Foundation for the WA Museum
The Foundation for the WA Museum is a Perth-based non-profit that raises and deploys philanthropic funds exclusively to support the Western Australian Museum, operating a AUD $30M endowment and programmes in marine research, science communication (FameLab Australia), and regional museum development.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersPerth, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Foundation for the WA Museum does
The Foundation for the WA Museum is a Perth-based non-profit charitable foundation established in 2017 as the independent fundraising arm for the Western Australian Museum. It operates the Discovery Endowment Fund, which holds approximately AUD $30 million in funds under management, and distributes annual strategic grants (AUD $555,000 in FY2022/23 and AUD $240,000 in 2024) to support museum collections, exhibitions, and research. Its programmes include the Marine Sustainability Fund, Minderoo Grants for fieldwork and research, the Annual Strategic Grant Program, and FameLab Australia, a national science communication competition produced under licence from Cheltenham Festivals since 2019. Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic channels: six founding corporate partners (Minderoo Foundation, Rio Tinto, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, Tianqi Lithium, Wesfarmers, and Woodside Energy) anchor the endowment, with additional multi-year strategic partnerships with Fortescue, Gold Fields, CITIC Pacific Mining, and Northern Star Resources. Individual giving flows through a Patron Program, website donations, and bequests, supported by fundraising events such as the Night at the Museum Gala and the Ngalang Koort Conversations series. The Foundation distributes these funds exclusively to the Western Australian Museum, making the Museum its sole programmatic beneficiary across regional sites including Boola Bardip, the WA Shipwrecks Museum, and the Museum of the Goldfields. It is governed by a board chaired by Anna Shave (appointed 2024) and led operationally by CEO Coralie Bishop.
Foundation for the WA Museum firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Foundation for the WA Museum
- Legal name
- Foundation for the Western Australian Museum Ltd
- Website
- https://fwam.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Foundation for the WA Museum is a Perth-based non-profit that raises and deploys philanthropic funds exclusively to support the Western Australian Museum, operating a AUD $30M endowment and programmes in marine research, science communication (FameLab Australia), and regional museum development.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Foundation for the WA Museum industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation / Museum Fundraising
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
Keywords
Where Foundation for the WA Museum is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Foundation for the WA Museum business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Foundation for the WA Museum product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Foundation for the WA Museum is a not-for-profit charitable foundation that raises and deploys private philanthropic funds in support of the Western Australian Museum. It operates the Discovery Endowment Fund (approximately A$30M in funds under management), runs an Annual Strategic Grant Program to the WA Museum, and channels donor and corporate support into programs such as FameLab Australia science communication training, the Marine Sustainability Fund, Minderoo Grants, and the Patron Program. Its work funds collections acquisition, scientific research, exhibitions, regional museum sites, and education and outreach programs across Western Australia.
Product overview
The Foundation for the WA Museum is a not-for-profit charitable organization that mobilizes, harnesses, and directs support for the Western Australian Museum. Rather than a commercial product company, the Foundation operates philanthropic programs including the Discovery Endowment Fund (approximately $30M in funds under management), an Annual Strategic Grant Program distributing ~$240,000 yearly to WA Museum projects, Minderoo Grants for diverse initiatives, the FameLab Australia science communication competition, and the Marine Sustainability Fund. The Foundation also facilitates corporate partnerships with organizations including Woodside Energy (28-year marine research partnership), Fortescue (Pilbara biodiversity research), and Gold Fields (regional museum support).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FameLab Australia: World's leading public-facing science communication competition and training program, created by Cheltenham Festivals (UK), produced and hosted by the Foundation for the WA Museum since 2019.
Products and services
- Discovery Endowment Fund Principal endowment fund of the Foundation, established to support the WA Museum today and into the future, grown to approximately A$30 million in funds under management as of 2023.
- Annual Strategic Grant Program Annual grant distribution by the Foundation to the Western Australian Museum for strategic projects, distributing approximately A$240,000 in 2024 across the Legacy Collection Project and Kalyenup 2026 Project, and A$555,000 in 2022/23 including acquisition of the Red Rock Art Collection and Archive.
- Minderoo Grants Smaller grants focused on diverse projects across fieldwork, research and exhibit development, funded through the Discovery Endowment Fund.
- FameLab Australia The world's largest public-facing science communication training program and competition, produced by the Foundation since 2019 to promote excellence in science communication for early-career STEM researchers. The Foundation is the Australian country host and producer of FameLab, created by Cheltenham Festivals (UK).
- Marine Sustainability Fund Fund supporting marine research and conservation efforts, including partnerships for studying Western Australia's unique marine biodiversity.
- Patron Program Individual giving program allowing supporters to become patrons of the Foundation and the WA Museum through sustained personal contributions.
- Corporate Partnerships Program Partnership program connecting corporations with the Foundation's mission to support the WA Museum, including founding partners and strategic partners such as Minderoo Foundation, Rio Tinto, Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, Tianqi Lithium, Wesfarmers, Woodside Energy, Fortescue, Gold Fields, CITIC Pacific Mining and Northern Star Resources.
- Ngalang Koort Conversations Public conversation events featuring notable speakers discussing science, culture and community topics at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, used as an outreach and engagement platform for donors and the public.
- Impact Circle Grant Donor-voted grant program where Impact Circle members vote on funding allocation for specific projects supported by the Foundation.
- Leave a Gift in Your Will (Bequests Program) Legacy giving program allowing supporters to leave a gift to the Foundation and WA Museum in their will, as part of the individual giving portfolio.
Quantifiable outcome
- 700+ new species discovered through marine research collaboration
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Foundation for the WA Museum
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Foundation for the WA Museum technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Foundation for the WA Museum partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.
- Northern Star ResourcesmajorTwo-year research partnership to protect endangered WA butterflies Jalmenus aridus and Ogyris petrina through targeted research, monitoring, and public engagement.
- Woodside Energycore28-year marine biodiversity research collaboration extended for 5 years to study Gascoyne coastline. Surveyed 575,000 km2, discovered 700+ species, published 160+ articles. First phase examines legacy collections.
- Zhang GuolisupportingAcclaimed Chinese actor appointed Exhibition Cultural Ambassador for Terracotta Warriors exhibition. Host of CMG's 'The Nation's Greatest Treasures' with 10M+ views per episode.
- FortescuecoreThree-year research partnership for biodiversity research in Fortescue Marsh (Pilbara), focusing on ground beetles (Carabidae). Includes PhD student training in beetle taxonomy.
- Gold FieldscoreThree-year partnership as Presenting Partner for Aboriginal Bush Food & Medicine Garden at Museum of the Goldfields and Digital Audio Guides for all four regional museum sites.
- Community Broadcasting FoundationsupportingThree-year support until 2026 for FameLab, providing media training to finalists and creating podcast series for community radio stations.
- Comm-it - Communication Solutions with SciencemajorNational Training Partner for FameLab Australia, providing science communication training to all participants including masterclasses and workshops.
- University of Western Australia (UWA)majorThree-year partnership to support FameLab Australia. UWA ranked 77th globally (QS 2025) with research across 28 fields rated in world's top 1%.
- CITIC Pacific MiningmajorPartnership supporting Diprotodon fossil excavation in Pilbara. Provided logistical and financial support for fieldwork and fossil recovery at Du Boulay Creek.
- Forrest Research FoundationmajorHosts FameLab finalists at Forrest Hall for immersive science communication workshops. Andrew and Nicola Forrest committed $130M establishing Australia's largest endowment for doctoral research.
- Cheltenham FestivalscoreCreator of FameLab, the world's leading science communication competition. Foundation is Australian country host and producer of FameLab Australia since 2019.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Foundation for the WA Museum competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Queensland Museum Foundation: Foundation supporting the Queensland Museum. Operates the same model: independent non-profit fundraising arm enabling grants for acquisitions, research, and exhibitions for a state museum.
- Minderoo Foundation: Large Australian philanthropic foundation that is itself a founding partner of FWAM. Comparable in mission (Australian philanthropy), model (corporate-derived endowment), and engagement with research, environment, and community.
- Museums Victoria Foundation: Supports Museums Victoria in Melbourne. Runs philanthropy, corporate partnerships, and endowment-style giving for scientific research, collections, and exhibitions — highly comparable operating model.
- Australian Museum Foundation: Fundraising body for the Australian Museum in Sydney. Closest direct peer — also a state-level museum foundation raising endowment and annual giving from corporates and individuals to support museum collections, research, and exhibitions.
- Art Gallery of NSW Foundation: Foundation supporting the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Same model of charitable foundation corraling corporate sponsorships, patron programs, and bequests for collections and exhibitions.
- National Museum of Australia Foundation: Philanthropy vehicle for the National Museum of Australia. Comparable structure of corporates, bequests, and patron programs funding a national museum's collections and programs.
- South Australian Museum Foundation: Fundraising arm for the South Australian Museum. Directly comparable as a peer-state museum foundation supporting research, collections, and exhibitions, often backed by mining and resources companies.
- National Gallery of Australia Foundation: Philanthropic arm of the National Gallery of Australia. Comparable Australian cultural-institution foundation with corporate partnerships, endowment-style giving, and major acquisitions funding.
Broad incumbents
- Wellcome Trust: Global research-charity foundation. Comparable at the broader grantmaking-and-research-support level; an incumbent scale example of an endowment-driven research foundation FWAM could aspire to as it matures.
Emerging players
- Cheltenham Festivals: Creator of FameLab and Foundation's partner. Comparable as a science-communication event producer and ecosystem partner; provides FameLab's international platform framework.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Foundation for the WA Museum social profiles
Digital presenceFoundation for the WA Museum financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Foundation for the WA Museum leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Foundation for the WA Museum funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Foundation for the WA Museum M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for the WA Museum
What does Foundation for the WA Museum do?
The Foundation for the WA Museum is a not-for-profit charitable foundation that raises and deploys private philanthropic funds in support of the Western Australian Museum. It operates the Discovery Endowment Fund (approximately A$30M in funds under management), runs an Annual Strategic Grant Program to the WA Museum, and channels donor and corporate support into programs such as FameLab Australia science communication training, the Marine Sustainability Fund, Minderoo Grants, and the Patron Program. Its work funds collections acquisition, scientific research, exhibitions, regional museum sites, and education and outreach programs across Western Australia.
Is Foundation for the WA Museum a public or private company?
Foundation for the WA Museum is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Foundation for the WA Museum founded?
Foundation for the WA Museum was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Foundation for the WA Museum based?
Foundation for the WA Museum is headquartered in Perth, Australia, in the Oceania region.
Who are Foundation for the WA Museum's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Queensland Museum Foundation, Minderoo Foundation, Museums Victoria Foundation, Australian Museum Foundation, Art Gallery of NSW Foundation, National Museum of Australia Foundation, South Australian Museum Foundation and National Gallery of Australia Foundation. Wellcome Trust is listed as a broad incumbent. Cheltenham Festivals is listed as an emerging player.
Does Foundation for the WA Museum have an API?
No public API is recorded for Foundation for the WA Museum.
What industry is Foundation for the WA Museum in?
Foundation for the WA Museum's product category is Charitable Foundation / Museum Fundraising. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAJ, Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.