Public edition #4 | 21 March 2025

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An Australian COP31 should be a ‘People’s COP with community at its core’

Climate Action Week Sydney wrapped up last week with a powerful call for COP31 to be a ‘People’s COP,’ centring on community engagement, First Nations voices, and inclusion. As Australia and the Pacific bid to co-host COP31, sector leaders are calling for a community-centred approach to climate.

50+ stories for 50 years

This year marks Philanthropy Australia’s 50th anniversary! For five decades, our community has championed philanthropy, driving positive change across Australia. As an organisation, we have continued to grow, evolve, and thrive thanks to you—our members, both past and present. Now's your opportunity to submit a historic photo and/or story for our 50 years photo gallery and story pages.

‘Giving circles are fun’: Impact100 Melbourne launches 

Impact100 Melbourne has launched to unite 100 (or more) Melburnians, each contributing $1,000, to fund high-impact local initiatives in a meaningful way. Supported by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, this collective giving model empowers everyday citizens to become changemakers, by fostering community engagement and amplifying philanthropic impact.

White Box launches first-of-its-kind loan fund to fuel growth in social enterprises

White Box Enterprises has launched the Social Enterprise Loan Fund (SELF). It offers flexible, low-rate loans to support social enterprises in creating more than 200 jobs for individuals facing barriers to employment. Backed by philanthropy and government, SELF aims to provide the ‘right capital at the right time’.

Resource Generation launches in Australia: Young wealth holders invited to join

Resource Generation is a global community of young people with wealth or class privilege committed to the equitable distribution of wealth and power. The Resource Generation Australia Working Group is seeking young people with inherited, earned, or future wealth who are passionate or curious about social justice and looking for a transformative experience, deep learning and peer connection to participate in the pilot cohort. Visit the new Resource Generation Australia website for more information and to express your interest in joining, or register to attend the Sydney/Gadigal info night on 9 April to hear more.

SILA leadership program opens for applications in NSW and ACT

The Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) program is now accepting applications from CEOs of for-purpose organisations in NSW and ACT. This fully funded, influential professional development program aims to boost leadership capabilities, and drive greater impact within the sector.

Empowered giving for a fairer future: Episode 12 - Hugh Belfrage

In the final episode of the Empowered Giving for a Fairer Future series by AIIW, Hugh Belfrage, Director of the VNF Housing Enterprise Foundation, shares his journey into philanthropy.

Hugh highlights the housing crisis as a key area where gender disparities are evident. Recognising this, he emphasises the need for policies that tackle the structural inequalities in the system. 

Philanthropy Australia farewells Adam Ognall

One of Victoria’s major private philanthropic Foundations, the Gandel Foundation, has appointed Adam Ognall as the organisation’s new Chief Executive Officer. Adam Ognall will join the Gandel Foundation from Philanthropy Australia where he is currently Executive Director, Partnerships and Practice.

“Philanthropy does not achieve change in and of itself.”

In a recently published interview, F&P magazine's Fiona Atkinson asks Philanthropy Australia CEO Maree Sidey what philanthropy means for her, for fundraisers and for Australia. Emphasising that true change arises from collective action, Maree advocates for democratising philanthropy by highlighting diverse forms of generosity—volunteering, activism, and community support.  

For access to the full listings of sector grant opportunities, PA events and sector events, join our community and take your philanthropy to the next level.

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Philanthropy Australia acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.