The report examines the role of philanthropy in social enterprise in Australia. It highlights how philanthropy has played a critical role in building shared infrastructure, supporting key moments in the sector, and piloting approaches later taken up by government. It calls for a shift towards longer-term and more flexible approaches that support systems change.

This report explores the potential gains from expanding access to advice on charitable giving in Australia. It finds that a range of barriers stop people from giving more to charity. The report focuses on the powerful role that professional advisers and fundraisers could play in reducing these barriers and helping more Australians to give generously.

There are currently no disclosure standards for Australian companies’ charitable spending. This research into 20 of Australia’s largest corporations found that over half the value of their reported contributions to the community were dubious. Clear and consistent disclosure standards would help investors, consumers and the public make more informed decisions.

Government departments across Australia have started integrated reporting on outcomes into their funding agreements, as have many philanthropic funders. Yet, for funders, being intentional about the purpose and method of measurement is important. The article identifies five common reasons. For each, the article describes what they are and the implications for how outcomes are measured.

This global study shows how leading philanthropic foundations are harnessing monitoring, evaluation and learning activities to drive strategic decision-making and support efforts to drive systemic change. The findings are instructive in documenting key lessons from real-world practice and in providing a sense of trends and benchmarks. Ten key themes emerge from the study.