Pictured (L-R) Prof Kristy Muir, Georgie Byron AM, John Hartman, Stella Avramopoulos, Leonie Bell, Fiona McLeay, the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Stacey Thomas, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Annika Freyer, Tamika Sadler. Michael Barr and Kerry Gardner AM, not pictured. Image courtesy of Hynesite Photography.
Across Australia, community organisations are seeing rising demand from women and families, driven by cost-of-living pressures, housing instability and the ongoing impacts of family violence.
Yet responses are often fragmented, with short-term funding that is disconnected and hard to scale.
A new coalition of philanthropic funders, inlcuding PRF, aims to change that by aligning capital behind community-led solutions and working in a more coordinated way.
The news of the coalition was celebrated by the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, at the opening of the global Women Deliver 2026 conference in Melbourne. The coalition brings together 11 philanthropic funders committed to improving outcomes for women and children.
Together, we have committed an initial $32.8 million to support community-led initiatives, backed by long-term collaboration, co-funding and shared learning.
Backing what communities know works
Convened by the Paul Ramsay Foundation (PRF), the coalition starts from a simple premise: communities are already leading solutions that work. Philanthropy’s role is to back this work in ways that are sustained, aligned and responsive.
The coalition will focus on two priority areas:
- Women leading in place: investing in community-led leadership and local solutions
- Ending family violence: including prevention, and supporting women and children in their recovery and long-term safety
For organisations on the ground, navigating multiple funding sources with different priorities and timelines can limit impact.
The coalition shifts the model towards coordinated investment — funders working together on shared goals, rather than in isolation.
Participating funders include Andyinc Foundation, Australian Communities Foundation, Barr Family Foundation, Bell Family Foundation, Fondation CHANEL, Minderoo Foundation, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Snow Foundation, The Myer Foundation and others who wish to remain anonymous.
These funders are committing to make significant investments over one to three years in the focus areas, and to work collaboratively through co-funding, shared learning and transparent reporting.
The approach is designed to provide flexible, responsive and sustained support for community-led work.
“Across Australia, communities are already leading solutions that work. We know that the best funding approaches are long-term, connected and collaborative,” said coalition spokesperson and PRF CEO Professor Kristy Muir.
“This is about bringing funders together to back what communities know works, and to do it in a more coordinated, sustained way. By working together, we know we have a much better chance of making a meaningful difference in the lives of women, families, and communities across Australia.”
Investing in community-led solutions
Initial co-funding opportunities have been identified across a small number of scalable, community-led initiatives, supported by due diligence to strengthen governance and protect impact integrity.
These include:
• Common Threads: supporting First Nations-led, community-driven solutions
• Community Foundations Australia: growing local giving for gender equity initiatives
• Women’s Environmental Leadership Australia: strengthening women’s leadership in communities navigating climate transitions
• Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand: supporting women to recover from family violence and financial insecurity
Further initiatives will be added as the coalition evolves. Funders can also align existing or new investments with the coalition’s shared priorities, supporting a broader range of organisations and approaches.
Building a platform for long-term change
The coalition is designed as a long-term effort, creating a platform for ongoing collaboration that can adapt over time, respond to emerging needs and support community-led solutions at scale.
Future collaboration options include shared funding rounds, co-investment opportunities and coordinated announcements.
The coalition reflects a broader shift in philanthropy towards collaboration, longer-term investment and community leadership.
By aligning capital, funders can support more connected responses to complex challenges and contribute to better outcomes for women, children and families.
As the coalition grows, other funders are invited to join this coordinated approach to lasting change.
Funders interested in joining the coalition can contact PRF at ceo@paulramsayfoundation.org.au.
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