Ede. “This information is important, because it hasn’t been available or accessible until Savvy Giving was written, and it locates us in our own Australian context.

“An important encouragement in Savvy Giving is to listen deeply and learn about what your money can do from people who understand the distinct value of philanthropic money, and can bring it to life with relevance and impact. The expertise of Australian Communities Foundation in helping to do that has been invaluable, plus the personal connections with various grantees along the way has also been essential.” 

Learn more or order your copy here: savvy-giving.com 

Attend the Atlassian Social Impact Bookclub in May to hear more: Social Impact Book Club #4 – Savvy Giving by Genevieve Timmons  

Top Image: Genevieve Timmons in November 2024 at the ShiftThePower Summit and National Community Foundations Forum Week on Bunjalung country, hosted by Community Foundations Australia with the Northern Rivers Community Foundation in Ballina, NSW. Right to left: Dr. Martua T. Sirait from the Samdhana Institute (Indonesia), Sita Supomo from Indonesia untuk Kemanusiaan (Indonesia) and Siti Maimunah from the Mama Aleta Fund (Indonesia), with Genevieve Timmons, Philanthropic Executive and author.

Young people with wealth or class privilege are stepping up for social justice with the launch of Resource Generation Australia – a new initiative dedicated to the equitable distribution of wealth and power. 

Building on a global movement that includes Resource Generation (USA), Resource Justice (UK), and Resource Movement (Canada), Resource Generation Australia (RG) is designed to educate, empower, and mobilise young people with access to wealth.

Through learning and action, participants are equipped to challenge the systems that uphold inequality and stand in solidarity with social justice movements. 

The Australian chapter has been a year in the making, driven by a dedicated working group that has engaged more than 50 young people with wealth, movement leaders, and philanthropic changemakers across the country. 

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Laura Mannix, Philanthropy Lead at Australian Communities Foundation and RG Working Group member.

There’s a clear appetite for a space where young people can explore the intersection of wealth, class, and social change

“There’s a clear appetite for a space where young people can explore the intersection of wealth, class, and social change – one that encourages critical conversations and tangible action.” 

At the heart of Resource Generation Australia is Praxis, a transformative six-month learning program launching in May 2025 in Sydney.

This small cohort (6–8 participants) will engage in deep discussions on personal histories, class, race, wealth redistribution, and systemic change, all within a supportive environment designed for reflection and growth. 

“Resource Generation is about bringing together young people with wealth or class privilege to share insights and engage in collective action,” says Laura.

“The Praxis program takes participants on a peer-facilitated educational journey about the roots of inequality and supports them to act on moving their resources to address systemic inequality, not just alleviate its symptoms.” 

Resource Generation is about bringing together young people with wealth or class privilege to share insights and engage in collective action

Australian Communities Foundation is proud to be a supporting partner for the Australian arm of this global community. Thank you to members of our giving community who have generously supported this initiative.

With the pilot six-month Praxis program launching in Sydney this May, Resource Generation Australia is seeking its first group of participants.

If you identify as someone with wealth or class privilege and are eager to engage in a transformative learning experience about social justice, submit an expression of interest via the RG website. 

Learn more: https://www.resourcegenaus.org/ 

Supporting Partners

Stephen
Pfeiffer

Building your charitable Fund with Australian Communities Foundation is not just about growing dollars – it’s about increasing your impact in the areas you care about most.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking for ways to maximise your giving, these 10 tips can help you make the most of your philanthropy. 

1. Engage Family and Friends 

Consider involving your family and friends in giving discussions, asking for their input on which causes to support or pooling contributions for a bigger impact. Shared giving deepens connections and inspires collective action. 

2. Share Your Giving Story 

Talking about your philanthropy can inspire others to contribute or start their own giving journey. Whether through social media or casual conversations, sharing why you give and the impact your Fund is making can encourage more people to support your efforts, or start their own. 

3. Set Up a Birthday Fundraiser 

Ask your loved ones to donate to your Fund for your birthday. It’s an easy way to celebrate while making a difference. You can search your Fund’s donation page here. 

4. Match Donations to Your Fund 

Matching gifts encourage more people to contribute by doubling the impact of their donations. Indeed, if you match a portion of contributions yourself or find a partner to do so, this approach can significantly boost fundraising efforts. 

5. Host a Fundraising Event 

Organising a dinner, auction or community gathering can raise both funds and awareness for your cause. Events also offer a great opportunity to engage others in giving and share the work your Fund supports. 

6. Involve the Next Generation 

Teaching children and young people about giving ensures a lasting legacy of generosity. Involve them in decisions about your Fund, encourage them to volunteer, or set up a small allocation they can direct towards causes they care about.  

7. Develop a Giving Strategy 

Setting clear goals for your Fund – what you want to achieve and by when – helps keep you accountable so your giving can grow. A well-thought-out strategy allows you to track progress, stay focused on your priorities, and grow your Fund with purpose. Whether you’re aiming to support a specific number of organisations each year or reach a funding milestone within a set timeframe, having a plan in place makes it easier to stay committed and measure your success. 

8. Make Regular Contributions 

Consistently adding to your Fund keeps your giving momentum strong. Even small, regular contributions can grow over time and increase your ability to support important causes when opportunities arise. 

9. Utilise Tax Benefits 

Contributions to most Funds at Australian Communities Foundation are tax-deductible, allowing you to give more while reducing your taxable income. Smart timing of donations, such as before the end of the financial year, can help you maximise these benefits. 

10. Invest Responsibly – we take care of that for you! 

Your Fund is invested in line with Australian Communities Foundation’s responsible investing approach, meaning your money is working for both financial returns and positive social impact. You can be confident that your contributions are invested in a way that aligns with your values. Check your inbox for the latest quarterly investment update. 

By incorporating even a few of these tips, you can grow your Fund while deepening your impact on the causes you care about. Start small, stay consistent, and watch your giving grow. 

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.

Reconciliation through giving: Sue Beeton on supporting First Nations  

Former academic Sue Beeton has always been driven to “pay back the good fortune” she has enjoyed.  

“Growing up, I always knew I was adopted, and I felt incredibly fortunate to have been brought into my family,” says Sue. “My parents invested very well in the post-war boom, and, in their later years, I became aware that I was going to inherit a significant amount of money.  

In 2016, Sue established the Beeton Family Fund at Australian Communities Foundation to apply her inheritance across three cause areas: First Nations justice, the environment and the arts. 

Read the full story 

Where ambition and innovation meet: The Koda Endowment  

Finding solutions and creating opportunities for better outcomes are hard-wired into the way Koda Capital, Australia’s largest independent wealth management firm, does business.  

And that’s not just building wealth for clients but also helping them give it away.  

“We’ve always believed in the importance of structured giving and its positive influence on our society,” explains Paul Heath, Koda Capital CEO.  

In 2023 Koda turned the spotlight on its own giving aspirations and the latent potential within their team.  

Read the full story 

Giving together for women-led environmental and climate action: WELA Giving Circle 

A national giving circle is tackling the climate crisis by getting behind women leading positive change.  

“Women and gender diverse people all over Australia are stepping up to the challenges facing our planet,” says Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Strategic Director of Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia (WELA), a not-for-profit connecting women for environmental and climate action.  

“But women-led projects are chronically underfunded with less than 0.2 per cent of global charitable funding going to women’s environmental action,” says Victoria.  

Enter the WELA Giving Circle – Australia’s only giving circle dedicated to funding women’s action on environment and climate issues.  

“There is no one right strategy or one approach to the change we need. But when we give together, we can multiply our impact, increase connection and build power.” 

Read the full story 

Amber’s White Light: A family’s fight for youth mental health 

The Wraith Family are advocates for youth mental health through their Fund, Amber’s White Light.  

Content warning: This article discusses suicide and mental illness, which may be distressing for some readers. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline  is 13 11 14.  

Tamara and Richard Wraith are dedicated to improving outcomes for those affected by mental illness, especially young women. It’s a mission driven by their personal experience of loss. In April 2022, their daughter Amber, who struggled with complex mental illness for three years, died by suicide. 

Turning their grief into advocacy the family is now tackling Australia’s mental health crisis from multiple angles – through personal giving, fundraising and advocacy. 

Read the full story 

Teen birdwatchers raise over $100k cycling around Australia for ACF Fund Spend It Well

Through a remarkable cycling journey around Australia, Leo Norman and Cezary Carmichael, raised over $120,000 for ACF Fund Spend It Well to support education in Timor-Leste. 

“For years we talked about taking a year off after school to set out on an adventure,” says Leo. “While we dreamed of a gap year from our education, we were aware that access to education remains an issue for so many around the world.” 

“Timor-Leste is a country so close to ours, but it suffers extreme economic hardship, and its kids don’t have the kind of options we do,” says Cezary. 

Kris Webb, one of the founders of Spend it Well observes, “There are 130 children at Builecon School in Timor-Leste who will now have a new school. Leo and Cezary have inspired so many people and provided a blueprint for how passion, purpose, and perseverance can change lives.” 

Read the full story

Content warning: This article discusses suicide and mental illness, which may be distressing for some readers. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14.

Tamara and Richard Wraith are dedicated to improving outcomes for those affected by mental illness, especially young women.

It’s a mission driven by their personal experience of loss. In April 2022, their daughter Amber, who struggled with complex mental illness for three years, died by suicide.

“Our family had to face the most tragic situation – losing a child,” Tamara recounts. “To lose a child who is a help-seeker is even more soul-destroying.”

Tamara and Richard supported their daughter to seek professional help – an experience that left them feeling failed by the mental health system.

Our experience left us wanting to do what we can to ensure others don’t have to go through the same thing.

“When someone seeks help, especially a young person, there needs to be a door open for them – not a revolving door that pushes them out to nowhere,” says Tamara. “Our experience left us wanting to do what we can to ensure others don’t have to go through the same thing.”

^{Tamara and Richard at an Amber’s White Light fundraising event.}

Turning grief into advocacy

Tamara and Richard are now leading advocates for suicide prevention through Amber’s White Light – a Named Fund at Australian Communities Foundation.

The couple is tackling Australia’s mental health crisis from multiple angles – through personal giving, fundraising and advocacy – to support research into diagnosis and treatment, and help clinicians implement best practices.

Tamara explains three key goals underpin the couple’s advocacy. “Firstly, the time it takes to accurately diagnose mental illness must be shortened. In Amber’s case, we can see in retrospect that she was misdiagnosed.

“Secondly, treatment should be precise and tailored to the individual and their condition. Lastly, care and support need to be compassionate, timely and accessible. Unfortunately, current mental health services fall short of these goals.”

In July 2024, Amber’s White Light launched new Suicide Prevention Guidelines for Emergency Department (EDs) in partnership with the Black Dog Institute and Suicide Prevention Australia.

“With Amber having been turned away from the ED on multiple occasions, we feel strongly about supporting hospitals to implement these guidelines so healthcare workers are equipped to provide the best possible care,” says Richard.

Watch: Tamara and Richard Wraith share their story with the Black Dog Institute.

Amber’s Alert: Improving diagnostic accuracy

After building the Amber’s White Light Fund over the last two years, Tamara and Richard have just made their first grant. Turning their focus to improving diagnosis, the couple has committed $150,000 to Monash University’s HER Centre for an ambitious new research project named in Amber’s honour.

The Amber’s Alert project seeks to develop a toolkit to assist clinicians with accurate diagnosis in the early stages of mental illness.

“There is a lot of foundational research underway globally into biological signs of particular mental illnesses,” says Richard. “But it’s yet to be translated into clinical use.” 

“That’s why this research is so important,” adds Tamara. “If clinicians have the tools to accurately differentiate between conditions, this leads to better treatment and care, and will ultimately save lives.”

HER Centre has nearly reached the current funding target for the project with an $82,000 gap remaining. Learn more about the project and contribute here.

—

At Australian Communities Foundation, we can help you establish Named Funds to honour the memory of a loved one. Learn more about Named Funds here or contact us to have a conversation about getting started.

^{Feature image: Amber (left) with a friend.}

Australian Communities Foundation was saddened to hear of the recent death of Jim Hart.

Jim was one of the founding members of our giving community, having established the Hart Line Fund in 1998 to support the arts, community and economic development, employment pathways, social inclusion and justice.

Many members of our giving community will remember Jim’s deep humility and disarming wit. Australian Communities Foundation co-founder and Patron, Marion Webster AM and her partner Michael Webster, were long-time friends, with the latter’s friendship with Jim spanning more than 50 years.

“Jim was a delightful man. Smart as all get out, modest to a fault, funny as anyone you’d know and serious when and where it mattered,” Michael says.

“Our careers tracked together, as did our love of reading, rowing and the arts. When Jim became a partner in the early days of Lonely Planet, his technical skills allowed the company to publish a broad range of titles that otherwise wouldn’t have seen the light of day.”

“Jim was a delightful man. Smart as all get out, modest to a fault, funny as anyone you’d know and serious when and where it mattered,”

When Jim decided to sell his Lonely Planet shares, he told Michael he wanted to ‘do something of lasting benefit’ with the money.

“Marion and I encouraged him to start the Hart Line Fund, which over 20 years has distributed more than $1 million to causes close to his interests,” Michael says.

“I’ve lost a dear friend and ACF has lost a keen advocate for everything ACF stands for.”

Annabel Hart says her father’s generosity was driven by a sense of personal responsibility and a commitment to helping others.

“He cared about fairness and the importance of a fair society,” she says.

“He was bothered by any account of young people missing the opportunity to learn or being deprived of adequate schooling, and he cared about longer-term change, which led him to often support causes that were meaningful but less ‘catchy’.”

Jim’s generosity included support for the 50 Story Building, Indigenous literacy, the Smith Family, Melbourne Writers Festival, the Diplomacy Training Program and more.

“He cared about fairness and the importance of a fair society,”

One of his favourite parts of giving, Annabel says, was hearing the stories of success or progress that his contributions had helped achieve.

“He certainly was not motivated by accolades and never felt comfortable receiving attention for his giving. He was not a donor who wanted his name on a building, but he highly valued the personal relationships he developed within the ACF community and particularly with grantees,” she says.

An active, albeit low-key member of the giving community, Jim will be dearly missed.

“Jim was a regular at all our events, he rarely missed one” remembers Raz Babic, Australian Communities Foundation’s Senior Donor Services Coordinator.

“He and I always had a little laugh when he turned up at the registration desk because he never registered for the events, but I always had a name tag ready for him because I knew he would be coming!”

The Hart Line Fund, to be led by Jim’s children, Annabel and Christopher, will continue its support for things that mattered most to Jim in his memory.

Read more about Jim’s support of the Diplomacy Training Program here.

It’s quite frankly impossible not to be swept up in the exuberance of an encounter with German-Australian philanthropist Hans Henkell.  

The zest he brings to his passion projects spills over in any interaction and underpins his approach to philanthropic giving.  

Since establishing the Henkell Family Fund at Australian Communities Foundation in 2004, Hans has been a public and avid supporter of the arts, and in particular, opera.  

“I just love it!” he says with gusto.  

“The word opera means ‘the works’ in Italian and for me, it titillates so many senses. The sense of movement, of colours, sound and dance. It has always had a huge impression on me. 

“Supporting opera is a bit like an addiction, like a drug that has so many powerful effects,” he continues.  

“I think that going to church and going to the opera have similarities in that respect. They change your consciousness, your mental state and your disposition, and you come out of that experience with a more creative mindset. You are different afterwards.  

“Opera gives me that ability to be transformed.”  

The journey 

Hailing from the family for which Henkell sparkling wine is named, Hans immigrated to Australia in 1982 and built a successful Melbourne-based property business from the ground up.  

“I’m an immigrant and I always say I have two lives,” he explains. 

“The first part of my life was the life of a champagne producer. The second part, after the family business changed ownership, was here in Australia.” 

Hans credits his business success as a major driver of his philanthropic giving.  

“I couldn’t be charitable without it,” he says.  

The establishment of the Henkell Family Fund came about after a discussion with the family’s solicitor.   

Australian Communities Foundation gives me that ability. I pre-donate money into the Fund in order to be able to give it out when I want to

“I was thinking at the time about creating a foundation on my own, but my solicitor explained that you need to have a few million dollars to get started and I didn’t have that sort of size,” Hans explains. 

“Instead, my solicitor suggested a fund at Australian Communities Foundation as a sort of ‘in-between’ and that has worked out very well. 

“I’m very proud to have been with Australian Communities Foundation for all these years.” 

For Hans, one of the benefits of using a Named Fund (sometimes known as a donor-advised fund) is the ability to plan for the future, making giving decisions and distributions at a time that suits.  

“I compare it to being like a farmer who has a dam where he stores the water,” Hans explains. “The water isn’t needed immediately for the pastures but it’s good to build up that supply.  

“Australian Communities Foundation gives me that ability. I pre-donate money into the Fund in order to be able to give it out when I want to.” 

Over the years the Henkell Family Fund has provided support to the German-Australian community and hardship relief via a range of organisations, but Hans’ primary passion is his support of Australian opera.   

“I’m not faithful to any one opera company,” he says.  

Naming fellow countryman Richard Wagner as his favourite composer, it should come as no surprise that Hans was a major sponsor of Australia’s first regional staging of the Ring Cycle in Bendigo in April 2023 by Melbourne Opera.  

Hans currently provides office space to Lyster Opera, Victoria’s regional touring opera company and provides funding for the German-Australian Opera Grant, for which he is also a Director.  

“The German-Australian Opera Grant is a competition that sends an emerging singer of elevated skill and talent to a German opera house for one year.  

“I have been doing this for 20 years and it is a little bit of personal exertion because it is my office and my PA and myself in that we organise the competition, so that’s sort of more than just giving away money. In a sense it’s becoming artistic oneself.” 

Hans credits his family as the source and continuation of his love for the arts.  

“My parents were very much my role models,” he explains.  

“My mother was a hobby artist as a pianist and my father was a collector of the visual arts.  

I’m very proud to have been with Australian Communities Foundation for all these years

“Even today, in my own family, while I am a fan of the opera, my wife is a painter and we always jokingly say that I am the vocal department and she’s the visual department.”  

While opera may be less revered in the cultural landscape in Australia when compared to its long and illustrious history in Europe, it hasn’t dimmed Hans’ ebullience.   

“I’m really proud of my second life, living in Australia and being part of things that are similar to what I came from in Germany, from the opera and music and arts point of view.  

“The fact these things take place makes me so proud.  

“There aren’t the battleships of opera houses here as there are in Germany that were started hundreds of years ago by aristocrats for vanity reasons.  

“It’s different here, but it’s full of enthusiasm, and that’s what I like.” 

The German-Australian Opera Grant Finale takes place on Saturday, 18 November at Federation Square, Melbourne. Entry is free but bookings are essential.

To learn more about opening a Named Fund, click here.

Growing up in Malaysia, Catheryn Khoo was regularly involved in her local community and actively encouraged by her family to do her part to make it a better place.  

As a Girl Guide, she washed cars and did chores to raise money for charity; as a member of the Interact Club, she organised visits to local orphanages; and once a year, Catheryn and her parents would head to a seniors’ home to distribute “a carload of groceries” and small, red envelopes known as angpows, which are filled with money and shared as a custom during Chinese New Year.

Her early giving experiences and family influence all led Catheryn to design a deeply philanthropic life.

She studied and worked across the globe – from New Zealand to the United States – all while completing pro bono work on the side. And now, currently settled in Brisbane, Catheryn is a professor and Gender Expert for the United Nations World Tourism Organization, and spends her time championing women’s visibility and equality in tourism.

“I have travelled and worked with people from all over the world, and I’ve seen the disparity of opportunities one gets in a country like Malaysia versus Anglo-Saxon countries like Australia and New Zealand,” Catheryn says. “I know what the difference is, and what opportunities can do for someone like me.”

Her motivation to make a difference and have a sustainable impact prompted Catheryn to re-assess her giving and embrace a more structured model.

“I’ve always known that I would set up a fund someday, but I hadn’t known how to do or manage it,” Catheryn says. “Then I found Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) online.”

Whenever I talked to anyone at ACF and had a question, it was answered. I would always go away knowing a little bit more. Nothing seemed daunting.

“Everyone at ACF was so helpful…it all felt very doable. Whenever I talked to anyone at ACF and had a question, it was answered. I would always go away knowing a little bit more. Nothing seemed daunting.

“I could just do the job of philanthropy without having to worry about the legal and financial details, which was what stopped me when I first had this seed of an idea.”

Opening the Patricia Tan Equality Fund

After discussions with the Australian Communities Foundation team, Catheryn decided that a Gumnut Account was the right fit for her needs.

Gumnut Accounts lay the foundations for giving strategically and can be opened with as little as $2,000 and an ongoing commitment to donate $2,000 per year.

Once the Gumnut Account reaches $20,000, it matures into a Named Fund and can be used to grant to focus areas of the fund advisor’s choice.

Catheryn’s focus areas have always been abundantly clear: she’s passionate about improving access to equal opportunities and tackling gender inequality.

“I’d like to see marginalised people given the resources for personal and professional development at an international level, so they, too, can be acknowledged and celebrated for their achievements,” she notes.

“I named my Gumnut Account the Patricia Tan Equality Fund after my mother because she is the story,” Catheryn continues.  

“She was born in 1950s Malaysia and didn’t have access to education. She was predominantly a housewife until she was forced to take over my father’s electrical engineering business when he became a quadriplegic in 1997. 

I’d like to see marginalised people given the resources for personal and professional development, so they, too, can be acknowledged and celebrated for their achievements.

“The Fund will enable equal opportunities for people like my mum – talented, disadvantaged, and limited by a lack of education, resources, networks, exposure, and finances,” Catheryn explains. 

“It will directly help reduce the barriers, and encourage growth, stimulate career prospects, and provide a pathway to eradicate gender inequality and geographical disadvantage in developing nations.”

Get started

Catheryn admits she was initially overwhelmed at the thought of setting up a fund, and says the idea was left “incubating for a long time”. 

“I was sitting on an idea for eight years because I didn’t want to deal with the setting up of structures and red tape,” she says.  

“But ACF stepped in to help at each part of the fund set-up process. I’m really glad I reached out and I am very grateful for this connection.”    

When asked about the advice she’d offer to people thinking of opening their own fund, Catheryn says it’s about making a start. 

“Don’t be overwhelmed like me! Reach out to an organisation like ACF and start talking to people. Just start. Just start and everything will fall into place.” 

To learn more about Gumnut Accounts, click here.

Hailing from a family of allied health workers, the values of social justice and compassion played an important role in Sophie and Georgia Einfeld’s upbringing, across multiple generations.

“Our grandmother (Maadi) and grandfather (John) were regular givers and had strong values of compassion, justice and civic responsibility,” Sophie explains.

“They lived a modest life and supported their community in Sydney through fundraising and volunteering. John was a lawyer and community leader and Maadi was an artist and supported his work, running an open house often full of locals and friends.

“They were amazing people and both believed in creating paths to opportunity.”

When their beloved grandmother Maadi passed away in Sydney in 2022, Sophie and Georgia’s family decided to turn the inheritance into a Named Fund at Australian Communities Foundation.

“We wanted to create a lasting legacy to honour our grandparents’ own commitment to supporting community through fundraising and volunteering,” Sophie explains.

“That meant doing more than just giving money away. We wanted to be able to extend the impact of our giving by doing fundraising and other volunteer work.”

“We were raised with progressive values and we share that as a family, so the values of Australian Communities Foundation were very much aligned with our own and the causes we wanted to support.”

“The John and Maadi Einfeld Fund allows us to provide ongoing support in a sustainable way to the causes we care about as a family.”

We were raised with progressive values and we share that as a family, so the values of Australian Communities Foundation were very much aligned with our own

The two Einfeld sisters and their parents Steve and Judi come together as a family each year to decide what to support.

“The first cause we all wanted to get behind was supporting a First Nations Voice to Parliament,” Sophie says.

While on maternity leave, Sophie along with her sister Georgia and a group of their friends, organised a fundraising event for the Yes 23 campaign at Thornbury Bowls Club.

“We wanted to support grassroot efforts to get the message out that now is the time to vote Yes for a First Nations Voice that is recognised in the Constitution, and we were really inspired to see how we could rally our community to support the cause too,” Georgia says.

We wanted to support grassroot efforts to get the message out that now is the time to vote Yes for a First Nations Voice

“We worked with Yes 23 and Australian Communities Foundation connected us with changemakers and organisations and helped support the event.”

With food, raffles and family-friendly activities, the event included a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, a performance by Charlie Needs Braces, a live auction, comedy by Kimmie Lovegrove and an inspiring discussion between Josh Reid Jones and Australian Communities Foundation Director, First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria member and proud Gunditjmara man Rueben Berg.

During the Q&A discussion, Rueben shared his aspirations for the future.

“From an Aboriginal perspective, we just want to be able to take control of the things that affect us,” Rueben explained.

“At the moment there’s a whole variety of decisions that the government makes on our behalf, whether that’s decisions about how we live our lives as Aboriginal people, whether that’s around what happens to our land and our waters, what happens to our communities more broadly.

“The government is making all those decisions, so my aspiration from a community perspective is that we become in charge of making those decisions. It’s about making sure it’s no longer someone else making those decisions for us.

“My aspiration from a broader perspective is that I hope that people no longer think about Aboriginal culture and Aboriginal people as something ‘else’ from some ‘other’ place,” Rueben continued.

“That everybody recognises that no matter where you are, you are on an Aboriginal place and you can connect to that and not see our culture as some sort of ‘other’ that you’ve got nothing to do with, but that people can celebrate and see it is being recognised and celebrated, and people can share in that celebration.”

The Einfeld family raised over $65,000 in donations for Yes 23 – more than double their original fundraising target, with more than 200 people from the local community, family and friends attending the event.  

“It was such an uplifting day that showed what we can achieve when we come together as a community” Sophie says.

Listen to the Q&A discussion (36 min) with Rueben Berg as part of the Random Acts of Conversation podcast here