Shaping and Fuelling Change

Shaping and Fuelling Change is a new national report examining the role of philanthropy in Australia’s social enterprise ecosystem. It calls for a shift in how funding is provided, towards longer-term, more flexible approaches that better match the time and collaboration required for systems change.

Co-produced with the social enterprise sector and led by May Miller-Dawkins the report brings together insights from interviews, focus groups and case studies across the country, drawing on more than 20 years of sector development. It highlights how philanthropy, while a relatively small part of overall funding, has played a critical role in building shared infrastructure, supporting key moments in the sector, and piloting approaches later taken up by government.

At the same time, it identifies challenges, including short funding cycles, underinvestment in shared infrastructure, and gaps in support for regional and First Nations-led initiatives.

The report offers practical recommendations for funders, policymakers and ecosystem leaders. These include investing in shared infrastructure, strengthening trust-based relationships, and recognising First Nations governance and community-led decision-making. It is designed as a practical learning resource to support more equitable, sustainable and system-aware approaches to growing the social enterprise sector.

A webinar will be held in May 2026 to share key insights from the report and create space for conversation across the sector and we’d love you to join. Stay tuned.