What should philanthropy do about the US freeze on aid?
Benjamin Bellegy, Executive Director at WINGS
Fri, 7 Mar 2025
Here we are. The entirety of USAID’s, the biggest bilateral aid donor on earth, programmes were suddenly frozen last week by US President Trump. The organisation’s website is now offline, and the Trump administration is moving to put the free-standing agency under the umbrella of the State Department. Elon Musk, who now holds a key position in Trump’s government, has called the USAID ‘criminal’ and said it’s ‘time for it to die’.
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‘Passion over power’: Top 5 takeaways from the NEXUS Australia Summit
Saska Coote, Marketing Lead, Philanthropy Australia
Fri, 7 Mar 2025
More than 200 members of the next gen philanthropic community, impact investors and young social innovators from across Australia and the world came together in Melbourne this week for the 2025 NEXUS Australia Summit under the banner Brave Voices, Bold Ideas. Saska Coote, Philanthropy Australia’s Marketing Lead, shares her top 5 takeaways from the inspiring event.
Pay What It Takes launches new website as campaign moves to next level
PWIT Co-Chairs Lisa Allan, The Smith Family and Denise Cheng, Equity Trustees
Fri, 7 Mar 2025
The Pay What It Takes (PWIT) Coalition and the Charity Consortium led by passionate stakeholders from funder, intermediary and for-purpose communities have been leading the PWIT movement across Australia. At the recent Fundraising Institute of Australia Conference, the movement’s co-chairs Lisa Allan and Denise Cheng announced that the PWIT Coalition and the Charity Consortium are unifying under one umbrella to champion an effective, sustainable and impactful future for charities and their beneficiaries.
DGR tax reforms to bring ‘new era’ for community foundations
Dee Rudebeck, News and Storytelling Advisor
Fri, 7 Mar 2025
A ‘game changing’ new Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) category that will boost community giving has been celebrated by philanthropic, charity and community leaders. The result of 20 years of advocacy, the reforms were delivered by the Assistant Minister for Charities, the Hon Andrew Leigh MP, who was acknowledged for his leadership driving the changes.
Delivery of historic reforms will boost community giving in Australia
Community Foundations Australia and Philanthropy Australia
Tue, 25 Feb 2025
Community Foundations Australia and Philanthropy Australia have welcomed the delivery of tangible reforms that will boost social capital and grassroots giving through Australian community foundations.
Claire O’Rourke, AEGN CEO, on climate action: ‘We must fundamentally reorientate ourselves to meet this moment in history’
As told to Dee Rudebeck, Advisor, News and Storytelling
Fri, 21 Feb 2025
Where next on climate funding for philanthropy as we reach the mid-way point in the critical decade for action to prevent catastrophic environmental change? Claire O’Rourke stepped into the role of CEO of the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN) last year. Here, she talks about her vision for the organisation, the energising response of the sector and our role as pivotal ancestors-to-be at this vital juncture.
Snow Medical partners with University of Sydney in $50 million investment to transform glaucoma treatment
Dee Rudebeck, Adviser, News and Storytelling, Philanthropy Australia
Fri, 21 Feb 2025
There is new hope of life-changing treatments for people living with glaucoma, the ‘sneak thief of sight’, after the Snow Medical Research Foundation (Snow Medical) announced a $50 million partnership with the University of Sydney to launch the Snow Vision Accelerator this week. It follows a record $100 million gift from the Khuda Family Foundation to the university earlier in February to increase diversity in the STEM sector.
