The idea of the Forum is based on our founder, Dick Dusseldorp’s belief in the benefits of bringing people together, from different perspectives and experience, to generate an impact well beyond the sum of the parts.
It recognises that our ambition of a more equal and just society, cannot be realised by any one community, program, government initiative or organisation. It requires the collective efforts of many changemakers and needs to tackle structural and systemic reform to enable and embed better outcomes for children, families, and communities over time.
This is why we have joined initiatives like the Mannifera Collective, Groundswell Giving, and the Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children, and in turn, we are witnessing firsthand the transformative power of collaboration.
By pooling resources, we can increase the scale of giving, enabling more significant funding for critical issues and long-term solutions. Sharing knowledge and expertise allows us to learn from each other, enhancing decision-making and identifying innovative approaches. Risk-sharing enables us to tackle complex or underfunded challenges, knowing the burden is distributed. Collaboration builds stronger relationships among collectives and partners, fostering trust and shared accountability. Finally, collective philanthropy drives systemic impact by aligning efforts, reducing duplication, and amplifying voices advocating for change.
By coming together, we can achieve greater efficiency, effectiveness, and influence, supporting meaningful, lasting change.
Below we share more about three of the collective’s we’ve been a part of in 2024.
Mannifera Collective: Stronger Democracy and Fairer Economy
Mannifera is a collective of funders committed to a healthy Australian democracy and a more equitable economy. Since inception in 2019, Mannifera has delivered $4.3 million in grants to civil society organisations across Australia, and created a space for funders and advocates to connect, learn from each other and actively collaborate in their advocacy efforts.
Annually the group pools funds which are dispersed to a selection of civil society organisations and the advocacy ecosystem through strategic partnerships focused on;
- Improving Quality Public Debate
- Ensuring Accountable and Open Government
- Building Fair Tax and Economic Systems
- Fostering Inclusive Political Participation
Over the last five years, Mannifera has supported advocacy organisations and initiatives to launch, build and expand, with many of them meaningfully contributing to progress including: the establishment of a National Anti-Corruption Commission, lifting the rate of Jobseeker, reforms to the Stage 3 tax cuts, preventing laws designed to limit charitable advocacy and voting rights as well as legislation seeking to allow discrimination on religious grounds, the development of an MP Code of Conduct, advocating for the right to peaceful protest, whistleblower protections and the resourcing of our public interest news media.
Groundswell Giving: Driving Climate Action
This year Dusseldorp Forum joined Goundswell’s Major Giving Circle that has brought together individuals and organisations passionate about addressing the climate crisis. Dusseldorp Forum joined 20 other contributors in dispersing $1.2 million to climate-focused organisations across Australia.
In 2024 they Major Giving Circle selected 12 game-changing organisations to back. Each group is pulling on the levers of change – working with communities to bring them along on the energy transition, fighting back against disinformation, and holding our leaders accountable on climate action.
Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children
Dusseldorp Forum is a member of the Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children (IDAC), a groundbreaking 10-year partnership between government, philanthropy, and communities, aimed at improving the wellbeing of children, young people, and families across Australia. Rooted in a shared vision of an inclusive and equitable society, the initiative emphasises community leadership to develop solutions tailored to local needs.
IDAC fosters collaboration through a coordinated approach to align philanthropic and government investments with community-driven projects and systemic reforms. Central to this effort is placing children and young people at the core of decision-making.
On 15 November 2024, the second IDAC roundtable convened on Kaurna Country in Adelaide, hosted at the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre. This gathering provided a platform for leaders across sectors to engage with community voices and define actionable strategies to combat intergenerational disadvantage. Key achievements over the past year were highlighted, including the establishment of leadership councils, working groups, and the endorsement of a Strategic Framework focusing on place-based initiatives, early years, and youth programs.
