Mobilising generosity with intent: A sector-wide invitation to go further

Philanthropy Australia’s Strategy 2033: Mobilising Generosity, Shaping the Future arrives at an important moment for our sector. It is both a clear articulation of the opportunity ahead and a welcome acknowledgment that philanthropy in Australia has reached a new level of maturity. This moment calls for deeper collaboration and accountability across our sector, and a broader view of what giving looks like. 

Strategy 2033 starts from a simple idea: generosity is already abundant in Australia, but not yet fully mobilised. The recognition that informal, relational and community-based giving sits alongside structured philanthropy is a critical step forward. Too often, the narrative of philanthropy has been narrow – focused on major gifts and institutional actors – when in reality, generosity flows through every community, culture and context. Expanding who sees themselves in this story is essential if we are to build a more inclusive and effective ecosystem. 

The strategy highlights both the opportunity and responsibility in this moment. Significant intergenerational wealth transfer is underway, while the challenges facing our communities are intensifying – from climate disruption to inequality and social fragmentation. Philanthropy cannot be a peripheral player in this context. It must be a catalytic force – one that mobilises resources quickly and backs communities to lead. 

Recent reform, including the establishment of Community Charities, points in this direction. These structures make it easier to deploy philanthropic funds where they are needed most, especially in grassroots contexts or at times of urgency. By widening the pathways for tax-deductible giving, they support more responsive approaches and start to loosen fixed roles between funders and those leading work on the ground. It opens the door to broader participation and stronger community involvement in how resources are used. 

The focus on ecosystem building over service delivery is a welcome shift. The most powerful philanthropic outcomes do not emerge from isolated transactions, but from relationships – between funders, communities, intermediaries and movements. Creating the conditions for those relationships to thrive is, in many ways, the most important work ahead. Convening, connecting and amplifying are not soft work. They are central to achieving impact at scale. 

Equally, the focus on knowledge exchange over knowledge production signals a more practical orientation for the sector. The priority is not the accumulation of insight, but its application – shared learning that informs decisions, travels across networks, and is shaped by those closest to the work. That requires humility, openness to learning, and a consistent commitment to centring community expertise. 

As the strategy highlights accountability and outcomes, there is also an opportunity to continue strengthening how impact is understood and pursued in practice. For many across the sector, this already includes a clear focus on systems change – alongside support for advocacy, movements and community-led approaches, and a willingness to engage with complexity and risk. Embedding these practices consistently will be key to delivering on the ambition set out. 

The commitment to strengthening First Nations philanthropy is another important and necessary focus. Self-determination must move from principle to practice, including through the transfer of decision-making power and resources. This is an area where the entire sector has more to learn – and where partnership, trust and long-term commitment will be essential. 

Finally, the strategy’s focus on policy and advocacy is both timely and critical. A strong, enabling environment for giving does not happen by accident. It requires coordinated effort to build public confidence, improve regulatory settings, and ensure that philanthropy is understood as a vital part of civil society. In this, Philanthropy Australia has a unique and important leadership role. 

Strategy 2033 is an invitation to think bigger about generosity, to act more collectively, and to hold ourselves to a higher standard of impact. The opportunity now is not simply to align with the strategy, but to help activate it. That will require courage, openness and a willingness to share power.  

At Australian Communities Foundation, we are committed to playing our part to help turn this ambition into action. 

Invitation to contribute

If you have a reflection or would like to submit a thought piece for consideration the on the Philanthropy Australia Stratey 2033, please email the PA Communications team

About the author: Andrew Binns is the Chief Executive Officer at Australian Community Foundations. He has a deep expertise in community development and philanthropy.