AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITIES FOUNDATION

Political Donations ($402K)

Giving Philosophy

ACF operates a collective giving model focused on creating 'a fairer and more sustainable Australia' through its Impact Fund flagship initiative. They emphasize long-term systems change, supporting civil society organisations working on root causes rather than just symptoms. Their approach includes multi-year funding, capacity building beyond grants, leveraging collective funding to amplify impact, and responsible investing where 100% of their portfolio is ethically invested with impact considerations.

Tips for Applicants

ACF operates primarily through its Impact Fund which identifies priority issues and partners proactively rather than open applications. They emphasize long-term partnerships (multi-year support), systems change work, and organisations working on policy reform and advocacy. They provide wraparound support beyond funding including mentoring, connections to other funders, and capacity building. Strong alignment with their four Impact Areas is essential. They also support First Nations-led initiatives through their First Nations Advisory Group. For new applicants, understanding their collective giving model and demonstrating capacity for bold, root-cause solutions to national issues is key.

Notable Grants

• $365,000 to Dhadjowa Foundation for Indigenous-led work addressing deaths in custody (2020/21)
• $388,000+ to Yes23 (Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition) for Voice to Parliament campaign (2022/23)
• $366,000+ through Rapid Response Referendum Grants Pool supporting 80+ community groups for Voice referendum (2022/23)
• $228,000+ to Uluru Dialogue (Indigenous Law Centre UNSW) for Voice advocacy (2022/23)
• $136,000 to Everybody's Home (Council to Homeless Persons) for housing inequality (2020/21)
• $112,000 to Economic Media Centre for democracy and media work (2020/21)
• $100,000 to 350.org Australia for Jobs, Climate, Justice campaign (2020/21)

Financial History (7 years)