As the end of financial year approaches, donors can often find themselves inundated with funding requests and appeals. 

While the deadline for grants to be processed this financial year has passed, it’s important to also consider granting in the quieter periods after EOFY. 

One of the great benefits of Named Funds is the flexibility they offer. By making a tax-deductible contribution before 30 June, you can secure the tax benefit this financial year – and then take your time to plan distributions for the quieter months that follow. 

While many charities receive a spike in donations at EOFY, they often face quieter periods in the second half of the year. That’s when many organisations review their finances, identify funding gaps, and plan for the months ahead – making it an ideal time to offer support. 

For example, you might check in with your grantees in July or August to understand their evolving priorities. Some Fundholders use this time to support capacity-building needs, while others focus on helping organisations bridge funding gaps until their next round of government or philanthropic support arrives. 

Using your Fund in this way allows you to respond more thoughtfully to community needs. Whether you’re planning to revisit your funding focus, involve your family in decision-making, or consult your advisor, you can grant at your own pace – while your balance remains invested in our responsibly managed portfolio. 

By aligning your granting with these quieter periods, you can often achieve deeper impact – your support may be more noticeable, more timely, and more valued by the organisations you care about. Plus, this approach helps build stronger relationships with grantees who see you as a thoughtful, engaged funder. 

Named Funds also have no annual distribution requirement at Australian Communities. Unlike private ancillary funds and other donor-advised fund providers, which require you to grant 4–5% each financial year, you have the flexibility to grant on your own timeline. ACF as a Foundation is required to distribute at least 4% of its corpus annually – and we always grant well above this.

If you’re considering a top-up, now’s the time – and if you’re not quite ready to grant, that’s okay too. With a Named Fund, your granting isn’t tied to the tax calendar. 

Have you made your EOFY contributions to your Fund? Search and donate here 

Need support with your EOFY giving or want to learn more about Named Funds? Contact us for a conversation 

Listening to our giving community is one of the most important ways Australian Communities Foundation continues to grow and strengthen our work. 

That’s why, in late 2024, we invited all Fund Advisors to take part in our most in-depth survey to date. The survey responses provided valuable insights into people’s experiences of giving through ACF and the make-up of our growing community. 

Here are five key takeaways from the survey:

1. Our community is growing and evolving 

Once based primarily in Melbourne, our giving community continues to grow across the country. This year’s survey saw a notable increase in responses from New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia, indicating that more people around the country are choosing ACF as their giving partner. 

We’re also seeing a rise in younger givers stepping forward with several new Funds led by people in their 30s and 40s. 

“It’s exciting to see our community evolving to better reflect the breadth and diversity of people giving across Australia,” said Andrew Binns, ACF Chief Executive Officer. 

“Looking ahead, we’re committed to increasing opportunities for engagement across the country – ensuring that wherever you live, you can feel connected, supported, and inspired to give through ACF.” 

“We’re thrilled to see this level of satisfaction and advocacy among our community,” said Andrew Binns. “It reflects the trust our Fundholders place in us to support their giving.” 

2. Climate and education are top giving priorities 

The survey confirmed what we’ve been seeing through recent grantmaking: environmental and climate challenges are top of mind for our community right now, with education and employment close behind. 

Other areas of strong interest include First Nations, housing, health and medical research, and social inclusion. 

These insights will help inform how we curate events, develop learning opportunities, and connect Funds to high-impact organisations working across these focus areas. 

“It’s clear our giving community is stepping up to face the most urgent challenges of the day,” said Andrew. “Fund Advisors want to support long-term solutions and we’re here to help them do that in thoughtful and strategic ways.” 

3. Fundholders value our expertise and our sense of community 

When we asked why Fund Advisors chose to open a Fund with ACF, two factors stood out: access to philanthropic expertise and the opportunity to be part of a community of like-minded givers. 

Many respondents shared that they feel supported by ACF’s knowledgeable team and inspired by the chance to connect with others who share their values. Financial benefits such as tax deductibility and cost-effectiveness were also key drivers, but our reputation for trusted advice and community connection came first. 

“We often hear that people come to ACF because we make strategic giving easy,” Andrew said. “Once they start engaging with our education and networking opportunities, they then feel part of something bigger – a community committed to creating a fairer and more sustainable Australia.” 

“Looking ahead, we’re committed to increasing opportunities for engagement across the country – ensuring that wherever you live, you can feel connected, supported, and inspired to give through ACF.” 

4. Our community is highly satisfied – and recommending us to others 

We’re proud to report that 98% of respondents said they were satisfied or very satisfied with their experience at ACF. This result exceeds our target benchmark of 95% and reflects the positive relationships we’ve built with our giving community. 

Our Net Promoter Score (NPS) – a measure of how likely someone is to recommend an organisation – came in at 60, a strong result in the context of Australia’s philanthropic and professional services sectors. 

“We’re thrilled to see this level of satisfaction and advocacy among our community,” said Andrew. “It reflects the trust our Fundholders place in us to support their giving.” 

5. Many Fundholders are thinking long-term – but some need support 

The survey showed that many in our community are planning ahead with their giving – whether that means growing their Fund, setting annual granting targets, or involving family members in future decisions. 

But not all Funds have a clear plan for the long-term direction of their Fund.  

If you haven’t yet created a long-term plan for your Fund, we’d love to support you through a Fund Review. This is a great opportunity to reflect on your goals, explore new ideas, and ensure your giving continues to align with your values over time. 

 “A Fund Review is a great way to pause and think about what comes next,” said Andrew, “whether that’s expanding your giving, refining your focus, or engaging the next generation. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.” 

Don’t miss our VIC Fund Forum where we’re launching the ACF Good Giving Toolkit – your new guide to giving with purpose. Can’t join us in Melbourne? We’re planning a series of Fund Forums across Australia, so stay tuned for more details.

Thank you to everyone who took part in the survey – your feedback is helping shape the future of our giving community. 

If you’d like to discuss your Fund or book a Fund Review, please reach out to our Community Team: [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you. 

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.

We’re excited to announce the launch of the ACF Fund Support Centre, a dedicated online resource designed to help you get the most from your Fund at Australian Communities Foundation (ACF).

Whether you have questions about growing your Fund, granting, fundraising or succession planning, the Fund Support Centre is your one-stop shop for clear, accessible guidance.

What you’ll find on the ACF Fund Support Centre:

• Essential information on managing your Fund and getting the most out of being part of our giving community.
• Searchable support – browse key topics or enter a keyword to find exactly what you need.
• Updated policies – all guidance is based on ACF’s recently refreshed policies.

The Fund Support Centre replaces the ACF Fund Manual as the primary resource for Fundholders, offering a more user-friendly, up-to-date and interactive experience.

Visit the Fund Support Centre now and explore everything you need to know about managing your Fund with confidence. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, our team is always here to assist you. Simply contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) is dedicated to making philanthropy easy and accessible.

As part of this commitment, we have refined several policies to better align with our current operations and ensure Fundholders have the guidance and flexibility they need. 

These updates, effective from 1 January 2025, provide clearer pathways for Fund management and greater support for your giving goals. 

We encourage Fundholders to review the key policy updates below and explore specific policies, including Fund Establishment, Gift Acceptance, and Fund Succession, available on our website. All other policies are available upon request. 

Key Policy Updates 

1. Named Fund Expenses and Reimbursements Policy 

• We’ve expanded eligible expenses to include insurance, professional development, and travel/accommodation for philanthropic events, so you can grow your knowledge and connections in the sector. 

• To ensure sustainability, Funds with balances below $10,000 will generally not be eligible for expense claims. 

2. Investment Strategy Changes Policy 

• Fund Advisors may request a change in investment strategy once per 12-month period (e.g., shifting from a long-term to a short-term strategy). 

3. Fund Establishment Policy 

• To make it easier for new Funds to start their journey, we have reduced the minimum Fund balance to $10,000 for most Funds (from $20,000), effective since 1 July 2024. 

4. Gift Acceptance Policy 

• We accept gifts in a variety of forms, including cash, shares and property. 

• We’ve also strengthened our commitment to ensuring donations are not misaligned with our values. 

5. Fundraising and Expense Policy 

• We’ve expanded the definitions of eligible and ineligible fundraising activities. Eligible activities include hosting functions and events, sponsoring someone to participate in an event, and selling goods. 

• To give you more flexibility, we’ve increased the expense-to-income ratio limit from 40% to 50% (e.g., for an event raising $10,000, up to $5,000 can be claimed in expenses). 

6. Gifts in Wills Policy  

• To ensure a lasting legacy, we have introduced a $100,000 minimum for Legacy Funds. If a legacy gift to ACF is below this amount, it will support the Impact Fund, ensuring every dollar contributes to meaningful change. 

7. Fund Succession Policy 

• We’ve added clarity around how succession planning works, ensuring the original primary advisor’s role is well-defined. 

• To make transitions smoother, new Funds will now appoint a successor at the time of establishment. 

• Successor advisors have the flexibility to modify focus areas unless restrictions apply, ensuring Funds can continue to reflect changing priorities. 

• We’ve also added guidance on resolving disputes, including those arising from life changes. 

8. Fund and Account Closure Policy 

• We’re introducing more proactive engagement by shortening the inactivity period from 2 years to 12 months. This helps us stay connected and ensure Funds remain active and impactful. 

• If a Fund needs to transition, we now have clearer pathways, including converting Funds back to Gumnut Accounts where appropriate. 

• We’ve also outlined specific circumstances where ACF may need to close a Fund, ensuring transparency and fairness. 

Next Steps 

These updates reflect ACF’s commitment to strong governance and ongoing support for our Fundholders.  

If you have any questions or require further support, please contact Thomas Lopez, Fund and Client Services Lead, at 03 9412 0412 or email [email protected]. 

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

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

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

1. Align Giving with Your Values

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

2. Set SMART Goals for Your Giving

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

3. Explore Collaborative Giving

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

4. Prioritise Learning and Feedback

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

5. Build a Legacy of Impact

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

A Fresh Start for a Meaningful Year

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

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

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

Tip 1: Understand the contemporary philanthropy ecosystem

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

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

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

Tip 2: Seek out peer alignment and collaboration

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

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

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

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

Tip 3: Maintain an open mind and continual learning stance 

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

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

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

Tip 4: Find the right balance in funding partnerships

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Listen on Spotify
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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.

Learn more

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.