The Trustee For Australian Communities Foundation Extension Fund
About
Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) is a national philanthropic organization that connects individuals, families, and groups with the causes they care about through pooled giving vehicles, primarily its flagship Impact Fund. Established to create a fairer and more sustainable Australia, ACF facilitates collective giving across four strategic impact areas while also providing infrastructure support to other foundations and practicing responsible investment across its entire portfolio.
Tips for Applicants
ACF prioritizes systemic change over charitable relief - they want evidence your work addresses root causes of inequality, environmental harm, or democratic deficits. Their Impact Fund uses a co-funding model where they pool with other donors, so alignment with their four impact areas (Inequality, Environment, First Nations Self-Determination, Democracy) is essential. They value 'wraparound support' recipients who can leverage connections with other grant partners; demonstrate how your work connects to broader movements or policy reform. For First Nations organizations, their First Nations Advisory Group oversees grants in the Self-Determination area. Large grants (~$100k) go to collaborative campaigns with multiple partners; smaller agile grants are also available for time-sensitive opportunities. Contact Head of Impact Anna Demant directly to discuss fit before applying.
Giving Philosophy
ACF believes in 'the power of giving together' - pooling resources from multiple funders to achieve greater impact than isolated giving. They focus on systemic change through civil society partners working on policy and regulation reform, not just incremental charitable support. Their approach includes 'wraparound support' beyond funding, such as mentoring and connections between grant partners. They identify priority issues through collaboration with community and civil society experts, leverage funding through co-funding arrangements, and measure success by policy reforms and social infrastructure created rather than output volumes alone.
Notable Grants
Giving History
ACNC Financial History
| Year | Grants Given | Revenue | Total Assets | Net Assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | $25.3M | $38.7M | $53.8M | $48.1M |
| FY2022 | $3.6M | $9.3M | $33.7M | $33.5M |
| FY2021 | $4.9M | $6.1M | $34.3M | $33.9M |
| FY2020 | $4.1M | $5.4M | $30.1M | $29.8M |
| FY2019 | $1.2M | $16.3M | $31.4M | $31.3M |
| FY2018 | $1.5M $1.5M AU + $20K intl | $5.2M | $16.6M | $16.5M |
| FY2017 | $383K $360K AU + $23K intl | $3.4M | $12.9M | $12.8M |
| 7yr total | $41.0M | Source: ACNC Annual Information Statements | ||
Programs (from website)
Impact Fund
Flagship collective giving fund supporting work across four impact areas: Tackling Inequality, Safeguarding the Environment, Supporting First Nations Self-Determination, and Strengthening Democracy
Voices for Impact
First Nations-led granting supporting Voice to Parliament referendum efforts, including ACF Rapid Response Referendum Grants Pool
Foundation Support Services
Backbone and infrastructure support for trusts, foundations, and community foundations including Foundation SA