Declaration of 33 community foundations as community charities set to unlock locally led change on pressing social issues
Declaration of 33 community foundations as community charities set to unlock locally led change on pressing social issues
Media release: Community Foundations Australia (CFAus) welcomes today’s announcement by Assistant Minister for Charities, the Hon Andrew Leigh MP, that 33 community foundations have received ministerial declarations under the Community Charity Guidelines.
This news marks a significant turning point for community philanthropy in Australia that will empower unprecedented social change at the community level on issues including housing, climate resilience, gender equity and education.
The Community Charity Guidelines, legislated last year, created a new deductible gift recipient category designed specifically for community foundations. Today’s declarations bring that reform fully into effect, enabling declared community charities to seek ATO endorsement under the new settings.
The category unlocks new flexibility for community foundations. It enables private funders to work more easily with community foundations and shift resources closer to the ground, while allowing foundations to respond more directly to local priorities and emerging needs.
Of the 33 foundations declared today, eight have formed within the past year. The scale and speed of uptake demonstrate a readiness and capability across Australian communities that had long been present, but not fully supported under previous settings.
“This moment marks the shift from advocacy to activation. The reform is no longer an idea – it is being used, shaped and realised by communities in real time,” said Ian Bird, CFAus CEO.
“The reform removes unnecessary friction. It makes participation in local decision-making, resource distribution and long-term community investment much more achievable.” The community foundations movement is developing rapidly as a result, said Ian.
The news marks a long-awaited and exciting milestone that is the culmination of a 25-year advocacy journey for the sector. Until now, community foundations operated with structural constraints that limited how resources could flow. They faced barriers in attracting donations from private philanthropic foundations and entities – and were restricted from directly supporting many grassroots organisations that do not hold DGR1 status.
The community foundations declared today join four early adopters – Stand Like Stone Foundation, Fremantle Foundation, Australian Communities Foundation and Inner North Community Foundation.
“For more than two decades, the movement worked toward a framework that properly recognises community-led stewardship of local resources,” said Stacey Thomas, CFAus Chair.
“The 33 declarations today show that communities across Australia were ready.” She said the community charity model makes it simpler and more accessible for local people to establish and govern their own foundation.
“We are deeply grateful to Minister Andrew Leigh for his leadership, and to Treasury, the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission for the careful and genuinely collaborative way they have worked with us to shape and implement this reform.”
She also acknowledged Philanthropy Australia for its instrumental leadership and steadfast commitment to achieving DGR reform for community foundations.
“Philanthropy Australia’s vision and persistence over many years have been central to this outcome. Their partnership and sector leadership helped carry this reform across the line.”
She said the reform is based in lived experience. “This model has been shaped through policy collaboration but also with the lived governance experience of communities. Foundations from across the country brought forward practical insight and on-the-ground wisdom to help ensure the framework works in real places,” said Ms Thomas.
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer was also recognised for their tireless support and legal expertise across the reform journey, alongside the national network of community foundations that prepared rigorous applications and contributed deep community knowledge to the development of the framework.
“Community foundations are places where people gather, decide and act together. When the infrastructure aligns with how communities organise and collaborate, civic participation deepens. People are better able to contribute, to deliberate and to direct resources toward shared priorities. That is how belonging grows. That is how social capital is strengthened,” said Mr Bird.
“In the years ahead, we will see these foundations mobilising local capital, building partnerships and directing resources to community priorities. That is how resilient and self-determining communities are built.”
– Ends –
Read the Assistant Minister’s media release here.
33 new community charities:
- Adelaide Hills Foundation
- Albany Community Foundation
- Ballarat Foundation
- Border Trust
- Buderim Foundation (Sunshine Coast)
- Cardinia Community Foundation
- Community First Foundation
- Community Foundation for Snowy Valleys Region
- Denmark Community Foundation
- Eyre Peninsula Community Foundation
- Fleurieu Community Foundation
- Foundation Barossa
- Foundation for Community Connection
- Foundation Murrindindi
- Foundation SA
- Gippsland Community Foundation
- Greater Shepparton Foundation
- Hands Across Canberra
- Healesville & District Community Foundation (Yarra Valley Community Foundation)
- Mirboo North & District Community Foundation
- Mornington Peninsula Foundation
- Mparntwe Alice Springs Community Foundation
- Mumbulla Community Foundation
- Murray Connect Community Foundation
- Northern Rivers Community Foundation
- Rainbow Giving Australia
- Red Earth Community Foundation
- River North Community Foundation
- South West Community Foundation
- Southern Highlands Community Foundation
- Southern Riverina Community Foundation
- Strathbogie Ranges Community Foundation
- Sydney Community Foundation