Blog

Our purpose is your purpose.

Exploration of the learnings, teachings, and organisational philosophy that sits behind anyone who wants to have a real, simple impact.

Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

A Life of Impact

What does it mean to live a truly impactful life? True success isn’t just wealth accumulation; it’s about purpose, contribution, and lasting fulfilment. This article explores how to move beyond traditional giving and embed impact into everyday decisions, helping you create a life of meaning, influence, and real change.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

The resurgence of philanthropic focus on Southeast Asia

Philanthropy in Southeast Asia is experiencing renewed attention, with The Rockefeller Foundation’s revamped Bangkok office and initiatives from networks like AVPN marking a shift in global engagement. We explore what this means for climate action, health equity, and impact investing in the region, and why Southeast Asia is emerging as a critical hub for social impact.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

The $80 million Office for Social Impact

Queensland has launched the Office for Social Impact and Investment, backed by an $80 million fund to support social enterprises, impact investors, and community organisations. This signals a major shift towards collaborative funding models that blend philanthropy, private capital, and government investment. Could this be a model for national social impact investment? Explore what this means for the future of social enterprise and philanthropy.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Tradeable Impact

Tradeable impact is redefining how we fund and scale social innovation. By creating a market where social and environmental value can be quantified, exchanged, and invested in—similar to carbon credits—this emerging framework has the potential to unlock new funding streams, drive corporate accountability, and integrate social good into financial systems. But for this bold vision to succeed, standardisation, transparency, and collaboration will be essential.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Future-Proofing Data Governance

As data privacy laws tighten and public expectations rise, transparency is a competitive advantage. Organisations that proactively demonstrate ethical data use are building stronger relationships with customers and donors, turning trust into a strategic asset.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

The Future of Giving*

Family offices and high-net-worth individuals are reshaping philanthropy with innovative tools like donor-advised funds and digital platforms. As younger generations and women take the reins, giving priorities are shifting towards sustainability, equity, and local causes. Discover how strategic philanthropy is evolving amid economic and policy changes.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Christmas giving… Sentiment or strategy?

Christmas appeals flood our screens every December, pulling at our heartstrings and wallets. But for philanthropists, the real challenge lies beyond the holiday sentiment. The need is year-round, and the impact of giving depends on sustained, strategic commitment. Let this festive season inspire not just generosity, but enduring change.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Our rights, our future, right now.

Human Rights Day, observed every year on December 10, marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Discover its history, significance, and why it remains vital in the pursuit of equality, freedom, and justice for all.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Australia’s wealthiest women are leading a Philanthropic revolution

Australia’s wealthiest women are leading a transformative movement in philanthropy, combining their resources and stories to drive systemic change. Through the She Gives campaign, this group of trailblazers aims to spotlight the power of women’s giving, encouraging more intentional and collaborative philanthropy. As Australia faces a historic transfer of wealth, 65% of which will go to women, this initiative is inspiring a new era of targeted giving that prioritises sustainable, measurable impact.

Discover how these leaders are redefining generosity and empowering a cultural shift toward smarter, more purposeful giving.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

The new currency of Philanthropy in Asia: Trust

Asia’s philanthropic sector is undergoing rapid growth, fueled by rising wealth and an increasing focus on social impact. But, as highlighted in a recent analysis, it’s not just financial resources shaping this new era of giving—trust-based philanthropy is emerging as a crucial pillar. Building trust between donors, communities, and implementing organisations is redefining how social change is achieved across the region. When stakeholders trust each other, the results can be transformational.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Power of storytelling

Translating purpose into real, tangible action often comes down to how well you tell your story. Storytelling is a bridge that connects your mission to the hearts of your donors, partners, and broader stakeholders.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

A better way to measure Social Impact

Social impact measurement is evolving. Traditional metrics like outputs and outcomes are no longer enough to fully capture the real change that organisations seek to make. This post explores the need for a more nuanced, human-centric approach to measuring social impact, focusing on long-term transformation rather than immediate outputs.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

The cost of non-compliance. Seventy charities face revocation

The ACNC has flagged 70 charities for potential revocation of their charitable status due to missed reporting. Compliance with regulatory requirements is crucial for maintaining public trust, tax benefits, and operational effectiveness. Here’s what you need to know and how to stay on top of your reporting.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Breaking the nonprofit starvation cycle: Fund what it takes

The nonprofit sector's relentless underfunding of overheads perpetuates a “starvation cycle,” inhibiting real, sustainable impact. To shift this, funders must rethink their approach, prioritising unrestricted, multi-year funding that truly supports organisations’ capacity to deliver change.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Balancing the bottom line(s)

In the evolving landscape of business, social enterprises have emerged as a powerful model that seeks to balance profit and purpose. These organisations have to balance a focus on financial returns and be equally committed to generating social and/or environmental impact (or another form of positive good in the world). However, achieving this balance is not without challenges. It requires a fundamental shift in mindset from traditional business models, where profit maximisation often takes precedence over other considerations or a fundamental shift in mindset from traditional hand-out charity models, which rely solely on donations.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Aus-Asia philanthropy trends update

Philanthropy across Australia and Asia is witnessing significant transformations characterized by increased collaboration, innovative approaches, and a growing focus on cross-border giving.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Building Stronger Foundations

The demand for sustainable impact is rising in the ever-evolving landscape of non-profits and social enterprises. Organisations are realising that to create lasting change, they need more than just goodwill; they need robust capabilities. That’s where capacity building comes into play.

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Nicola Gibbs Nicola Gibbs

Strategy Lessons from the Office of the CEO

Strategy is never a set-and-forget deal. The dynamic nature of our work demands regular reviews and updates. This isn’t about shifting goalposts but refining our aim towards them, ensuring our strategies remain relevant and impactful. So what lessons have we learnt from the Office of the CEO?

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