How impact investment is making a difference in global health equity
Mark Sullivan AO, founder and managing director of Medicines Development for Global Health
Fri, 2 Feb 2024
Impact investing is playing a critical and growing role in the development of medicines to treat ‘neglected diseases’ affecting the world’s poorest and most underserved peoples. These medicines would not otherwise be developed by the pharmaceutical industry, which is primarily driven by financial returns. Here, Mark Sullivan AO, founder and managing director of Medicines Development for Global Health, an Australian biopharmaceutical not-for-profit, describes how this finance model is supporting the development of Moxidectin – a potential gamechanger for the WHO’s roadmap to ending river blindness by 2030.
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Where home ownership is a stepping stone to independence
Sophie Marcard, Director, Marketing and Communications
Fri, 15 Dec 2023
Innovation is so often driven by the insights and passion that come from personal experience and this is the case for Glenn Keys AO and the not-for-profit social enterprise Project Independence. The affordable housing provider was established with philanthropic support and is dedicated to helping people with intellectual disabilities achieve the goal that every individual deserves – the pride and security of home ownership and independent living. The impacts extend beyond bricks and mortar, and Project Independence is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when we reimagine what’s possible.
English Family Foundation named Runner-Up in global Catalyst 2030 Awards
Fri, 15 Dec 2023
The English Family Foundation has been honoured for its work in supporting social entrepreneurs at a global event, the Catalyst 2030 Awards for Systemic Change 2023. The Foundation was awarded Runner Up in the category of Overall Best Donor last month at the gala event in London, hosted by Princess Diana’s brother, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer, at his private residence, Spencer House.
Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children gets under way at Canberra roundtable
Fri, 8 Dec 2023
Philanthropy and government have come together in what could be the largest ever structured collaboration between the sectors in the country’s history. Formalised this week in Canberra, the Investment Dialogue’s collective aim is to improve the wellbeing of children, young people and their families by working with communities to reduce intergenerational disadvantage in Australia. The initiative is shaping up as an unprecedented, long-term, integrated and community-led approach to supporting children, families and communities to thrive.
COP28: How philanthropy is advancing women’s climate action leadership in the Pacific
Michelle Higelin and Flora Vano
Fri, 1 Dec 2023
As the UN Climate Change Conference 2023 - COP28 - gets under way, Philanthropy Australia was pleased to partner with Groundswell Giving and ActionAid Australia to hear from Ralph Regenvanu, the Vanuatu Minister for Climate Change Adaptation. Here, ActionAid Australia's Executive Director Michelle Higelin reflects on insights from the event and the importance of backing women-led action.
Paul Ramsay Foundation’s $5m boost to data social enterprise set to create more jobs for neurodivergent people
Fri, 17 Nov 2023
A significant expansion in career pathways for neurodivergent people in data and engineering is set to open following a $5 million boost to one of Australia’s fastest growing work-integration social enterprises from philanthropy. The Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF) announced this week that it would partner with Australian Spatial Analytics (ASA) to provide a blended finance package incorporating $2.5 million in grant funding and $2.5 million in impact investment to the social enterprise’s national scaling plans.
White Box Enterprises: social enterprises are key to success for people facing job challenges
Nick Place
Fri, 17 Nov 2023
Getting a job in Australia can be tough. If you’re a First Nations person, living with a disability, a newly arrived Australian or an ex-offender, it’s much tougher. But social enterprise incubator White Box Enterprises is fast developing a track record of start-up successes that are opening up the job market to people who had been facing barriers – one of which has just attracted a $5 million boost in funding from the Paul Ramsay Foundation.
