collaboration for impact

What collaboration for impact does

Collaboration for Impact (CFI) is an Australian non-profit charity founded in 2014 by Liz Skelton and Kerry Graham that operates as a systems change intermediary. CFI provides programs, coaching, and digital resources to support community-led systems change initiatives across Australia, serving First Nations and other communities, federal/state/local government agencies, philanthropic foundations, and systems change practitioners. The organization is headquartered in Bondi Beach, NSW, operates as a 100% remote work-from-home organization with team members distributed across Australia, is led by CEO Anna Powell (since February 2022), and has Jane Hunt as board chair. CFI is registered with the ACNC as a charity and is governed by an independent board of directors.

CFI's product portfolio is anchored by four interconnected platforms and movements: Platform C, a free online resource hub launched in November 2019 in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Social Services, Paul Ramsay Foundation, Dusseldorp Forum, TACSI, and Clear Horizon; Deep Collaboration, a First Nations-led leadership practice launched in August 2020; ChangeFest, a nationwide movement and event series; and Systems Exchange, a digital connectivity platform for resource and story exchange. These are complemented by paid Learning Programs (Systems Change Learning Program and Systems Leadership Learning Program), individual and team coaching sessions, and consulting or capacity-building services. The platforms are described as web-based, built on standard SaaS solutions, and serve as self-serve resources and community hubs rather than AI-driven systems.

CFI's revenue model blends philanthropic and government grants (from major partners including the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Menzies Foundation, and Australian Government Department of Social Services), paid learning program fees, and partnership or consulting services. The organization is not venture-backed and operates without private equity or controlling parent. CFI served as Foundation Partner in establishing PLACE (Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment) in 2024 and is designing the Nexus Centre (National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration) in consortium with the University of Queensland's Institute for Social Science Research and ANZSOG, positioning CFI as a key node in Australia's emerging place-based collaboration infrastructure.

Name

collaboration for impact

Legal name

Collaboration for Impact

Website

https://collaborationforimpact.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Collaboration for Impact is an Australian non-profit charity that supports community-led systems change across Australia through programs, coaching, and digital platforms including Platform C, Deep Collaboration, and ChangeFest, serving communities, government, and philanthropic organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Change Consulting and Capacity Building

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (5223), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522), Other Activities Related to Credit Intermediation (522390)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Personal Credit Institutions (6141), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)

Keywords

• Systems change consulting
• Community-led initiatives
• Collective impact advisory
• Place-based collaboration
• Social change learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

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

Revenue model

1. Learning Programs and Training: CFI offers paid learning programs, workshops, and coaching sessions. Programs include the Systems Change Learning Program and Systems Leadership Learning Program, with fees for participation. The privacy policy mentions coaching sessions and learning events offered for purchase.
2. Philanthropic and Government Grants: CFI receives funding from philanthropic foundations (e.g., Paul Ramsay Foundation, Menzies Foundation) and government agencies (e.g., Australian Government Department of Social Services) to support their programs and initiatives.
3. Partnership and Consulting Services: CFI provides capacity-building, project support, and consulting services to communities, governments, and organizations seeking to implement systems change approaches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Collaboration for Impact (CFI) is an Australian non-profit intermediary that supports community-led systems change through a portfolio of interconnected programs, digital platforms, learning programs, coaching sessions, and national events. Its offerings include Platform C (a free online resource hub for changemakers), Deep Collaboration (a First Nations-led leadership practice), ChangeFest (a nationwide movement and event series), Systems Exchange (a digital learning platform), paid learning programs, and bespoke capacity-building partnerships with communities, governments and philanthropic foundations.

Product overview

Collaboration for Impact is a non-government organisation that operates as a systems change intermediary, offering a portfolio of interconnected programs, platforms and services. Core offerings include Platform C (a free online resource hub), Deep Collaboration (a First Nations-led leadership practice), ChangeFest (a national movement for place-based change), and the Systems Exchange (a digital platform for connection and learning). These are supported by Learning Programs, Coaching Sessions, and strategic initiatives like the Belonging for All Strategy. CFI also played a founding role in establishing PLACE and is currently designing the Nexus Centre as national infrastructure for place-based collaboration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Platform C: A unique online program providing free access to information, tools, case studies and support for changemakers to tackle complex social issues. Launched in partnership with government, philanthropy and intermediaries.
• Deep Collaboration
• ChangeFest
• Systems Exchange
• Belonging for All

Products and services

• Platform C Platform C is a free online resource platform providing changemakers with information, tools, case studies and resources to tackle complex social issues including poverty, childhood vulnerability, domestic violence, homelessness and discrimination. It is available at no cost to systems change practitioners across Australia.
• Deep Collaboration Deep Collaboration is a leadership practice enabling First Nations and other Australians to collaborate across culture and power while centring justice and equity, creating 'middle spaces' for genuine collaboration.
• ChangeFest ChangeFest is a nationwide movement and event series for community-led change in Australia, committed to truth, healing, and equity with First Nations voice centred in local, regional and national decisions.
• Systems Exchange Systems Exchange is a virtual platform supporting connectivity, learning and collective action across the systems change field, enabling communities to exchange stories, resources and strengthen collective influence.
• CFI Systems Change Learning Program The CFI Systems Change Learning Program is a paid learning program designed to grow skills, thinking and practice for tackling complex social challenges, with offerings designed for collaborations and organisations registering 3-5 people to learn together.
• Systems Leadership Learning Program 2025 The Systems Leadership Learning Program is a leadership development program providing knowledge of systems and collective leadership concepts, practice opportunities for navigating tensions, and peer networks for ongoing learning.
• Coaching Sessions Individual and small team coaching sessions available for purchase with cancellation and refund policies, offering personalised coaching support for systems change practitioners.
• PLACE - Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment PLACE is a national organisation supporting the adoption and impact of place-based approaches across Australia, established as national infrastructure for place-based collaboration.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supported over 100 communities to develop models and practices for collaboration
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Platform C Consortium PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatform C was launched in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Social Services, the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Dusseldorp Forum, The Australian Centre for Social Innovation and Clear Horizon. These partners collaborate to provide free resources and tools for changemakers tackling complex social challenges across Australia.
• University of Queensland (UQ) - Institute for Social Science ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFI partnered with UQ as part of the Nexus Centre Foundation Partner consortium to design and establish the National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration. UQ provides research expertise and academic rigor to the initiative.
• Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFI partnered with ANZSOG as part of the Nexus Centre Foundation Partner consortium to design and establish the National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration.
• Australian Government Department of Social ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting Platform C and various place-based initiatives. The Albanese Government has committed to investing more than $100 million per year in place-based programs.
• Dusseldorp ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Platform C consortium and collaborator on systems change learning initiatives including Scaling Deep workshops.
• Clear HorizoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Platform C consortium, providing expertise in evaluation and learning for systems change.
• The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Platform C consortium, contributing to CFI's work on social innovation and systems change.
• Menzies FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner working with CFI on climate justice initiatives, leadership programs, and Web3 technology exploration for social change.
• Jesuit Social Services' Centre for Just PlacesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on research and learning regarding community-led responses to climate change and equitable outcomes.
• Collective Change LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFI has been working alongside Collective Change Lab and ten global partners for two years to reflect on transformative systems change, examining how leaders with institutional power can shift practice.
• Kutalayna CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal host and partner for ChangeFest 2023 in Lutruwita/Tasmania, representing the community-led nature of the ChangeFest movement.
• Kowa CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational convenor and co-convener of ChangeFest events, working with CFI to advance place-based change movement.
• Health Justice AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational convenor and co-convener of ChangeFest events.
• LaTrobe UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner and co-convener of ChangeFest 2023.
• Criterion InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal think-tank on finance as strategy for social change. CFI is learning with Criterion on community-centred blended finance in Australia and equity-centred applications of Web 3.0 technology in finance.
• Ethical FieldsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFI is a strategic partner of Ethical Fields, working alongside partner organizations and communities through the Place Based Capital Program (PBCP) to explore place-based capital and shifting power to communities.
• First Peoples' Assembly of VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFI walked alongside the Assembly as they worked towards Treaties with the Victorian Government, demonstrating systems leadership in action.
• Maranguka Community HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlace-based collaborative initiative in Bourke, NSW. Maranguka works with local families, service providers, government, and is authorised by the Bourke Tribal Council to redesign family support.
• Imagined FuturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal host partner for ChangeFest 2025 in Walyalup (Fremantle, WA).
• ChangeFest National ConvenorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFI is one of four national conveners of ChangeFest, the nationwide movement for community-led change committed to truth, healing, and equity with First Nations voice centred in decisions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Clear Horizon: An Australian evaluation and learning consultancy working on social-impact programs and complex community change. It is comparable through learning, evaluation and capacity building, but is narrower in its primary service scope.

Regional players

• Tamarack Institute: A Canadian institute supporting collective impact, place-based change and community collaboration. It is directly comparable to CFI in network building, capacity building and cross-sector systems change, but serves a different national market.
• Innovation Unit: A UK-based social-innovation organisation working with public systems, communities and partners on system redesign. It overlaps with CFI in applied systems change, co-design and capacity building, but primarily serves the UK and international markets.

Broad incumbents

• FSG: A global social-impact consultancy that advises foundations, corporations and nonprofits on collective impact and systemic change. Its strategy, measurement and stakeholder-engagement work is comparable, though broader and more commercially oriented.
• Social Ventures Australia: An Australian social-impact organisation that partners with businesses, philanthropists, governments and nonprofits on impact initiatives. It is comparable as a systems-change intermediary and advisor, but operates at a broader investment and program scale.

Direct peers

• Collective Impact Forum: A global learning community and resource platform for practitioners using collective impact and systems change. It overlaps with CFI's ecosystem building, knowledge sharing, practitioner resources and engagement work.
• Collective Change Lab: A global systems-change practice and learning network that helps leaders and institutions shift power and practice. It closely overlaps CFI's transformative systems-change, collaboration and leadership work, although CFI is Australia-focused.
• The Front Project: An Australian systems-change organisation focused on early childhood and collective impact. It shares CFI's cross-sector convening, place-based collaboration and systems-leadership orientation.
• The Australian Centre for Social Innovation: An Australian social-innovation organisation that co-designs and scales community-led services and systems-change initiatives. It is comparable to CFI through its intermediary role, social-innovation focus and work with communities and government.

Others

• Centre for Social Impact: An Australian social-impact research and education network involving universities. CFI is comparable in social-impact research, teaching and sector convening, but the centre is primarily an academic collaboration rather than a delivery intermediary.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/collabforimpact
• Facebookfacebook.com/collaborationforimpact
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/collaboration-for-impact

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 collaboration for impact