The 2026 National Community Foundations Forum took place in Melbourne recently.
It was a reminder that, in uncertain times, communities across Australia are increasingly turning to local leadership, local knowledge and local philanthropy to shape their futures.
Held on Wurundjeri Country at the historic Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne, the forum brought together community foundations from metropolitan, regional and remote Australia under the theme “Meeting the Moment”.
The gathering created space for deep conversations about the role community-led philanthropy must play in responding to rising inequality, housing pressures, climate impacts and growing social fragmentation.
For the Greater Shepparton Foundation, attending the forum was an opportunity not only to share the story of our own community, but to learn from others navigating similar challenges and opportunities in vastly different parts of the country.
As a director of the Community Foundations Australia board, I have great insight into the growing interest in the community foundations landscape from both funders and practitioners alike.
One of the most valuable aspects of the forum was hearing the field, working at the forefront of community development, philanthropy and systems change.
International perspectives were also woven into the program, including insights from global community philanthropy leaders about the growing importance of place-based giving and community ownership in an increasingly uncertain world.
Across the three days, several key themes consistently emerged.
The first was the growing recognition that communities themselves are best placed to understand local challenges and identify local solutions.
Conversations explored how community foundations can move beyond traditional grant making and become catalysts for collaboration, leadership and long-term change.
Another major focus was shifting power in philanthropy.
Sessions examined how foundations can better support First Nations-led initiatives, youth leadership and grassroots community voices, ensuring funding decisions are informed by lived experience and local priorities rather than imposed from outside.
There was also significant discussion about the future of giving in Australia — particularly as regional communities continue to feel the effects of cost-of-living pressures, natural disasters and changing government investment priorities.
Speakers challenged foundations to think differently about how philanthropy can help communities build resilience, strengthen social cohesion and create opportunities for future generations.
Importantly, the forum was not simply about theory. It was grounded in practical examples of communities leading change.
From regional housing initiatives to local climate action projects and innovative approaches to gender equity and social inclusion, attendees heard how community foundations are increasingly becoming trusted connectors between donors, businesses, governments and grassroots organisations.
While every community is unique, many of the conversations felt deeply familiar.
Whether in rural Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania or regional Queensland, communities are grappling with similar questions around equity, opportunity, participation and belonging.
What became clear throughout the forum is that community foundations are not simply charitable vehicles.
They are important civic institutions that help communities organise around hope, build trust and invest in their own futures.
At a time when many people feel disconnected from large institutions and uncertain about the future, there was something deeply energising about being in a room full of people committed to backing local leadership and local solutions.
The 2026 Community Foundations Forum demonstrated that across Australia, communities are not waiting for change to happen to them.
They are stepping forward, collaborating and creating it themselves.
If you would like to demonstrate your support for communities investing in their own futures, you can read about our Forever Fund, which is designed to do just that at greatershepparton.foundation
Until next time.
Amanda McCulloch
Greater Shepparton Foundation executive officer
