Rebuilding trust, reducing grievance: the NFP sector must be part of the solution
Posted on 24 Jun 2026
It seems like an oxymoron to talk to about building trust in a global environment where it’s…
Stakes are high for country’s philanthropists
Posted on 06 Aug 2024
By Matthew Schulz, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia
Australia’s top philanthropists have gathered to tackle the biggest challenges in the nation, with the new chief of Philanthropy Australia declaring “the stakes have never been higher”.
Addressing nearly 1000 delegates at this year’s sold-out Philanthropy Australia conference, the peak body’s new chief executive Maree Sidey – who has been in the role for just three months – challenged the wealthy leaders of the country’s biggest foundations and funds to think carefully about their role, in an era in which the stated goal of the government was to “double philanthropy”.
“Philanthropy is not merely a pastime for the privileged; it is a vital component of a strong democracy and a crucial force for social good.
“And this critical work won't be effective if we continue to use outdated stereotypes. The face of philanthropy in this country is not, and should not be, that of the 1%.
The conference program reflected the “diverse tapestry of people involved in all parts of the work”, and greater attention must be given to smaller investments to allow average Australians to realise that giving was attainable and desirable, Ms Sidey said.
She said every citizen should accept they had a “responsibility that comes with living in one of the most privileged countries in the world”.
“The true measure of our success should be in our collective efforts to grow giving, with the aim of fostering a thriving civil society.”
Hosted for the first time in Adelaide and taking up a big slice of the Convention Centre on the banks of the River Torrens, the event was opened by South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas and addressed by federal Charities Minister Andrew Leigh.
The biennial event was Philanthropy Australia’s biggest to date, with 170 speakers, 21 sessions and 24 side events.
“We are at the crossroads of the biggest ever gap between the haves and have nots, and our sector sits right at the heart of this tension."
Ms Sidey said her work over two decades in the not-for-profit sector would shape her agenda at Philanthropy Australia.
Before recently leaving her role as chief of the Australian Communities Foundation, Ms Sidey worked in family services, mental health, and drug and alcohol support services.
“I have worked on the front line, and I have worked in prevention. I have sat in the room with people who needed immediate relief and support, and I have helped redesign systems that have changed the way we conceptualise and deliver services in this country.
“And it is these experiences that have shaped how I think about wealth, power and privilege, and how we collaborate to tackle critical issues.
“So why is there such an appetite for progress in our sector? I believe it’s because the stakes have never been higher.”
Ms Sidey said the for-purpose sector was faced with “immense challenges, with widespread unmet social needs, environmental crisis, and a shrinking space for civil society”.
But she also acknowledged the fact that philanthropists occupied a fraught position.
“We are at the crossroads of the biggest ever gap between the haves and have nots, and our sector sits right at the heart of this tension.
“Just as we have a strong and proud legacy of generosity, by its very nature, philanthropy is also an outcome of wealth and privilege.”
She said wealthy philanthropists needed to wrestle with that fact and decide how to act.
“The people in this room today have power, real power, and we also have a choice about how we use it.”
Philanthropists must choose to “lean into trust, transparency, humility, truth and ‘paying what it takes’,” she said, referring to the recurring theme of being prepared to fund the real cost of delivering community services.
Ms Sidey called on delegates to be ready to adopt the conference theme – “Shifting perspectives, shifting practice” – and be prepared to change their attitudes and practices if they really wanted to make a difference.
More news
Lizzie Mettam loves empowering domestic violence survivors, one safe phone at a time
Posted on 24 Jun 2026
Lizzie Mettam manages corporate partnerships for DV Safe Phone, an organisation that provides…
NFPs receive a cyber security windfall under national strategy
Posted on 24 Jun 2026
The charity sector is the quiet beneficiary of a share in nearly $90 million to build cyber…
Joan Kirner Emerging Leaders graduates have a chance to lead in a way that reflects ‘the way women do things’
Posted on 24 Jun 2026
Victoria’s Minister for Women and Girls, Gabrielle Williams, reflected that it was “a strange time…
New accounting rules land after six-year wait
Posted on 24 Jun 2026
A long-awaited accounting standard aimed at simplifying financial work for smaller not-for-profits…
Ancient charity law needs a reboot: expert
Posted on 24 Jun 2026
A leading charity law scholar says there is "only now" for charities to push for legislative…
Brethren church’s actions don’t seem charitable
Posted on 17 Jun 2026
If charges are proven that members of the Brethren movement took part in partisan political…
From July 1, charities need to be ‘verified’ to avoid texts being flagged as a potential scam
Posted on 17 Jun 2026
NFPs and for purpose organisations need to be aware of the need to verify their “sender ID” from…
Reach Foundation’s unusual merger with Youth Impact Foundation provides an ‘open source’ framework for other NFPs
Posted on 17 Jun 2026
The merger of two leading youth mental health organisations offers a partnership model that could…
Executive salaries rise as charities struggle to avoid high staff turnover among cost-of-living challenges
Posted on 17 Jun 2026
The pay cheques of charity CEOs rose significantly in the past year, according to the 2026 Pro Bono…
From boy bands to unstoppable movement guru, Francis Owusu is empowering kids
Posted on 17 Jun 2026
Francis Owusu is the founder of Kulture Break, a charity that helps young people build confidence,…
AI on a shoestring budget: what we learned by actually doing it
Posted on 10 Jun 2026
There’s a line of thought about AI in the not-for-profit sector that goes something like this: “We…