Scanlon Foundation Research Institute

What Scanlon Foundation Research Institute does

The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute (SFRI) is an independent, not-for-profit research institute established in 2019 and headquartered at Level 31, 367 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia. It functions as a bridge between academic research and public discourse on Australia's social cohesion, with a small team of approximately 9 employees. The institute's core offering is the Mapping Social Cohesion annual survey series — Australia's longest-running social cohesion research series, spanning 12+ years and drawing on a nationally representative sample of more than 3,500 respondents via the Life in Australia probability-based panel of over 10,000 members.

SFRI's product ecosystem is anchored by the Mapping Social Cohesion survey and extends into the Australian Cohesion Index, the Scanlon-Monash Index of Social Cohesion (measuring five domains: belonging, worth, social justice, participation, and acceptance/rejection), and a suite of interactive tools including the Australian Migration and Population Dashboard, Social Cohesion Compass, and Language Diversity in Australia. Outputs are disseminated through publication series (Essays, Narratives, Insights, Podcast), thematic studies (Refugee Experiences in Australia, Multiculturalism in Focus – Migrants' Sense of Belonging Study 2025), and events including the annual Australian Social Cohesion Summit (350+ delegates in 2025, ~400 expected in 2026), the Scanlon-Monash Executive Education Program, and the Summer School.

The institute is funded primarily through the Scanlon Foundation and partnerships with academic institutions, operating as a non-commercial research body that distributes all publications free of charge. Its customers and stakeholders are federal/state government and policymakers, universities and researchers, not-for-profit and community organisations, and the business sector, all of which consume its research for policy development, academic study, community program design, and workforce diversity initiatives. The business is fundamentally a foundation-funded knowledge production operation rather than a revenue-generating enterprise.

Name

Scanlon Foundation Research Institute

Legal name

The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute

Website

https://scanloninstitute.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit Australian research institute that produces the longest-running annual social cohesion survey series, indexes, dashboards, and policy research, serving government, academia, NGOs, and business.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Science Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Equity, Access & Inclusion Policy Research (EDADADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Orientation & Community Integration (Local Norms, Services) (EDAAADAD), Census, Demographic & Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) (HLAJAJAH)

Keywords

• Social cohesion research
• Multiculturalism studies
• Migration research
• Longitudinal survey research
• Community cohesion policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding: As an independent, not-for-profit research institute, the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute operates primarily through funding from the Scanlon Foundation and partnerships with academic institutions. Revenue supports research operations, publications, events, and programs focused on social cohesion in Australia.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute conducts independent research on Australian social cohesion, multiculturalism, and migration. Its flagship offering is the annual Mapping Social Cohesion survey—the longest-running social cohesion research series in Australia (12+ years)—supported by the Australian Cohesion Index, Scanlon-Monash Index of Social Cohesion, and interactive tools including the Migration Dashboard, Social Cohesion Compass, and Language Diversity in Australia. Research findings are disseminated through publications (essays, narratives, insights), podcasts, and events including the annual Australian Social Cohesion Summit.

Product overview

The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit research institute that operates as a research organization rather than a product company. Its core offering is the Mapping Social Cohesion annual survey series, which serves as the foundation for related research tools including the Australian Cohesion Index and Scanlon-Monash Index of Social Cohesion. The institute also produces practical tools such as the Migration Dashboard, Social Cohesion Compass, and Language Diversity in Australia tool. Research outputs are disseminated through publication series (Essays, Narratives, Insights, Podcast) and events including the annual Australian Social Cohesion Summit, Executive Education Program, and Summer School. The portfolio functions as an integrated research ecosystem where surveys generate data that informs indexes, tools, publications, and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mapping Social Cohesion The flagship annual survey series tracking social cohesion in Australia since 2007, providing systematic nationally representative data on belonging, worth, social justice, participation, and acceptance/rejection for policymakers, researchers, and community organisations.
• Australian Cohesion Index An index bringing depth and context to the picture of social cohesion in Australia to drive informed debate and decision-making, synthesising survey data for evidence-based decision-making.
• Scanlon-Monash Index of Social Cohesion (SMI) An overview of the state of social cohesion in Australia across five core domains: belonging, worth, social justice, participation, and acceptance and rejection, produced in partnership with Monash University.
• Australian Migration and Population Dashboard An interactive resource contextualising the real, relevant numbers behind Australia's migration and population trends for researchers, policymakers, and the general public.
• Social Cohesion Compass A tool providing measurement guidance and resources related to social cohesion in Australia.
• Language Diversity in Australia An interactive tool examining language diversity patterns across Australia for researchers, policymakers, and community organisations.
• Multiculturalism in Focus – Migrants' Sense of Belonging Study 2025 A 2025 research study by author Trish Prentice examining migrants' sense of belonging in Australia, focusing on multiculturalism and social cohesion.
• Australian Social Cohesion Summit Annual summit convening leaders from across community, research, government, and industry to discuss building belonging, trust, and participation in Australia. The 2025 inaugural event had 350+ delegates and the 2026 event is expected to bring together almost 400 delegates.
• Scanlon-Monash Executive Education Program Annual leadership program introducing cultural problem-solving methods to business and political leaders, delivered in partnership with Monash University.
• Scanlon Institute Summer School Invitation-only annual program challenging approaches to problem-solving by introducing methods used by different cultures.
• Refugee Experiences in Australia Study A dedicated research study examining refugee experiences in Australia.
• Mapping Civic Participation Opportunities across Australia Research initiative mapping civic participation opportunities across Australia.
• Strengthening Democracy An executive summary research publication on strengthening democracy in the context of social cohesion.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12+ years of continuous social cohesion data collection
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Melbourne Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2024Partnership for the Culturally Conscious Leadership Program 2024, held at Melbourne Business School. The program focuses on challenging current approaches to problem-solving by introducing methods used by different cultures, aligned with the institute's research on multiculturalism and social cohesion.
• Monash UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for the Scanlon-Monash Index of Social Cohesion (SMI), providing academic rigour and institutional credibility. Monash University researchers produce the annual Mapping Social Cohesion report. Also collaborates on the Scanlon-Monash Executive Education Program.
• The Social Research CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUses the Life in Australia panel, managed by the Social Research Centre, for the Mapping Social Cohesion surveys. This is Australia's premier representative probability-based panel with over 10,000 randomly recruited members, providing the methodological foundation for the institute's annual research.
• Australian National University (ANU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with ANU researchers including Professor Andrew Markus who authors the annual Mapping Social Cohesion Report. Professor Markus provides expertise in social cohesion research methodology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pew Research Center: Major US-based nonpartisan research organization producing public opinion surveys and longitudinal social research. Comparable to SFRI in producing longitudinal social cohesion and demographic research, though far larger and operating globally.
• Grattan Institute: Leading Australian public policy think tank producing influential research across economic and social policy. Comparable to SFRI as a high-output independent policy research outfit, though broader in policy scope and larger in resources and headcount.
• Lowy Institute: Major Australian think tank producing independent research on international affairs, including migration, social cohesion, and multicultural policy. Comparable to SFRI as a prominent Australian research/think-tank voice, though broader in scope (international affairs) and larger in scale.

Direct peers

• McKell Institute: Australian public policy institute producing research on social inclusion, multiculturalism, and community participation. Comparable to SFRI as a similarly sized nonprofit research body focused on inclusion and social cohesion themes in Australia.
• Per Capita: Australian progressive think tank producing original research on social inclusion, economic reform, and community wellbeing. Closely comparable to SFRI in size, mission (social cohesion-adjacent research), and operating model (independent, nonprofit, research-driven).
• Australian Institute of Family Studies: Australian Government research agency producing longitudinal social research on families, communities, and wellbeing. Comparable to SFRI as an Australian applied social science research body producing longitudinal data and policy-relevant insights, though at larger scale and government-funded.
• The Australia Institute: Australia's leading independent think tank producing data-driven research on social, economic, and environmental issues. Directly comparable to SFRI as a mission-driven Australian research outfit publishing reports, policy briefs, and commentary with a similar nonprofit/think-tank operating model.
• Centre for Policy Development: Independent Australian policy think tank focused on inclusive, sustainable policy across migration, multiculturalism, and social cohesion. Highly comparable to SFRI's research focus on multiculturalism and migration policy and its nonprofit think-tank structure.

Others

• Scanlon Foundation: Australian philanthropic foundation that funds and is closely tied to SFRI. Highly relevant as the parent funder and originator of the social cohesion research agenda, shaping SFRI's thematic focus on multiculturalism and community integration.
• The Social Research Centre: Australian social research provider that manages the Life in Australia probability panel used by SFRI. Directly comparable as a research infrastructure partner and adjacent in producing social science survey data for government and academic clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/scanloninst
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@scanlonfoundationresearchinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/scanloninstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Scanlon Foundation Research Institute