MY ACFID
Friday 31 October 2025

The Weekly

This week, our team has been finalising details for next week’s National Conference. I are really pleased with the strong interest and that tickets to join are sold out! We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be a rich and inspiring series of events next week that bring our sector and key stakeholders together.

ACFID participated in an event that UNICEF hosted as part of their Australia Pacific Youth Climate Dialogue. It was inspiring to hear directly from youth climate leaders across Oceania and to witness the presentation of the National Child and Youth Statement on Climate Change 2025. Their leadership and ambition serve as a source of hope for our future!

 

Also in Canberra this week, WWF hosted a very encouraging event for their Climate Resilient by Nature Impact Showcase, which highlighted community-led, nature-based solutions to climate change across the Indo-Pacific and is a great example of sector wide collaboration on a project funded by DFAT.

 

Please note that registrations are open (links below) for the CEO roundtable consultations which will take place in Sydney, Melbourne and online later in November.  Register to participate now!

 

Finally, it was good to join the Parliamentary Friends for Eye Care event at Parliament House, celebrating 25 years of ACFID member Vision 20/20 Australia. It was a wonderful evening that honoured the achievements of Vision 20/20, the eye health and vision care sector, and the people and several ACFID members who make this impact possible.

To Attend

SCAM alert – ACFID Conference Attendee List

ACFID has been alerted to an email involving our conference and the offer to purchase attendee data. This is a scam. If you receive an email in relation to this, DO NOT respond to the sender. Please be assured that registration details have not been compromised. If you are concerned, please contact ACFID’s Business Director, Raewyn Lans, ​​​[email protected]​​,​ ​immediately.

To Attend

Global Development Leaders Dialogue #6: What Works: NGO–Philanthropic Partnerships

Are you attending the ACFID Conference or based in Canberra? Join us on Wednesday, 5 November, to explore what it takes to build effective and enduring partnerships between NGOs and philanthropy. Co-hosted by ACFID and AIDN, this session brings together NGO and philanthropic leaders to explore the strategies, structures, and mindsets that underpin successful collaboration. Through real-world examples and strategic insights, participants will examine what works – and what doesn’t – when it comes to building trusted partnerships. The session will offer a space for NGO and philanthropic leaders to reflect on their own experiences and build a shared understanding of practical steps to work better together.

When: Wednesday 5 November

Where: QT Hotel Canberra, Studio 2-3 (upstairs)

Time: 3-5pm, following the ACFID AGM

Free event for CEOs and senior leaders

​Register Here ​- Please note that spaces are limited. Any additional spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

To Attend

ACFID 2026 – 2031 Strategic Planning: CEO Engagement Sessions

​​ACFID is developing its new 5 year strategic plan, and we want all of our members to add your voice to shape our priorities.

We will be doing this as part of our CEO networking events in November. Two of these will be in-person meetings, and one will be online. We are hoping that CEOs will be able to attend one of these three events.

Please hold the following dates in your diaries:

More details coming soon. Please mark your diaries.

To Attend

DFAT Information Session: Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator

DFAT invites ACFID members to join them for an information session on the ​​​​Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator​​​​. The accelerator will provide catalytic grant funding and acceleration support to NGOs that aim to design, launch, pilot, scale-up and expand the blended finance vehicles.

Register for the webinar to:

    • Get an overview of the Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator and how it supports NGOs in the region
    • Hear directly from DFAT Australia on their vision and objectives for the program
    • Gain insights from an NGO grantee on designing blended finance vehicles and mobilising capital
    • Understand the application process, including eligibility criteria and how proposals will be evaluated
    • Ask your questions during a live Q&A and more!

When: Thursday 13 November, 2-3pm (AEDT)

Find out more and ​​​​​register here​​​​​.

Consultants – String Theory

Skills: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning

We work alongside organisations and communities to understand what works, what doesn’t, and how to improve.

We simplify the monitoring and evaluation process so everyone can be part of it.

We seek the views of multiple groups to ensure that as many as possible have a voice.

We don’t just deliver data; we use creative ways to tell the story of a program to ensure findings are meaningful for the intended audiences.

We have decades of experience and have managed over 100 monitoring and evaluation projects across 19 countries. Visit our website to learn more.

Read more here.

Consultants – Athena Board

Exclusive Offer – Transform Your Board & Committee Governance

Athena Board is proud to partner with ACFID to help not-for-profits save time, secure documents,and improve governance.

Trusted by charities, international aid agencies, and community organisations across Australia,Athena Board’s secure platform makes it easy to collate, produce, and share board materials while protecting sensitive information. ISO27001 certified and fully encrypted, it’s built to meet the highest standards of security – at a price designed for the NFP sector.ACFID members receive 10% off Athena Board’s already low NFP rates, giving you a high-performing,low-cost solution to:

• Reduce admin time and streamline meeting preparation

• Strengthen governance and compliance

• Provide directors with tools like digital voting, annotations, conflict registers, and offline access

Upgrade your governance with a platform your board will actually enjoy using. Read more here

Upcoming Events

Date

Event

31 October

​Opportunities for AI Training – Free Programs Available​

5 November

Global Development Leaders Dialogue #6: What Works: NGO–Philanthropic Partnerships

5 November

ACFID Annual General Meeting 

5 & 6 November

​2025 ACFID National Conference​

13 November

DFAT Information Session: Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator

11 & 13 November

​DevEd 2025 Conference​

20 – 21- 24 November

ACFID 2026 – 2031 Strategic Planning: CEO Engagement Sessions (save the dates)

29 November

​Educating the Future’s 10-year Anniversary Gala Dinner

Food for thought

Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy & Defence Dialogue’s Heather Wrathall and Melissa Conley Tyler write for Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that in an increasingly competitive business environment, doing good is no longer a side project, it’s a core business strategy.

“Companies across a range of industries are recognising that their responsibilities extend beyond shareholders to the societies and economies in which they operate. And – for an increasing number – that means thinking about international giving. Unlike core business investments, philanthropic contributions can be targeted flexibly toward community needs, innovation and community-led solutions. They complement traditional funding mechanisms and can catalyse partnerships across sectors. “

​Corporate giving: Charity that gives back​

​Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry | Heather Wrathall and Melissa Conley Tyler

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