Australian Funders Unite for Community Solutions
A new coalition of major Australian philanthropic funders has pledged $32.8 million over three years to support community-led solutions for women and children. Announced on 27th April, the coalition aims to address conditions affecting women's and families' outcomes.
The initiative received a warm welcome at the Women Deliver 2026 conference, where Governor-General Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC expressed her delight. She stated, I am delighted that the newly established Coalition of Funders for Women and Families will collaborate on philanthropic investment in improved outcomes for women and their families. The coalition plans to focus initially on women's leadership and safety.
Convened by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, the coalition includes the Snow Foundation, Fondation CHANEL, Minderoo Foundation, Australian Communities Foundation, Bell Family Foundation, Barr Family Foundation, and other major donors. These organisations aim to drive coordinated, long-term investment in community organisations that are facing increasing demand due to economic pressures and family violence.
Coordinated Approach for Greater Impact
Professor Kristy Muir, CEO of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, emphasised the coalition's focus on backing community solutions. She remarked, “Across Australia, communities are already leading solutions that work. We know that the best funding approaches are long-term, connected, and collaborative.” This approach is about uniting funders to support effective community strategies in a sustained and coordinated manner.
The coalition will initially support projects such as Common Threads, Community Funds for Gender Equity, Women's Environmental Leadership Australia, and Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand. These initiatives aim to harness First Nations solutions, promote gender equity, enhance women's leadership in climate transitions, and support recovery from family violence.
Georgina Byron, CEO of Snow Foundation, and John Hartman, CEO of Minderoo Foundation, both highlighted the importance of sustained, collaborative funding to maximise impact. They pointed out how the coalition aligns capital and shares learnings for long-term community benefit.
Community organisations across Australia are reporting increasing numbers of women and children seeking help. This surge is driven by cost-of-living pressures, housing insecurity, and the ongoing impacts of family violence. While these organisations strive to meet demand, the systems designed to respond remain stretched and fragmented.
The coalition plans to address these challenges by contributing to two priority areas: empowering women to lead in their communities and ending family violence. By supporting women and children in their recovery, the coalition aims to create lasting change.
Last updated: 28 April 2026, 12:04 pm
