Savvy Giving is an essential read for anyone committed to shaping a better world through giving. Order your copy of the 2024 edition.

Our recent Tackling Inequality Learning with Tracey Martinovich, Zoe Chan, Simon Quilty and Maiy Azize provided great insights for better giving to support safe, affordable and sustainable housing in Australia. 

Find August 2024 granting ideas from our Grants Team.

Granting ideas supporting First Nations self-determination to celebrate NAIDOC Week 2024.

Find July 2024 granting recommendations from our Grants Team.

The Australian Communities Foundation Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Binns as our next CEO. Andrew has deep expertise in community development and philanthropy, and joins us after a long and varied career with World Vision Australia.

Find June 2024 granting recommendations from our Grants Team.

Australian Communities Foundation’s recent First Nations Learning Circle, with Millie Telford and Rona Glynn-McDonald, provided great insights for better giving to support First Nations communities.  This National Reconciliation Week, take the time to reflect on your support for First Nations communities with the summary below. If you would like to learn more about First Nations-led […]

Find May 2024 granting recommendations from our Grants Team.

The Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) Board is pleased to announce that Carly Severino has been appointed Acting CEO.

The ACF Impact Fund’s 2023 program, Voices for Impact, took out the Collaboration Award at the 2024 Philanthropy Awards in Sydney.

Find April 2024 granting recommendations from our Grants Team.

The board of Australian Communities Foundation is sharing the news that, after nine years, our exemplary CEO Maree Sidey is leaving the organisation.

Find this month’s granting recommendations from our Grants Team.

Australian Communities Foundation is pleased to announce that Fiona McLeay has joined its Board as Chair Elect. Fiona steps onto the Board as part of a transition to replace current Chair, Eric Beecher, who will retire after six years in the role. Fiona, who is currently Victorian Legal Services Board CEO and Commissioner, will commence […]

Australian Communities Foundation receives funding proposals from a wide range of organisations through our Granting Opportunties platform. See below for this month’s granting recommendations from our Grants Team. Rethinking Australia’s Education System – Equity, Fairness & Choice Australian Learning Lecture Australia has one of the most segregated school systems in the OECD. To drive the […]

ACF was saddened to hear about the recent passing of John Burke who was instrumental in the work of the Towards a Just Society Fund (TJSF), established in the early 2000s to address injustice and discrimination, with a particular focus on First Nations education.

Contribute to the Rapid Response Referendum Grants Pool today so that, together, we can continue amplifying First Nations efforts towards Voice and add to the great work already enabled.

Community groups across Australia are gearing up to amplify First Nations’ efforts towards Voice after receiving funding through the Rapid Response Referendum Grant Round. Launched in June by Australian Communities Foundation’s First Nations Advisory Group, the Grant Round is a key pillar of the Foundation’s ongoing work to amplify community voices in support of an […]

Australian Communities Foundation’s Relationship Manager, Thomas Lopez, answers all your frequently asked questions about giving in time for the end of financial year.

Impact Partners have welcomed steps in this year’s Budget to tackle inequality, support First Nations and safeguard the environment, but they say a bolder vision is needed.

Australian Communities Foundation has joined an alliance of some of Australia’s leading philanthropic foundations to declare its support for Voice.

We are delighted to announce Australian Communities Foundation co-founder, Marion Webster AM, was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in this year’s Australia Day Honours. With more than 30 years in the for-purpose sector, Marion was recognised for her “significant service to the community, to the philanthropic sector, and to women”. Marion has been […]

Community programs and organisations working with families with children in the prenatal to two-year-old age range are set to grow their impact after being awarded funding in the new Strengthening Early Years program.

Australian Communities Foundation has been named a Responsible Investment Leader by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) for the second year running. Launched this month, RIAA’s 2022 Benchmark Report shows the value of Australian assets managed using a responsible investment approach has hit $1.54 trillion, now accounting for 43% of the total market. The report […]

Anne Kantor AO (1935–2022) made a significant contribution to the early-stage development of community foundations in Australia.

The Paul Ramsay Foundation and Australian Communities Foundation have announced a national open grant round for programs and organisations working with families with children in the prenatal to two-year-old age range.

With the end of financial year fast approaching, we sat down with everyone’s favourite Donor Services Coordinator for answers to your questions on EOFY donating, granting, accessing receipts and statements, and more.

In December 2021, the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Political Campaigners) Act 2021 was passed by the Federal Parliament. This Amending Act has made some changes to the existing registration and disclosure scheme under the Electoral Act.

Given the recent attack on the charities sector, this month’s Impact Fund update is focused on partners working for a stronger democracy.

Updates from the Grata Fund, ACOSS, Everybody’s Home, and more.

Our CEO Maree Sidey chats with Pro Bono Australia about our transition to 100% responsible investing and why foundations shouldn’t be scared to take the same journey.

Updates from the Poverty and Inequality Partnership, Farmers for Climate Action, the Public Interest Journalism Initiative and Country Needs People.

Updates from Human Rights Law Centre, ACOSS, Dhadjowa Foundation and more.

As part of our transition to a new database, we’re introducing a new online portal for our grant partners.

Updates from Equality Australia, Everybody’s Home, Raise the Rate and more.

At Australian Communities Foundation, we’re committed to making philanthropy easy and accessible. That’s why we’re introducing a new and improved online portal for our giving community.

Updates from Our Islands Our Home, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Reset Australia and more.

Australian Communities Foundation congratulates friends and members of our giving community on being recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List for their achievements in the NFP and philanthropic sector.

Updates from #OurDemocracy campaign, Climate Council, Uluru Statement and Change the Record.

ChangeFest is a national celebration of place-based social change with a growing focus on systems change.

Updates from Renew, Australian Gun Safety Alliance, SNAICC and the Dhadjowa Foundation, plus an update on the Change the Record campaign, supported by four Impact Fund partners.

Ka-Ching! Pokie Nation – a ground-breaking expose on how Pokies are programmed for addiction – has supported the work of Impact Fund partner, the Alliance for Gambling Reform.

Updates from four partners, including the Public Interest Journalism Initiative’s response to the passing of the News Media Bargaining Code.

Find out how our Impact Fund partners are advancing social, environmental and cultural justice in Australia in this update.

Updates from four Impact Fund partners, including a new report on housing stress and homelessness, and a public health resource to curb misinformation.

The National Crisis Response Fund has awarded another 10 grants to communities across Australia, including grants to Give Where You Live and StreetSmart for regranting.

The National Crisis Response Fund has awarded another 15 grants to communities across Australia feeling the long-lasting impacts of a year of disruption.

The potency of collective giving as a force for change was on full display at Reimagining Australia: Meet the Changemakers on 22 October.

As the end of a very unusual 2020 approaches, we reflect on the changes that have been made across the investment portfolio.

News and updates for the giving community from our Impact Fund partners.

News and updates for the giving community from our Impact Fund partners.

The National Crisis Response Fund has awarded another 15 grants to communities most in need of our support at this time.

Australian Communities Foundation and our community of givers are looking to windows of opportunity for change on a national scale.

In response to this crucial moment, Australian Communities Foundation is adapting the Impact Fund to do things a little differently this year.

News and updates for the giving community from our Impact Fund partners.

News and updates for the giving community from our Impact Fund partners.

The National Crisis Response Fund has disbursed another two grants to organisations serving communities most in need of our support during COVID-19.

Australian Communities Foundation is deeply saddened by the recent passing of one of Australia’s greatest champions of philanthropy, Dr Christopher Baker.

News and updates for the giving community from our Impact Fund partners.

Two ACF sub-funds, the Koondee Woonga-gat Toor-rong Fund and Hobsons Bay Community Fund, have both received $100,000 in support from the Ecstra Foundation.

The Australian Government has just announced changes to the guidelines for private and public ancillary funds, incentivising donors to give support at a time when communities across Australia need it most.

A snapshot of funding from the giving community in response to Covid-19 and Australia’s Black Summer.

News and updates for the giving community from our Impact Fund partners.

The National Crisis Response Fund has awarded its first three grants, reaching communities especially vulnerable to the repercussions of COVID-19.

Supporting key players in digital civil society to strategise effectively.

Yaqiu Wang from Human Rights Watch and Osmond Chiu from Per Capita share insights with our Tackling Inequality Learning Circle.

Australian Communities Foundation and peak body Philanthropy Australia launch the COVID-19 National Funding Platform.

Funding recommendations and suggestions for making a difference in your community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting us all, but social distancing should not mean social isolation – we’re all in this together and we will be finding creative and ingenious ways to stay connected as a community over the next few months.

Funding recommendations that are specifically connected with Kangaroo Island and the unique challenges the community there faces.

Throughout the year, our donors have a number of opportunities to come together to discuss topics of interest in particular focus areas, with best-practice giving being the latest addition.

Louise Kuramoto, Head of Philanthropy & Impact, shares an update on our giving community’s response to the bushfire crisis.

It’s been a confronting start to 2020, yet people around Australia have responded swiftly and generously as the nationwide bushfire crisis continues to unfold.

The devastation caused by bushfires in New South Wales and Queensland is a national issue that calls for us to band together in support of the affected communities.

This year’s Impact Fund showcase, held on 24 October, was bigger and bolder than ever with more than 170 guests filling The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne’s CBD.

As one of Australia’s foremost ethical and impact investment firms, Brightlight will support Australian Communities Foundation to transition to 100% responsible investing.

In June 2019, four ACF staff attended the Community Foundations of Canada Conference and met with social change advocates across North America.

In an article for Pro Bono News, Louise Kuramoto, Head of Philanthropy & Impact, shares five lessons the Australian Communities Foundation learned from a recent trip to the United States.

Pro Bono Australia chat with Maree about democratising philanthropy and the global community foundation movement.

Australian Communities Foundation entirely divests its $90 million corpus investment portfolio from fossil fuels and focus on investments with positive environmental outcomes.

We share the top insights from our 2017 Donor Survey. Ninety-three percent of our giving community would recommend ACF to a friend.

With support from the Impact Fund and other ACF funds, ACOSS launches new study to find policy answers and actions to reduce inequality.

ACF committee member and long-time donor, Sue Dahn, is named leading female adviser in the 2018 list of Top 50 Financial Advisers in Australia.

A warm welcome to Eric Beecher, our newest director, who will take up the role of Board Chair.

Louise Kuramoto joins the team, bringing several years of experience in granting strategy, monitoring and evaluation and addressing social issues.