Community Foundations: Meeting the Moment
May 31, 2026
By Nina FitzSimons
Late last month I had the opportunity to attend and present at the Community Foundations Australia Forum alongside community foundation practitioners from across Australia and around the world.
The theme of the forum was Meet the Moment, and across three days one message came through clearly: community foundations have a unique role to play in strengthening communities during a time of increasing uncertainty and change.
Putting community at the center
One of the strongest ideas explored throughout the forum was that community philanthropy is not fundamentally about money. It is about power, relationships and trust.
Speakers reflected on the origins of the global community philanthropy movement and the growing recognition that lasting change happens when communities themselves are involved in identifying challenges and shaping solutions.
As community foundations, this challenges us to continually ask:
- Who are we accountable to?
- Are communities genuinely helping shape decisions?
- Are our structures serving community needs, or have they become the focus themselves?
The discussions reinforced the importance of moving from "power over" to "power with" which means creating the conditions for communities to lead rather than simply participate. This is something we have been working on at the Ballarat Foundation for the past two years.
Building connection in a divided world
Across many sessions there was concern about increasing social division, declining trust in institutions, and the growing challenges facing local communities.
The response offered by many speakers was surprisingly simple: connection.
Community foundations were described as organisations that sit between sectors, connecting residents, community groups, businesses, government and philanthropy. In a time when many people feel disconnected, this role may be more important than ever.
The forum highlighted how local relationships, social capital and a sense of belonging are not just "nice to have". These elements are essential foundations for resilient and thriving communities.
Nina FitzSimons: Community Impact Manager for the Ballarat Foundation and blog contributor
Looking Ahead
I was also fortunate to co-present a session on developing practical social impact frameworks for community foundations. It was encouraging to see the growing interest across the sector in measuring not only what we do, but the difference it makes in our communities.
The forum left me optimistic about the future of community foundations and the direction the Ballarat Foundation is taking in putting community at the center of its own development.
While communities face complex challenges, there is also enormous opportunity. Across Australia and internationally, community foundations are helping build stronger connections, support local leadership and create space for communities to shape their own futures.
If there was one takeaway from the forum, it was this: meaningful change starts with community.
Continue reading our latest news and stories
We work on Wadawurrung land
The Ballarat Foundation acknowledges the Wadawurrung people, the traditional owners of the lands and waterways in our region. We recognise their diversity, resilience, and the ongoing place that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people hold in our communities. We pay our respects to the Elders, both past and present, and commit to working together in the spirit of mutual understanding, respect and reconciliation.
The Ballarat Foundation is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive community where everyone is welcomed, respected and empowered to thrive.