Foundations Group for Impact Investing (FGII)

FGII’s market building objectives are to:

• • Reduce impact investment transaction costs and market fragmentation; and

• • Improve the flow of capital from foundations to For Purpose Organisations (FPOs).

FGII’s activities consist of:

• • Education: Build practical knowledge of impact investing by amplifying the reach of existing impact investing events delivered by critical market peers, and running tailored peer-to-peer sessions for FGII members.

• • Origination: Raise awareness of FPOs who are actively seeking impact capital and support. In doing so, FGII aims to boost market navigation for FPOs and support pipeline of members.

How do we achieve this?

FGII strives to achieve its goals through building awareness, connections and knowledge through:

• • Market Information Days: events which educate attendees on the impact investment landscape and FPO impact investment opportunities (open to FGII members and non-members).

• • Peer-to-Peer learning: sessions for members, delivered by members to share their experiences and learnings of impact investing (open to FGII members only).

• • Education events: Amplifying the reach of existing impact investing events delivered by critical market peers (open to FGII members and non-members).

FGII Market Information Days are an opportunity to hear from inspiring For Purpose Organisations and initiatives who are actively seeking impact capital and support. The events are designed to educate attendees on the impact investment landscape and FPO impact investment opportunities.

Following a series of interactive presentations, during which attendees can pose questions and those presenting can benefit from attendee feedback, Market Information Days conclude with a FGII member-only closed session to enable peer learning.

Register to attend an upcoming Market Information Day via the FGII events page.

Refer to prior Market Information Day speakers and resources here.

Apply to speak at a Market Information Day

Nominations for future Market Information Days speakers are now open.

To nominate a speaker for a Market information Day, please review the criteria below and complete the nomination form.

The nominations will be reviewed by a dedicated Market Information Day Selection Panel, assessing the application against our speaker criteria and at an overall portfolio level. Successful applicants will be contacted as outlined in the timeline below.

MID criteria

What are we looking for in a Market information Day speaker?

• A clear ask
• Innovating – in product, investment instrument, or initiative
• Seeking support from foundations and charitable funders
• Happy to speak openly and transparently about their work
• Likelihood or ability to attract interest elsewhere

How do we assess the diversity across speakers?

As part of the selection panel, we apply a portfolio approach where speakers are collectively considered to create diversity of:

• Impact theme
• Diversity of ask
• Size of ask (if investment)
• Stage of proposal / ask
• Geographic impact
• Speaker diversity
  • Gender
  • First Nations
  • Lived experience

Nomination dates

You may submit an MID speaker application at any time, please refer to application close dates below (subject to change, please refer to this website) to be considered for an upcoming MID. You may elect to retain your details on file for future MIDs, should your application be unsuccessful for the event applied for.

These sessions are an opportunity to meet the team, learn about FGII, and learn how to get involved. We’ll commence with an overview of FGII followed by an informal Q&A.

For prospective members, these drop-in sessions are an opportunity to explore if FGII membership is right for you and connect with peers in the industry.

This event is for anyone interested in learning about FGII including prospective members.

Impact investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. (Source: GIIN) 

The Foundations Group for Impact Investing (FGII), launched in 2023, exists to improve the supply and demand for impact capital. We achieve this, through convening foundations and charitable funders who are interested in starting or enhancing their impact investing activities.

FGII focuses on catalytic, concessionary and often early-stage impact investing (often referred to as ‘Program Related Investments’ (PRIs)).

FGII is a market building initiative designed for foundations and charitable funders with their own investible assets. FGII also seeks to support the ‘demand side’ of the market by raising awareness for For Purpose Organisations who are actively seeking impact capital and support. Furthermore, we wish to collaborate with the broader impact investing community to work towards a stronger impact investing market.

FGII’s market building objectives are to: reduce impact investment transaction costs and market fragmentation; and improve the flow of capital from foundations to For Purpose Organisations (FPOs).

FGII focuses on building and deepening connections and knowledge of members through events including: Market Information Days, peer-to-peer learning and education sessions. Events are open to FGII members and non-members as specified. FGII also offers informal Meet & Greet sessions to learn about FGII and how to get involved.

FGII membership is free and open to foundations and charitable funders with their own investible assets. Eligible member organisations includes Private Foundations, Public and Community Foundations and Charitable Funders. Prospective members can submit an EOI form via the FGII website outlining your organisation’s profile, impact investing activities and intent. EOIs are reviewed by the Steering Committee bi-monthly against the membership criteria, intent and conflicts as disclosed. Prospective members can register for an upcoming FGII Meet & Greet session to meet the team, learn about membership and how to get involved (please refer to the FGII events page for dates). Once membership is approved you may invite staff within your organisation to FGII events and to our membership list.

We invite all other individuals and organisations who fall outside the membership eligibility to Subscribe to Updates to keep up to date on news, events and opportunities to get involved.

Please refer to the application form and deadlines on the FGII website to be considered for a Market Information Day. Applications are open to For Purpose Organisations and assessed by the Market Information Day Selection Panel based on the following criteria:

• A clear ask
• Innovating – in product, investment instrument, or initiative
• Seeking support from foundations and charitable funders
• Happy to speak openly and transparently about their work
• Likelihood or ability to attract interest elsewhere

Successful applicants will be contacted by the dates outlined in the nominations table on the website.

FGII is an independent market building initiative run by Philanthropy Australia.  FGII membership is independent of Philanthropy Australia membership.

FGII is funded with the generous contribution of donors and FGII members. If interested in supporting FGII please contact FGII Program Manager Michelle Di Fabio at [email protected]

FGII closely partners with other market builders and intermediaries in Australia and globally across the impact investing market to deliver on FGII’s objectives. We welcome all actors and individuals across the eco-system to collaborate and work towards a stronger impact investing market. Please register your interest via Subscribe for Updates to get involved or contact FGII at [email protected].