Shifting practice: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Funders Reporting Survey results

Philanthropy Australia has published findings from Australia’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Funders Reporting Survey. The results establish vital benchmark findings – and key challenges for the sector and beyond.

Top line outcomes revealed that the amount reported by survey respondents of funding to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs represented only 1.5% of total philanthropic giving in financial year 2022-23.

Other data showed that more than half of respondents had increased their funding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led and controlled organisations. The impact of cultural training was also highlighted – of those funder organisations that had undertaken training, 70% increased their funding.

Representatives from Philanthropy Australia’s First Nations Funders Network and First Nations Governance Committee collaborated to create the survey, which Philanthropy Australia launched at its 2024 Conference in Adelaide. Seer Data & Analytics collated the results in a live data dashboard that is easy to navigate.

^{Serena Morton Napanangka, Nina Frank, and Norman Frank Jupurrurla, discussing site planning at “The Block” in Tennant Creek.
Photo by Andrew Quilty. Photo provided thanks to the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation.}

Torres Strait Islander woman Leah Armstrong, Chair of the First Nations Funders Network and member of the First Nations Governance Committee, said: “Thank you to all the organisations that took part in the survey.

“There is a wealth of information that simply has not been gathered before, and we know that development cannot come without this knowledge.”

Survey respondents were asked to provide details on their organisation’s structure, grantmaking approach, financial reporting and how their organisation focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and funding. The report aims to shift practices towards greater self-determination and inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in philanthropy.

“While wonderful work is being done,” said Leah, “it is alarming to see funding to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs accounted for only a small percentage of overall philanthropic giving.

“It is, however, highly encouraging to have the importance of cultural training confirmed and see the significant difference it made to increasing levels of funding in the organisations in which it had been undertaken.

“The findings provide vital benchmarks across all elements of funding and grantmaking approaches that will be – informative in work going forward,” said Leah.

“We encourage everyone in the sector to learn from the report and consider how your organisation can respond to the challenges it presents,” she said.

“The project was made possible by a philanthropic gift from Jack Heath’s family fund, which is a fabulous legacy to leave the organisation, the sector and the community. Thank you, Jack!”

The results include responses from more than 80 philanthropic grantmaking organisations. Key findings include:

• In the 2022-23 financial year, $899.1m was allocated in funding distributions. $179.9m (20%) of this funding was received by programs that aim to benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and $111.1m (12%) of this total was directly received by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led and controlled organisations.
• The $179.9m figure above represents only 1.5 % of total of all philanthropic giving in 2022-23 ($12.1b).
• Of the 37 organisations where cultural awareness training was completed, 26 (70%) increased funding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led and controlled organisations, compared to only 15 (34%) out of the 44 organisations where cultural awareness training was not completed.
• In the 2022-23 financial year, the 10 largest organisations by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program funding gave $154.8m; contributing 86% of the total program funding.
• In the 2023-24 financial year, 49 organisations (60%) increased total funding. While 39 organisations (48%) increased funding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs, more organisations (51%) increased their funding to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led and controlled organisations.

To access the full dashboard, please visit the Seer Data & Analytics platform. Keep an eye out for further opportunities to learn about the survey report.

^{Photo provided thanks to the Tim Fairfax Family Foundation.}