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.”

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

Tune into the latest episode of Hall & Wilcox’s ‘Becoming a Philanthropist’ podcast featuring Australian Communities Foundation’s Director of Community and Philanthropy, Carly Severino.

Carly joins host Emma Woolley (Partner & Head of Family Office Advisory, Hall & Wilcox) to discuss the power and joy of collective giving, why community foundations are a model for giving across the world, the benefits of structured giving and how to democratise structured giving to make it as accessible as possible across Australia.

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Hall & Wilcox is a national law firm delivering legal services to corporate, public sector and private clients. Learn more

The ‘Becoming a Philanthropist’ podcast explores how to have a philanthropic impact by contributing during your lifetime and creating a legacy on death. The podcast covers how to choose whether to give during your lifetime or through your estate plan, appropriate and tax-savvy structures, and the different types of funds.

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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.

“I’ve always had this great dream I would be able to pay back my good fortune, and my inheritance gave me that opportunity,” explains Sue. “I felt a responsibility to give back this money that had been accrued during a very extractive period in Australia’s history.”

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

A long-time supporter of First Nations communities across Victoria, Sue has provided ongoing funding for organisations such as Ganbina and Woor-Dungin. But it took time to build confidence in her approach, she explains.

“When I started out, I was fearful of going about it the wrong way,” says Sue. “Philanthropy can be so paternalistic, but I’ve since learnt it doesn’t have to be.”

Long-term trust-based funding: A philosophy on giving

Over the last decade, Sue has developed a philosophy around her giving based on what she’s learnt from First Nations leaders and other allies.

“The ultimate philosophy around my giving is that philanthropy should provide long-term and unrestricted support,” says Sue. “This is especially important if you’re giving to support reconciliation and self-determination.”

“I have learnt how difficult it can be for organisations to find unrestricted funding, so all my support is now untied and I’m very happy for my money to go towards things like administration.”

“I give multi-year funding where possible – usually a minimum of three years – and I don’t require reporting because these organisations are already doing enough and my relationships with them are built on trust.”

Sue’s philosophy reflects the kind of approach First Nations leaders continue to advocate for.

“We’re seeing this big movement towards trust-based partnerships in philanthropy,” says Rona Glynn-McDonald, proud Kaytetye woman and Director of First Nations Futures, a First Nations-led organisation providing pathways for all people to redistribute wealth to First Nations initiatives.

Rona joined ACF’s First Nations Learning Circle on 15 May to share her experience and expertise alongside Bundjalung and South Sea Islander woman Millie Telford (Acting Co-Executive Director, Australian Progress).

“The best funders I’ve worked with are the people that centre trust,” Rona shared during the session. “They’re the people that see our expertise and existing power, and really trust how we will use their funds… Unrestricted funding allows us to put money where it’s needed and respond to shifting needs on the ground.”

Relationships for reconciliation

For Sue, the most rewarding part of her giving journey has been the relationships she’s built along the way.

“While I am hands-off in terms of what organisations do with my support, it’s such a privilege to connect with the people working on the issues I’m passionate about. They’re such remarkable people.”

“In the First Nations space, I’m finding these connections especially enlivening as the movement rebuilds following the referendum.”

Sue says joining Australian Communities Foundation has been key to establishing these relationships.

“I still remember my first meeting with ACF,” Sue recounts. “I had been looking into starting a foundation, and the more I did, the more concerned I became over what’s required. When I met with ACF, I felt I had found my place. Here was this Foundation where I could still have control over my giving, but also connect with experts and draw on their fantastic knowledge.

“When I came to ACF, looking to support First Nations students in regional Victoria, the team connected me with Ganbina – an organisation I hadn’t heard of doing great work with First Nations school students in Shepparton. I still support them to this day.”

Through her Fund, Sue has also built a close relationship with arts organisation Melbourne Fringe, and is now a keen supporter of the Deadly Fringe program, designed to amplify the stories of First Nations artists.

“I’ve got a great love for the arts, theatre in particular, and understand how hard it is for organisations in this space to attract funding,” says Sue. “Deadly Fringe brings together my passions for theatre and First Nations.

“This is what ACF is doing for me – it’s giving me that insight and connection with organisations and initiatives I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

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.


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.

Storytelling trainer, writer and impact investor Dalit Kaplan tells it like it is.

“I don’t think philanthropy is just a nice thing to do – I think it’s a responsibility. If you have more than you need, you should be working towards realigning resources so that more people’s needs are met.”

With a background in refugee and family violence law, Dalit now channels her passion for social justice into her work as a writer and Founder of consulting firm Storywell.

When she’s not working on her new novel, Six Million Eggs, Dalit supports Storywell clients with their own storytelling, providing podcast production support, storytelling workshops and coaching for purpose-driven organisations, community legal centres and start-ups.

If you have more than you need, you should be working towards realigning resources so that more people’s needs are met

Dalit is also Director of Just World Investments, an impact investment fund that “seeks a better future through a blend of radically ethical investment and grant making,” she explains.

In 2017, Dalit and her partner Raphael Dascalu opened their own Named Fund at Australian Communities Foundation, the Kapscalu Regenerative Fund, to support their giving and gain access to the benefits of a community foundation.

In this recent conversation, Dalit shares her reflections on giving – or redistribution, as she prefers to call it – and the value of being part of the community at Australian Communities Foundation.

Watch: Dalit Kaplan shares the story of her giving journey

Take us back to when you first got started with giving. What was that like?

When I was first cast into this role where I found myself in a position where I was able to donate to other people, I had a sense of how the road to hell is paved with the best of intentions and how people who have the best of intentions can really harm people. And so I wanted to seek out guides and experts who could help me make sure the decisions I make are not about what feels good for me or what I think might be the right thing to do, but rather, what is best practice.

I started asking myself, ‘What sort of redistribution can I do that is thinking strategically about changing the facts on the ground?’ I know I’m not an expert and I can’t answer that on my own, and so joining a community like Australian Communities Foundation has been groundbreaking for me in terms of that leadership from other people.

How has your family and background influenced your giving?

All four of my grandparents are Holocaust survivors. They were all at various camps and were lucky enough to have their lives spared. And then, over the generations, my family and my partner’s family have established themselves here in Australia and we find ourselves in positions of privilege; we’re beneficiaries of the legacy of settlement, I’m relatively white, I’m educated.

The Hebrew word for giving is tzedakah, which translates a bit more closely to justice, and that speaks to that notion around it not being about doing a favour for somebody or doing something that you’re not really obligated to but it’s a nice thing for you to do. Giving is what justice looks like – this radical redistribution where everybody in the community has their needs met.

As custodians of resources, we have a responsibility to try to redistribute it and put it in places that create a better world

The concept of redistribution seems central to your approach. Can you elaborate on that a little?

I think that resources randomly land in the custody of certain people, and usually that is a product of privilege, circumstance or your membership of a particular group. Nobody’s entitled to those resources – it’s just the way the cookie is crumbled. I think that, rather, as custodians of resources, we have a responsibility to try to redistribute it and put it in places that create a better world than we have right now.

What is one important area that you support?

Family violence is a really important one for me. If we think about what the future needs and how we can have a safe and better future, children need to be growing up in homes where they feel safe and supported. That means that their parents need to feel safe and supported too, and they need to feel like they are part of communities that are supporting them because, as they say, it takes a village.

What do you enjoy most about giving with Australian Communities Foundation?

It’s about collaboration, rather than everybody individually. It’s sort of systematic – there’s a birds-eye view that the team has, and the staff can come in as consultants and guide our giving. The team knows the sector and can say ‘here’s a problem that needs funding, and here’s where you can fit into solving this problem’.

Secondly, it’s the spread of funding opportunities you learn about. You’re always asking yourself as a funder, ‘Do I want to go upstream and fund systemic change, or do I want to go downstream and be supporting people working on the ground?’ And the answer is ‘yes, and yes’. Australian Communities Foundation supports me to do both and find that balance.

What do you think the future of philanthropy looks like? Is there something you’d like to see more or less of?

I think one of the problems with philanthropy is that you’ve got this strange dynamic where there’s this massive information asymmetry. You’ve got the people who are the experts, who don’t have the power in terms of finance, and then you’ve got the people who have all the power – the people doing the donating who don’t have the expertise.

So how do you flip that? What I say to groups I donate to is ‘You’re my teacher, I’m your student. Guide me on how I can take some of my resources and support you to do what you, in your wisdom, know is the right thing to do. It’s about long-term relationships, which a lot of people say, but it’s also about approaching these conversations with humility.

Just as you might be investing in your super, see your giving as an investment. You’re investing in what you want the future to look like.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just getting started with giving?

Think about it in the same you would think about your asset allocation. Just as you might be investing in your super, see your giving as an investment. You’re investing in what you want the future to look like. You’re investing in the infrastructure of the society that you exist in. It should be something you’re considering as soon as you’re asking yourself questions like ‘where do my resources go?’.

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

Generous, community-minded, and with years of experience in the finance and not-for-profit sectors, Casey Tan is no stranger to charitable giving.  

It’s something his father ingrained in him from a young age, Casey says, and it’s why he’s dedicated years of his life to giving back. 

“My dad gave me the idea of what charity is all about, and taught me that when you have enough, you’ve got to share,” says Casey. “Money has to be used for a purpose”.  

Casey’s family values shine throughout his professional and personal life, with the retired Finance Director and former Australian Communities Foundation Board Director currently serving as Rotary District Community Service Chair at Rotary District 9800, where he supports 63 Rotary Clubs and 16 major programs.

Upon deciding he was ready for a more structured approach to his giving, Casey determined the best giving vehicle was a Named Fund with Australian Communities Foundation, and opened the Tan Family Fund in 2006. 

In this recent conversation, Casey elaborates on the ways structured giving through a community foundation has helped him achieve his giving goals, and why he “gets a heck of a lot more back” whenever he gives. 

 Watch: Fundholder Casey Tan discusses his giving journey.

You’ve been involved in charitable giving for decades now. Which causes are closest to your heart and have your interest areas changed over time? 

CT: When I first started the Tan Family Fund, the top-of-mind causes were family violence, especially violence against women, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights. I feel a strong affinity with those causes and felt I could do a lot of good.  

You’re always looking for how you can achieve maximum impact for what you give across different areas. My involvement with the Carlton Rotary Club since 1985 and Wesley Mission gave me a wide understanding of what certain needs are both locally and globally. So, my interest areas have changed over time, but I do like to do a bit of seed funding so that something can get bigger. I choose whatever I think could do the most good, at that particular point in time. 

Where do you think your sense of social justice comes from and what motivated you to get started with giving?

For me, it flows down. As a child, my dad was an orphan refugee in Singapore and had a really tough life. So, as I was growing up, there was always the idea of charity in the back of my mind. I remember when I was young and lived in Malaysia, he used to let a homeless person sleep in our shop overnight, while we slept in the house upstairs; he’s just always doing different things to help other people.  

So, that’s why I think it’s important to talk to your family about giving, get them interested. It’s not how much you give – every little bit counts. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your giving journey? 

For whatever I give, I think I get a heck of a lot more back. Because what you get is a network of people who share similar interests and values in life.  

Lots of studies show that people who are engaged with community – people who are volunteering, people who are giving – have happier, longer, healthier lives. And I’ve found it’s true; it works for me. I’m happier, I’m doing things with my life, and I’ve got more meaning to it.  

When I was younger, I was very focused – a workaholic to a large extent – and these giving activities got me out of my shell, exposing me to issues and people’s values and beliefs that were beyond what a career could have offered me. 

What do you enjoy most about giving with Australian Communities Foundation? 

Australian Communities Foundation has a fantastic website that gives me a lot of background information. You’re kept in touch with not just what you’re doing, but the rest of the giving community and what they’re doing.  

There are also donor events that highlight some of the critical areas we can get involved in. There is a lot more support than what you could do by yourself, and we share our knowledge with each other. 

Responsible investing is also important to me. The fact my funds are responsibly invested through the Foundation means I can do good while still deciding what I want to do with my money 

What do you enjoy most about being part of a national giving community?

There are a lot of events happening; you get to meet both the staff as well as other donors. And getting involved gives you lots of information – like how to have maximum impact with the money you’re giving.

There is a good pool of very experienced, knowledgeable people who you can work with. You can call up, talk to people, read reports, access the database, look at how you give, what you give to, and which areas. 

 
What’s something you wish more people knew about philanthropy?

You don’t need a lot of money to start. I think a lot of people are thinking of doing it but worry it’ll take too much time or money. They think ‘I haven’t got $5 million’, or what have you.  

One advantage of Australian Communities Foundation is that you can start small and accumulate funds – you can start by putting $100 aside every month from your bank account into a Gumnut Account and then see that build up. And when your fund gets to a certain size, it’ll mature into a Named Fund.  

You can also encourage fellow colleagues, friends, and family to donate to the fund to build it up. And that allows you to share the idea of what philanthropy is all about so that you can get more people interested. 
 

How has the community foundation model supported your giving?

Australian Communities Foundation makes giving a lot easier, a lot smoother, because if I were to do a lot of things that ACF does now, it would have cost me a lot more in time and money.  

With ACF, I get an annual report, I have access to the website, to the database, what I’ve granted, what’s been happening over the years. Everything is set up so it’s very easy to use, and the investment is done by ACF – I don’t worry about it.  

ACF researches and is aware of not just current issues, but emerging issues, and so ACF is giving me fresh granting ideas – I’m constantly learning new things. 

So, if you’re time poor, Australian Communities Foundation can give you a quick, easy way of keeping in touch on the issues – people, causes, how to do it, and a means of doing it. 

Learn more about opening a Named Fund here.

Giving has always been second nature for Melbourne-based professional fundraiser Erin Davidson.

“I have been trying to give back to the community in one way or another for as long as I can remember. My family has always instilled those values in me. And that’s something I hope to instil in my children as they grow up.”

Erin’s ongoing commitment to give back prompted her to step into structured giving in 2018. After hearing about the community foundation model from a friend, Erin opened a Gumnut Account with Australian Communities Foundation.

“When you give through a community foundation, your donations are invested and grow, so it just made so much sense to me.”

Erin opened her Gumnut, The Illuminate Fund, to start building a charitable fund for environmental causes and projects. “At the moment, I’m focused on the link between our health and the environment,” she adds.

Five years on, Illuminate is just about to reach $20,000 and mature into a Named Fund, when Erin and her husband (“it’s a joint venture now,” she says) will begin granting.

“We can just about see the finish line and are getting ready to start giving from the Fund. It’s very exciting.”

In this recent conversation, Erin reflected on her family tradition of giving and the value a community foundation has brought to her giving journey.

How did you get started with giving?

I have been trying to give back to the community in one way or another for as long as I can remember. My family has always instilled those values in me. And that’s something I hope to instil in my children as they grow up.

I feel quite privileged – I had a very blessed upbringing and a very caring, supportive family. And they have always instilled that value in me to give back to the community. We were never incredibly well off, so sometimes that contribution might be in the way of volunteering.

If your funds are invested ethically with other givers in a bigger pool, the money that you’re giving can have more impact over time

That’s something I always saw my parents do growing up. Even my grandmother would always be sitting there in the lounge room, writing out her cheques. It sparked an interest in me right from when I was a little kid. It’s something that I’ve just wanted to keep doing, and something I always get a sense of excitement from doing, and still do.

Why did you choose to give through a community foundation?

The reason I decided to join a community foundation was because I was making about $2,000 a year in donations anyway (the annual commitment needed for a Gumnut) – a little bit here, a little bit there. Then I realised that if your funds are invested ethically with other givers in a bigger pool, the money that you’re giving can have more impact over time.

I had a colleague who already had a Named Fund with the Foundation, and I definitely had a chat with him to see what his experience was like. It was very positive, so that solidified my decision to join and start an account.

What role has your Gumnut Account played in your giving journey?

One of the great things about having a Gumnut Account is that I’ve been able to personalise it. So even though you’re part of a bigger fund and a bigger community, you can still very much make it your own, so I chose the name and got a logo designed. You can choose the direction of your own giving. You can run your own events and fundraisers, and the staff are more than happy to support those efforts as well.

When I started the Gumnut, I saw it as a ten year process, trying to reach a $20,000 balance and putting in a minimum of $2,000 a year. But along the way, I did things like asking for donations to my fund for my birthday instead of gifts. My husband is now quite heavily involved too, and so it’s a joint venture. Recently, we asked for donations to our fund instead of gifts at our wedding.

How has Australian Communities Foundation supported your giving?

Giving through the Foundation is a great way to give more proactively than reactively. Over the years, I probably gave to things when I was asked, rather than looking for things that were a little bit more close to my heart. I feel now with the Foundation, I have more direction, and I just love that everything’s invested ethically too. It’s a great place to be.

What do you enjoy most about being part of a community of givers?

I think it’s definitely the events. Every time we get together, it feels like a celebration of the impact that we’re all having. There’s also been opportunities to come to Learning Circles and it does provide a bit more clarity and focus, and motivation as well. And the staff are lovely – they really have always made me feel like a very valued member of the community.

What’s something you wish more people knew about philanthropy?

That you don’t have to be a millionaire – I by no means am! I’m building my fund slowly, but I’m able to make an impact along the way.

Another great thing about being part of a community foundation that I don’t think is widely understood is that even if you aren’t able to make a grant every year or every month, your money is still having a positive impact along the way as it grows.

What’s been the most rewarding thing about structuring your giving?

So as well as hoping to make an impact and help organisations that I see are doing really important work for the environment and therefore helping our health overall, the most rewarding thing is just the ongoing sense of purpose.

Even if you aren’t able to make a grant every year or every month, your money is still having a positive impact

It’s that feeling knowing that when you make your contribution, you’re working towards building a legacy, and something that I hope to get my children involved in as they grow up. It’s really a family project and something that will last for many years.

Read more about Erin’s giving journey from our earlier interview with her in 2020 here.

Recent research from Philanthropy Australia has found that Australians are motivated to give by three key factors: a sense of personal connection, a sense of agency, and a sense of community.

“It’s no surprise that personal connection is first on the list – giving is deeply personal,” says Nicole Richards, Australian Communities Foundation’s Head of Communications and lead storyteller.

“There are usually very personal reasons that drive people to give, and those reasons develop over time. That’s why we talk about giving journeys, and it’s the stories of these journeys that connect us.”

At Australian Communities Foundation, we share stories from our giving community all throughout the year. The end of the financial year holds particular significance though. As the most common time in the calendar for getting started with structured giving, the EOFY period brings new readers to the stories from our community. With this in mind, we’re sharing highlights from our most-read interviews from the past 12 months.

Read on to learn about the personal connections that drive our community to give, and how giving through a community foundation can also bring a sense of agency and a sense of community to your giving.

Ellen Koshland
Arts & education advocate, Melbourne

Ellen Koshland has been hailed as one of Australia’s most visionary philanthropists. Her unwavering commitment to equity in education led her to establish the Education Foundation in 1989 (which later became a division of the Foundation for Young Australians) and the Australian Learning Lecture in 2015.

“It’s important to say I was a small part of these initiatives,” says Ellen. “It has taken many extraordinary people working together.”

“Giving is important because it’s about building a better community… Education is very important to me. I believe deeply that every child has a talent and that they deserve the opportunity to develop that talent.”

For Ellen, giving through a community foundation has brought a welcome sense of collaboration to her philanthropy.

“When I started in philanthropy all those years ago, it felt as though it was all quite competitive. Everyone was trying to get money from this and that and on to the next thing. In contrast, now you have the collaborative and collective nature of community foundation. When that level of collaboration happens, it doesn’t matter as a philanthropist how much money you have – you can still make a contribution that’s invaluable and I think that’s a wonderful development.”

Read the full story

Linh Do
Climate activist, Melbourne

Linh Do’s climate activism began in a very public way at age 16 when she initiated the Change a Million Light Bulbs campaign.

“Taking action is the best antidote to any form of paralysis,” says Linh. “That’s why my answer to anyone who’s unsure about what they can do about the climate crisis or how to start giving is always, ‘Just start’. 

“I’m not someone who has gazillions of dollars, and I also don’t think that money will solve absolutely everything. But there is something about knowing that I’m able to make a difference. My parents came to Australia as refugees and growing up, they taught me that there was always something we could be doing to help other people.”

Linh’s structured giving journey with Australian Communities Foundation began with a Gumnut Account, which she has grown over time to become a Named Fund

“For me, working with the Foundation has been super useful,” Linh says. “At the bigger picture level, it has helped me think more strategically about my giving decisions rather than being a bit ad hoc. At the smaller picture you can’t overlook the administrative benefits of having a structure to participate in that guides you along.”

Read the full story

Dennis Altman
Writer & academic, Melbourne

“I think it’s important that one gives money to promote social change,” says writer and academic Dennis Altman, “and that you don’t just give money to support the status quo.”

“Of course, there are humanitarian crises where you give money. There’s certainly value in that kind of giving, but I think beyond that, one needs to recognise that money is an important tool for change. I think that is the whole point of a place like a community foundation. It encourages people to think of giving money as a pathway to lasting change.” 

A long-standing fundholder at Australian Communities Foundation, Dennis recently chose to leave a bequest to his Named Fund.

“Knowing that it will be invested and grown into an ongoing source of funding for my focus areas makes it a more attractive option than simply leaving a one-off gift to charity. As a gay man, I am very conscious that relatively little philanthropy supports queer causes. I am particularly passionate about supporting people seeking asylum because of their sexuality or gender identity, of whom there will sadly be more in coming years.”

Read the full story

Sue Shepherd
Retired, Brisbane

Shepherd Family Foundation

When her husband Bruce passed away in 2019, Sue Shepherd looked for a way to honour Bruce’s legacy of giving back.

“Bruce was always conscious of the fact that he had more than many others,” says Bruce’s wife Sue, “and so he gave generously throughout his lifetime.” 

Sue and family then established the Shepherd Family Foundation, which today supports Queensland organisations that “enable positive social change and make a real difference in people’s lives,” explains Sue. “Our aim is to support Queensland communities to thrive.” 

“The prospect of establishing our own foundation by ourselves was overwhelming… Australian Communities Foundation has supported us throughout the journey, allowing us to focus on giving without the burden of administration.”

Read the full story

Melanie Gandevia
Content producer, Brisbane

Lana Wilson Memorial Fund

Like Sue, Brisbane-based content producer Melanie Gandevia (centre) began her structured giving journey to honour the memory of a loved one.

When Melanie’s mother Lana died suddenly at just 51 years old, Melanie was inspired to begin her giving journey in her mother’s name, donating to the causes she knew her mum was passionate about: children, animals, and people in regional communities. 

“She didn’t have a lot of money, but she was always very generous and willing to help absolutely anyone who needed it,” Melanie says. “After Mum passed away, I made a donation to Taronga Zoo in her name to help build the Lemur Forest Adventure space.”

Melanie continued giving, switching gears from charitable donations to structured giving by establishing a Gumnut Account, the Lana Wilson Memorial Fund.

“It’s a way to remember her and keep her spirit alive. This is my way of continuing her legacy.”

Read the full story

Tina Jackson
Impact100 Sydney North Chair, Sydney

Tina Jackson (second from left) heads up collective giving group, Impact100 Sydney North. “Collective giving has enormous potential in Australia because it’s such a powerful idea,” says Tina. “By pooling intellectual and financial resources we can make a difference beyond what we could alone.”

The group uses a Named Fund at Australian Communities Foundation to supports its simple model consistent with all IMPACT100 collective giving groups: 100+ members contribute a tax-deductible amount of $1,000 each year with members voting on where the funds should be distributed.

“Our grants go to smaller, grassroots for-purpose organisations dedicated to helping children, young people and families at-risk in the Greater Sydney region.”

Tina says the benefits of pooling resources – whether through a collective giving group or a community foundation – are driving people to give together.

“While the multiplier effect of collaborative giving is the most obvious, there are many more benefits: giving that is intentional and strategic and knowing how your money is being spent, creating a measurable impact, hands-on learning about philanthropy and local communities and causes, being part of a community of like-minded people and sharing the joy of giving.”

Read the full story

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