Brave Foundation: how a PRF grant led to a partnership with another funder – via the Philanthropy Australia conference
Jill Roche, the CEO of the national not-for-profit, Brave Foundation, drew from a capacity-building grant from the Paul Ramsay Foundation to attend the Philanthropy Australia Conference in 2024. This led to a chance conversation that over time led to a multi-year funding partnership with another funder. Jill shares how events unfolded and says it shows how important it is to ensure diverse voices are ‘in the room’ at important sector events.
She Gives celebrates one year of ‘energy and boldness’ in women’s philanthropy
The campaign to highlight and inspire women’s giving in Australia ‘has resonated with so many women across the country’, said founder Melissa Smith. As the movement marks its anniversary, there are signs that the landscape is shifting to better recognise the catalytic power of women.
Thank you to our Leadership Summit Partners
The Philanthropy Leadership Summit 2025 is completely sold out and we’re pleased to be expecting 450 attendees for the Leadership Summit itself on Wednesday 6 August. We are particularly happy that we have a strong contingent of attendees representing First Nations organisations and small not-for-profits, thanks to our scholarships.
How can philanthropy support more emerging First Nations leaders?
NAIDOC Week’s theme of ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’ speaks to the role of future leaders. Dr Bhiamie Williamson is Senior Lecturer at Monash University where he leads the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience research program. He shares his experience of leadership and says that philanthropy must back the next generation’s new ideas to really shift entrenched disadvantage.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Funders Reporting Survey – Interactive
In celebration of NAIDOC Week 2025, Philanthropy Australia launches an accessible interactive platform to spotlight key findings from this benchmark survey published earlier in the year. It highlights how funders can shift practice towards greater self-determination and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in philanthropy.
Sarah Hardy to be new PA Deputy CEO
Philanthropy Australia’s CEO Maree Sidey has announced that Sarah Hardy has accepted the role of Deputy CEO of Philanthropy Australia. Sarah has more than 30 years of cross-sector leadership experience spanning philanthropy, local government, and the not-for-profit sector. For the past eight years, she has served as Chief Executive Officer of the R E Ross Trust, where she led the organisation through a period of strategic change and elevated its impact through values-driven grantmaking.
The power of Five Bucks: founder Brianna Kerr on ‘going small to go big’
Five Bucks – a giving community where members chip in $5 a week – is all about ‘going small to go big’. Giving News talks with the founder of this collective giving initiative as the community distributes its first $62,000. In this Q&A, Brianna Kerr shares fascinating insights on the democratisation of giving in action – and what’s in store for year two.






