What Australian Communities Foundation does

Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) is a Melbourne-based non-profit community foundation established in 1997 and operating for nearly 30 years. It is positioned as Australia's only national community foundation, serving thousands of individual, family, and corporate philanthropists and over 700 Funds and Foundations nationwide. ACF has facilitated more than $220 million in grants to Australian not-for-profits, working across five impact areas: Tackling Inequality, Strengthening Democracy, Supporting Indigenous Communities, Safeguarding the Environment, and Building a Culturally Vibrant Society.

ACF's product suite comprises structured giving vehicles and advisory services. Core products include Named Funds (donor-advised funds), Gumnut Accounts (starter accounts that graduate into Named Funds), Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs), Future Funds (low-cost NFP endowments), and Future Fund Plus and Named Fund Plus (launched May 2026 under the Community Charity Trust). The Impact Fund serves as the flagship collective giving programme, complemented by scholarship funds, workplace giving, legacy/bequest programmes, and bespoke ACF Advisory engagements. Supporting these is a digital platform ecosystem: a self-serve Fund Portal for fundholders, a Grantee Portal for NFPs, and a public Funding Platform for grant discovery, with online donation processing via Bambora and Stripe and GeoTrust SSL encryption.

The revenue model is fee-based and recurring. ACF charges tiered annual fund management fees (1.0%-2.5% depending on vehicle and asset band), fixed annual packages for PAF compliance and granting services ($12,050-$21,690 plus a $5,000 establishment fee), bespoke advisory pricing, and a 5% Grants Plus transaction fee for grants routed through the Community Charity to non-DGR organisations. Acquisition is community-led and relationship-driven, combining direct advisory outreach, Learning Circles organised by impact area, events and webinars, professional advisor referrals (financial advisers, lawyers, accountants), and content marketing (newsletters, the NFP Resilience Report, and the Long View interview series). The team is small (1-10 employees) and operates from a single headquarters at Level 6, 126 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne.

Name

Australian Communities Foundation

Legal name

Australian Communities Foundation Ltd

Website

https://communityfoundation.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Australian Communities Foundation is a Melbourne-based non-profit, Australia's only national community foundation, providing structured giving vehicles (Named Funds, PAFs, Future Funds, Impact Fund) and advisory services to individual philanthropists, corporates, NFPs, and professional advisors nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation / Philanthropy Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

akta.pro primary industry

Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) Sponsors (BPAGAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Structured giving vehicles
• Donor-advised funds
• Private ancillary funds
• Philanthropic advisory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fund Management Fees: ACF charges tiered annual fund management fees on Named Funds (ranging from 2.5% on assets up to $100,000 down to 1.0% on $5M-$10M), Gumnut Accounts (1.5%), Future Funds (1.5% up to $5M), and Collective Giving Funds (2.5% flat). These fees cover administration, compliance, governance, granting due diligence, and investment management.
2. Private Foundation Services: ACF charges establishment fees ($5,000 plus disbursements and GST) and ongoing service fees for Private Foundations (PAFs), with packages ranging from Compliance ($12,050/year), Granting ($14,440/year), to Combined Granting + Compliance ($21,690/year).
3. ACF Advisory Services: Bespoke advisory services for individuals and organizations seeking support with their giving, priced based on the level of service required. Contact-based pricing model.
4. Grants Plus Fee: 5% fee on grants to non-DGR (non-Deductible Gift Recipient) organizations through ACF's Community Charity, covering additional review and due diligence.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ACF provides structured philanthropic giving vehicles — including donor-advised Named Funds, Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs), Gumnut starter Accounts, Future Fund endowments for NFPs, the Impact Fund collective giving pool, and Scholarship Funds — together with bespoke ACF Advisory consulting. Revenue is generated through tiered annual fund management fees, Private Foundation establishment and service package fees, ACF Advisory fees, and a 5% Grants Plus transaction fee for grants to non-DGR organisations.

Product overview

Australian Communities Foundation operates as a multi-product philanthropy platform offering structured giving vehicles. The core portfolio includes Named Funds (donor-advised funds with $10,000 minimum), Gumnut Accounts (starter accounts building to Named Funds), Private Foundations (PAFs for independent investment management), and Future Funds for not-for-profit endowments. The Impact Fund serves as the flagship collective giving initiative. The product suite was expanded with Future Fund Plus and Named Fund Plus under the Community Charity Trust. Additional services include ACF Advisory (consulting), Scholarship Funds, Workplace Giving, Legacy Giving, and a Funding Platform for grant discovery. The platform also includes Fund and Grantee Portals for account management. All funds are managed with 100% responsible investing principles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Impact Fund: ACF's flagship collective giving initiative that brings together hundreds of funders to support solutions to Australia's biggest issues.
• Future Fund
• Future Fund Plus
• Named Funds
• Gumnut Accounts
• Private Foundations (PAFs)
• ACF Advisory

Products and services

• Named Funds Donor-advised charitable accounts letting individuals, families, and groups make strategic grants, with administration, compliance, and 100% responsible investing handled by ACF.
• Gumnut Accounts Starter charitable accounts that grow to a maximum of $10,000, requiring a $2,000 minimum yearly donation, then convert into a standard Named Fund.
• Private Foundations (PAFs) Private ancillary funds / charitable trusts enabling donors to independently manage investments while ACF handles establishment, compliance, and ongoing administration.
• Future Funds Endowment funds for not-for-profit organisations to build long-term sustainability, with 100% responsible investing, flexible fund access, and 1.5% management fee.
• Impact Fund ACF's flagship collective giving initiative pooling contributions from hundreds of funders to support bold solutions across five impact focus areas.
• Scholarship Funds Structured scholarship fund offerings for individuals and organisations to establish scholarships for educational purposes.
• ACF Advisory Bespoke advisory services for individuals and organisations seeking support with their giving, ranging from light-touch to full-service packages, available whether or not the client structures giving with ACF.
• Collective Giving Programs enabling groups of funders to pool resources for collaborative grantmaking, shared learning, and amplified impact.
• Workplace Giving Corporate giving programs supporting organisations that want to establish or extend workplace giving initiatives for their employees.
• Legacy Giving Planned giving programs enabling donors to leave gifts in their Will to support chosen causes across generations.
• Funding Platform Online platform enabling users to explore funding opportunities, view organisations seeking funding, and access current grant rounds.
• Fund Portal Online portal for fundholders to manage their funds, view balances, make grant recommendations, and access investment performance information.
• Grantee Portal Online portal for grant recipients (NFPs) to access grant documents, reporting forms, and communicate with ACF.
• National Crisis Response Fund Rapid response funding mechanism for addressing national crises, managed through a dedicated portal.
• Future Fund Plus Endowment offering under ACF's Community Charity Trust that expands Future Fund participation, enabling charities, social enterprises, and incorporated associations to build an endowment while accessing ACF's donation infrastructure and accepting contributions from DGR2 structured-giving vehicles.
• Named Fund Plus New 2026 offering under ACF's Community Charity Trust designed to make giving more flexible, inclusive, and responsive to community needs, complementing the standard Named Fund.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $220 million in grants facilitated to Australian not-for-profits since 1997
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered notable, minor and core.

• WithOneSeednotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithOneSeed uses a Future Fund at ACF to enable tax-deductible donations for its community-led forestry program in Timor-Leste. Since 2012, the partnership has supported over 980 tree farmers managing approximately 200,000 trees with a 74% survival rate, contributing to climate justice and sustainable development goals.
• Children First FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerChildren First Foundation uses a Future Fund to build organizational sustainability and facilitate life-changing medical treatment for disadvantaged children from developing countries. Since 1999, the organization has operated on nearly 500 young people through partnerships with generous surgeons, health professionals, and hospitals.
• Dragons Abreast AustralianotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDragons Abreast Australia uses a Future Fund to build organizational endowment and ensure longevity. The breast cancer charity supports survivors through dragon boating with 27 member groups across Australia.
• Global Gardens of PeaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Gardens of Peace established a Future Fund for capacity building. The organization designs and delivers living landscapes supporting healing for vulnerable communities, including international projects with the UN Development Program.
• Victorian National Parks AssociationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictorian National Parks Association holds an NFP Future Fund at ACF. VNPA works to conserve Victoria's national parks and engages communities in local conservation efforts.
• Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACF works alongside AEGN for environmental philanthropy initiatives. AEGN has been effective in making the case for advocacy funding and provides networking opportunities for environmental funders.
• xpand FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint project partner with WithOneSeed. xpand Foundation co-founded WithOneSeed with Andrew Mahar AM and local Timorese partners to develop community-led forestry in Timor-Leste.
• Foundasuan Ho Musan IdacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal Timorese foundation (Foundasuan Rai Matak/Green Land Foundation) that manages expansion of WithOneSeed program across Timor-Leste, ensuring local ownership and direction.
• OxfamnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerWithOneSeed is partnering with Oxfam with significant funding from the European Union to expand the community-led forestry program to four other municipalities in Timor-Leste.
• UN Development ProgramnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal Gardens of Peace works with UN Development Program on international projects including the 'Garden of Hope' for children in the Gaza Strip.
• Gold Standard FoundationnotableOthersWithOneSeed is the first internationally certified smallholder community carbon forestry program under the Gold Standard Foundation in the Asia Pacific region, requiring regular performance audits.
• The Change AgencynotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerACF fundholders (including Melliodora Fund) collectively support The Change Agency's Community Organising Fellowship, a six-month program training 25 community leaders annually in strategic campaigning.
• Coalition of Funders for Women and FamiliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACF joined a coalition of philanthropic funders committing more than $32 million to support community-led work focused on women and families. The coalition takes a shared approach to co-funding, learning and impact.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Fidelity Charitable: The largest US donor-advised fund sponsor, operating a DAF platform with a multi-billion-dollar AUM and structured giving vehicles. Directly comparable to ACF in product set (DAFs, advice, giving accounts) and donor segments, but at significantly greater scale and in a different geography.
• Schwab Charitable: Major US donor-advised fund sponsor affiliated with Charles Schwab, offering investment accounts, grantmaking, and donor advisory services. Closely mirrors ACF's combination of DAFs, PAF-style structures, and responsible investing options, though serving a much larger US donor base.
• National Philanthropic Trust: US-based donor-advised fund sponsor and grantmaking infrastructure provider. Comparable to ACF in its focus on DAF sponsorships, pooled giving vehicles, and philanthropic advisory for HNW individuals and families.
• Charities Aid Foundation: UK-based international philanthropy platform offering donor-advised funds, giving accounts, and grantmaking services. Comparable to ACF in its multi-vehicle giving structure and advisory-led approach, with stronger international reach.

Broad incumbents

• Silicon Valley Community Foundation: One of the largest US community foundations, offering DAFs, corporate giving, scholarship funds, and impact investing. Comparable to ACF as a multi-product community foundation, but operates at substantially greater scale and within the US regulatory framework.
• Community Foundations of Canada: National network of Canadian community foundations that collectively operate DAFs, endowments, and grantmaking programs. Closest international analog to ACF's positioning as a national, networked community foundation platform.

Regional players

• The Myer Foundation: Major Australian philanthropic foundation funding arts, education, and the environment. Comparable to ACF in operating in the Australian structured-giving space, but as a single private foundation rather than a multi-vehicle community platform.
• Paul Ramsay Foundation: One of Australia's largest philanthropic foundations, focused on health, education, and social disadvantage. Comparable to ACF in being a large Australian grantmaking institution, but operates a private-foundation model rather than ACF's DAF/PAF sponsor model.

Others

• Equity Trustees: Australian trustee and wealth services company that administers charitable trusts, estates, and foundations. Adjacent to ACF as a fiduciary/trustee provider, but is a for-profit corporate trust business rather than a community foundation.
• Perpetual Limited: Australian financial services group with a major philanthropic and trustee services division managing charitable foundations and endowments. Comparable to ACF in administering Australian charitable vehicles, but operates as a for-profit corporate services firm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Communities Foundation