Reflections on 2025

In 2025, our 30 grant partners worked with determination in the face of ongoing challenges to strengthen our democracy, advance First Nations self-determination, defend the rights of women and LGBTIQ+ communities, protect nature and help build a fairer economy.

They showed up — at corporate AGMs, street rallies, boardrooms, roundtables, Parliament House, in all these arenas quietly (and often not so quietly!) making change happen. We’re thankful to all our partners for their contribution.

This year we witnessed a major milestone on the path to justice, with the passage of Australia’s first Treaty here in Victoria, following generations of advocacy by First Nations communities and Elders, and years of consultation and negotiations led by the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. This is a momentous occasion and one to be celebrated.

We are proud to have supported the establishment of Common Threads, a new First Nations-led organisation building Indigenous power and driving change centred on the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Common Threads is leading community organising efforts in the Together for Treaty campaign, and we will continue to work and advocate with them to ensure that Treaty remains a strong and thriving part of the fabric of our State.

We and our partners have made a difference together in other areas, too. In 2025 we:

• presented the inaugural Endowments for Impact Challenge, a collective open-tender competition designed to reshape philanthropic investment in Australia, testing and identifying investment advisors best placed to support responsible, mission-driven investment. Stay tuned next year for further announcements in this space!
• helped to put tax reform firmly on the national agenda and grow philanthropic funding for this critical lever of economic justice through our open grant round with Tripple, events and publications. We thank our grant partners for their significant contributions to the national conversation.
• celebrated 15 years of Australians Investing in Women (AIIW). Jill Reichstein OAM and Eve Mahlab AO (pictured above) co-founded the organisation, then known as the Australian Women Donors Network, to increase investment in women and girls. Fifteen years on, AIIW is stronger than ever, with an exciting year ahead for gender justice as Australia hosts Women Deliver, a major international conference we hope will place gender equality at the centre of the national agenda.
• marked five years of Mannifera, an initiative we were proud to help found and auspice, strengthening democracy and working towards a fairer economy through collective giving. We have cheered the growth and evolution of collecting giving in Australian philanthropy and grown our collective giving practice to include GiveOUT Day and WELA giving Circle.

It’s important to acknowledge the progress we’ve made together. It’s also important to take a long view. Change is neither linear nor immediate, a lesson we’ve learned over 55 years in social change philanthropy. Together, with resolve and compassion, we continue the work.

To our grant partners, our Trustees and our colleagues and friends in philanthropy: thank you for your trust, your collaboration and your shared commitment this year.