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Growing community foundations for a fairer Australia.
News & Analysis
News & Analysis
In this engaging webinar, Adam Hicks from the Saskatchewan Community Foundation in Canada shares the story of a remarkable transformation. In only four years, the foundation has grown from $90m to $185m in assets while expanding granting capacity to more than $7m annually to 300 charities – all of which he attributes to 'hyperfocusing' on relationship-building.
In its first year, the Bega Valley Women’s Giving Circle, under Mumbulla Community Foundation, has brought together 45 local women and raised $45,000 for the community. That strong start was helped by something at the heart of the movement: the willingness to share experience, ideas and lessons - in this case by the Northern Rivers Community Foundation.
What is strongest in times of crisis, capable of extraordinary human achievement and yet invisible to the eye? The question may sound like a riddle, and in many ways it is. Ballarat Community Foundation, with two other pilots, is exploring this question by unpacking the elements of social infrastructure and civility that help communities to connect and thrive.
As part of the growing momentum of community philanthropy in Australia, we are pleased to invite Expressions of Interest from across the ecosystem to join the pilot Field Catalyst Fund Stewardship Committee. It's an unmissable opportunity to develop a deep understanding of how the field catalyst and resource transfer models work.
CFAustralia Update
Community Foundations Australia is excited to be recruiting two new important roles. The Director, Foundation and Field Development provides strategic leadership for CFAus' work to strengthen community philanthropy, while the Community Funds for Gender Equity Alliance Lead will steward this fast-developing alliance of collective action.
Community Foundations Australia is delighted to announce we will be heading to Rubibi (Broome) in Western Australia for the National Community Foundations Forum in September 2027. We are excited and grateful to be hosted on Country by Aarnja Limited (Aarnja).
The official launch of Spinifex Foundation SA was a celebration years in the making, but for CEO Warren Miller, it also marked an important step in strengthening Indigenous-led impact across Australia.
The Ageing Well Impact Community, stewarded by Community Foundations Australia (CFAus) comprising 12 community philanthropy organisations across the country, has joined others from the social welfare, community and philanthropic sectors in a major new initiative to help older people experience greater connection, participation and belonging.  
Media release
A national project to address loneliness and social isolation among older Australians has been launched. The initiative brings together organisations from the social welfare, community and philanthropic sectors to help older people experience greater connection, participation and belonging – and build more intergenerational links. 
Video
Highlights from the 2026 National Community Foundations Forum.
What we do

Community Foundations Australia connects and supports community-led philanthropic organisations so that the field can operate more effectively and efficiently, and create lasting social change in communities.

Our mission is to catalyse collaboration, participation and innovation within the community philanthropy movement to create a fairer, more sustainable Australia.

 

We work with the whole field–community groups, community foundations and other forms of community-led philanthropy, partners and government–to advocate for community governance models, and to empower local communities to determine their own futures.