Australian Philanthropy Awards 2021

Our 2021 Australian Philanthropy Awards celebrate shining examples of innovative, strategic philanthropy.

Nomination Closed

Shining examples of innovative, strategic philanthropy were celebrated at the seventh annual Australian Philanthropy Awards. Presented in a special online ceremony on 16 November for the second consecutive year.

Recipients from across the depth and breadth of the Australian philanthropic sector were recognised in 9 award categories: Leading Philanthropist, Better Philanthropy, Bolder Philanthropy, Best Grant Program, Community Philanthropy, Environmental Philanthropy, Indigenous Philanthropy, The Eve Mahlab AO Gender-wise Philanthropy, and International Philanthropy.

The 2021 recipients represent best practice philanthropy in action, including:

  • a program to address the chronic underrepresentation of women in Australian parliaments
  • a rapid response COVID fund that helped mobilise local giving to help a community in need
  • a multi-year funding and support program for investigative journalism that gets under the surface of the big issues perpetuating climate change.

Australian philanthropy’s highest honour, the Leading Philanthropist Award, was awarded to Tim Fairfax AC for his significant and enduring contributions to rural and regional Australia, as well as his passionate support and advocacy for organisations involved in education, arts and culture.

Ceremony video

Australian Philanthropy Awards 2021 recipients

Leading Philanthropist

Tim Fairfax AC

Better Philanthropy Award

Fay Fuller Foundation and Our Town

Bolder Philanthropy Award

Gandel Foundation and Smiling Mind

Best Grant Program Award

Rapid Advocacy Fund, jointly initiated by Australian Progress, Australian Communities Foundation and Australian Council of Social Service

Community Philanthropy Award

Inner North Community Foundation

Environmental Philanthropy Award

Limb Family Foundation and Guardian Australia

Indigenous Philanthropy Award

CAGES Foundation and Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation

International Philanthropy Award

Arup Australasia and Engineers Without Borders Australia

The Eve Mahlab AO Gender-wise Philanthropy Award

Trawalla Foundation, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia and the University of Melbourne (Pathways to Politics Program for Women)

Partners

The Australian Philanthropy Awards 2021 were generously supported by:

Macquarie Bank

Australian Communities Fondation

Australian Community Philanthropy

Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal

Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation

Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network AEGN

Australians Investing in Women

Ninti One Limited

Australian Council for International Development

Australian International Development Network AIDN

Become a partner

If you have any questions or would like more information about the Australian Philanthropy Awards, contact us at [email protected]