Why winning philanthropic support is complicated
Posted on 17 Sep 2026
Experts in Australian philanthropy say there are stark differences between philanthropic money and…
Posted on 08 Apr 2025
By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia
There are more than 600,000 charity and not-for-profit organisations in Australia employing 1.47 million people and supported by 3.5 million volunteers.
Collectively, they make a vital contribution to the social fabric of the nation.
But who are the people behind the statistics working so hard to make a difference in people's lives?
The Community Advocate plans to shine a light on these tireless efforts in a special project designed to capture a 24-hour snapshot of life in the sector.
From feeding the homeless to providing mobile showers for people living on the street to volunteering at the local op shop, and performing important administration tasks behind a desk, we want to celebrate the enormous diversity of the for-purpose world.
To help do this, we are asking individuals and organisations across the sector to contribute to this project by sending us images of people in action (with their permission, of course) taken on Thursday, May 1, 2025.
To take part, please send pictures of your colleagues doing what they do best (along with short captions) to advocate@communitydirectors.com.au.
For each photo, please include names of all individuals shown (or a general description for images that show lots of people, e.g. ‘Murtoa footy team’), their organisation if applicable, and a brief description of what’s happening in your photo.
We will publish as many of these images as possible, in a pictorial essay that pays tribute to the vital contribution the sector makes to the nation.
Please ensure all images are taken between 12:01 am and 11:59pm on Thursday, May 1, so we can share a true day in the life of the charity and not-for-profit sector.
Posted on 17 Sep 2026
Experts in Australian philanthropy say there are stark differences between philanthropic money and…
Posted on 17 Sep 2026
Australia’s biggest gathering of philanthropists, which drew more than 1200 delegates to Brisbane…
Posted on 17 Sep 2026
One of Australia’s foremost fundraising observers says Australian not-for-profits must get the…
Posted on 17 Sep 2026
My father often googles my name, and as a result, years ago, I received a surprising gift in the…
Posted on 17 Sep 2026
Charities reported $14.8 billion in donations and bequests last financial year, the second-highest…
Posted on 17 Sep 2026
As direct giving dries up, charities face growing dependence on big donors and negotiating the…
Posted on 17 Sep 2026
Where Evelyn Mugisha grew up in rural Uganda, the subjects and careers considered suitable for…
Posted on 16 Sep 2026
I met a man named John this week. I was at his house to pick up a guitar he was repairing.
Posted on 16 Sep 2026
In the face of challenging conditions in the giving sector, UNICEF Australia chief executive Tony…
Posted on 16 Sep 2026
Tourism is a large source of income for Kangaroo Island, 210 km south-west of Adelaide, but the…
Posted on 16 Sep 2026
While there is no shortage of studies examining not-for-profits from every angle, a new research…
Posted on 16 Sep 2026
A new partnership between Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF) and Atlassian Foundation aims to attract…