Community foundations are locally led social infrastructure platforms designed to invest in community development, build capacity and adapt solutions to a local context. They are effective because communities have first-hand knowledge of the issues affecting them, a pre-existing network of relationships built on trust, and the ability to harness local resources to create transformative change from the bottom-up.

Community foundations create opportunities for and offer support to frontline organisations, charities, and individuals in need by raising money, building and managing enduring community assets, and channelling funds where they are most needed via responsive, agile grant-making. By making it easy for anyone to donate to local causes in an effective and transparent way, community foundations generate collective action and community agency and vision.

The unique value of this specific kind of philanthropic organisation lies in its ethos of local action on local issues. Through this focus, a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable nation can emerge.

In Australia, there are nearly 50 formally established community foundations working to make their local community a better place to live, nourishing rural areas, regional towns, and capital cities alike. While the national field is relatively small compared to those in New Zealand, Canada, the UK and a number of European countries, recent changes in Australian legislation have served to pave the ground for the rapid growth that’s now occurring. As we expand and strengthen our national CF network, it’s a great time to learn about this vital and refreshing approach to philanthropy!