Update: Philanthropy Australia’s strategic planning process 

We’re pleased to report that we had an incredible response to the recent strategy survey from organisations of all types and sizes across the country. Thank you, your engagement is truly appreciated, and it reinforces how important this planning process is to you all. 

We’re thrilled to see so many participating, including contributions and ideas from beyond the current PA membership. Insights from the survey will shape the next phase of consultation, helping us to better understand the issues and priorities that matter most to our members and the sector.  

So, what are we hearing? Two key themes have really stood out about Philanthropy Australia’s role: 

When it comes to being a Convener, you’ve told us you value how we bring people together for collective impact and making the sector more effective. You also appreciate the knowledge sharing that happens through these networks. 

As a Leading Voice, you see value in our unique position as the peak body representing the sector. You’ve highlighted our ability to advocate to governments and key stakeholders. 

A few other things that have jumped out at us so far: 

• Many of you want us to define a clearer, more focused strategy. 

• There’s a real passion for making philanthropy more accessible to diverse groups. 

• We noticed some interesting differences in priorities – not-for-profits are very focused on growing giving, while funders prioritise initiatives to increase knowledge, education, improve philanthropic practices, and improve the regulatory environment. 

We’re taking all this into account in our upcoming focus groups to dig deeper into what you’ve shared and to further consider the future of philanthropy and the evolution of the sector. This survey has both confirmed some of our thoughts and raised new questions for us to explore. We’re grateful for your insights and feedback.  

We invite you to continue the conversation – please reach out to any of us on the PA team with your thoughts about where we should be heading.  

You can also contact us at [email protected].