This week brought welcome news of regulatory amendments to the ancillary fund guidelines for funds responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

This week brought welcome news of regulatory amendments to the ancillary fund guidelines for funds responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

For community philanthropy, any crisis requiring a timely response – whether bushfires or pandemic – brings into sharp focus how rapid, agile responses on the ground are held back by the existing regulatory framework.

In a world where solidary is paramount, community philanthropy comes into its own. No-one does ‘better together’ better than community foundations and our international network of CF peak organisations. We salute you all for outstanding community leadership in the face of adversity.

This is a moment for community foundations to both respond and lead. There is tremendous opportunity for collaborative and connected approaches, with engagement from partners – corporate, government, and private foundations.

ACP is expanding into Western Australia, Hands Across Canberra is embarking on a tremendous fundraising journey and launching the city’s first online giving day on 11 March, plus resources for community leaders from the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.

Chair of ACP, Ben Rodgers, reflects on how community foundations set up a decade ago are helping fire-affected communities today.