Philanthropy Australia’s recent conference theme Future Ready inspired me to tease out the issue with long-standing sector leader and author of Savvy Giving, Genevieve Timmons. (Many thanks to Pro Bono News for first publishing this piece on 8 November 2016)

This morning, I was fortunate to spend 15 minutes chatting on ABC Gippsland about social change and philanthropy, and we homed in on the subject of crowd-funding which has long been something I have felt nervous about. I am often warning people to be really careful with crowd-funding.  

I have been working with a fabulous lady in her 70s, and we have been delving into a sector that very few large-scale donors have navigated. In this sector – like many – there are the obvious big players and countless smaller organisations, many of which have never received a direct inquiry from a potential philanthropist.

Yesterday I attended Day 2 of the National Community Foundations Forum, where I was fortunate enough to speak about community engagement, and also participate in the audience and learn from some of our sector's inspiring leaders.

I was listening to a podcast last night by Smita Singh from Womenpreneur program in the USA, and something she said really hit me... 

Nearly 10 years ago, I read about this guy Peter Hero, who literally put philanthropy, community foundations, impact investing and so much more on the map. 

Working in the philanthropy 'sector' is very rewarding. Every day, I get to live by my values, and work with others who want to live according to their values. I'm invited into the private worlds of people's hearts, which is such a privilege. 

The mainstreaming of disability is finally here to stay, and cannot be “put back in its box”, according to one of Australia’s most prominent disability advocates, Dr Rhonda Galbally AO.

As the “female economy” now represents the fastest growing wealth demographic in Australia and abroad, what does this mean for philanthropy? Angela Mentis, executive general manager of NAB Private Wealth, has a unique perspective on the question, having worked with hundreds of high net worth individuals.

Within 12 months of considering such issues, Marylou and her research colleagues had not only discovered a generational shift towards less constructive play in Australia's primary school children, but they also unearthed an innovative concept in the UK that reversing such a shift.