Transparency
Shine a light on the philanthropic sector so Funders can find each other, share experiences, elevate their giving practice, reduce risk and leverage the power of their philanthropic dollar through co-funding partnerships.
Fostering Philanthropy
For Purpose
We facilitate and improve transparency, engagement and access to capital for funders and for-purpose organisations.
Mission
Philanthropy Research Desk facilitates and improves Transparency, Engagement and Access to Capital for Funders and For-Purpose organisations.
We help aligned partners find each other, reduce friction and bring more capital to the communities that need it most.
Engagement
Connect Family Foundations, Corporates and For-Purpose organisations that are often unaware of each other, convening bespoke peer engagement so knowledge is shared and trusting relationships can flourish.
Access to Capital
Realign impact investing by balancing the needs of investors and the For-Purpose sector, shifting impact investment from the margins to the mainstream by intentionally connecting profit with purpose.
The Need
The Australian philanthropic and For-Purpose sector is full of great people doing much needed work, yet many still encounter poor levels of transparency when identifying partners, low levels of trust between Funders and For-Purpose organisations and limited options when it comes to accessing capital in a timely way.
In our experience at PRD this affects both Funders wishing to co-fund with others and For-Purpose organisations seeking funding and investment to maintain or grow their work for the communities they serve.
For Funders
There is a pressing need to shine a light on the philanthropic sector, improve transparency and help Funders find each other so they can share experiences, learn together, elevate their giving practice, reduce risk and leverage their philanthropic dollar through co-funding partnerships.
For For-Purpose Organisations
Organisations need to understand their funding universe, know who is in their ecosystem and identify those who are interested in funding them, saving tremendous amounts of time and money. Too often they are so busy delivering impact that proactive relationship building is left to chance.
Approach
We’re all aware that philanthropy is far more relationship based than traditional fundraising, and it’s widely understood that it takes time to cultivate relationships with funder and for purpose organisations. Navigating the sprawling sector with its quirky language, acronyms and nuances can be truly daunting. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started!
We offer a range of engaging philanthropy Workshops for both Funders and For purpose organisations, with customised content that is designed to fast track your learning.
What we offer
We cover key development areas to set you up for success:
- Customised Funder Pipelines tailored to your goals
- Actionable Dashboards and reporting rhythms
- Established Peer Networks of cause-aligned advocates
Ready to fast track your philanthropy capability?
Email PRDImplementation checklist
- Discovery sprints with stakeholders
- Systems mapping & data hygiene
- Activation plans with milestones
- Knowledge transfer & upskilling
Improving Philanthropy
Transparency
Funding partnerships flourish when Funders and For-Purpose organisations align on values. We believe that with greater transparency comes greater understanding, so we help answer questions like "Who is working in the areas that I want to support?" and "Who is likely to be interested in funding the cause that I am working on?".
We improve sector transparency by providing information in formats that make it easier to navigate your philanthropy ecosystem and find the right partners.
Engagement
It never ceases to amaze us how often we meet an organisation that is unaware of others doing similar or complementary work. Using a bespoke approach to peer giving and engagement, we connect and convene on behalf of Funders and For-Purpose organisations.
Our tailored funder events establish trusting relationships and shared knowledge, laying the foundations for impactful partnerships.
Access to Capital
We aim to realign impact investing by balancing the needs of investors and the For-Purpose sector. Our goal is to shift impact investment from the margins to the mainstream by ensuring profit and purpose are intentionally connected.
Clients
Explore a few of the impact stories currently in flight.
Fostering Philanthropy For
World Wellness Group
Culturally safe, community-led healthcare for migrant, refugee and diverse communities.
Fostering Philanthropy For
Pacific Island Food Revolution (PIFR)
Food culture and storytelling improving nutrition across the Pacific, led by Chef Robert Oliver.
Fostering Philanthropy For
Parent-Infant Research Institute (PIRI)
Evidence-based programs supporting parents and healthy early development.
Fostering Philanthropy For
Wayahead
Improving mental health and wellbeing in NSW through education, advocacy and community programs.
About
Email us: hello@philanthropyresearchdesk.com.au
Judy Foster CEO & Founder
With over 20 years' experience spanning structured giving and governance, strategy, business development, membership and fundraising, project management and customer relationship management, Judy brings director-level experience with not-for-profits and a broad range of work alongside trusts, foundations, corporates, families, individual donors, professional advisers, intermediaries and government.
She has spent hundreds of hours connecting and convening on behalf of both Funders and For-Purpose organisations, holds a Post Grad Certificate in Social Impact, has written for global publications on philanthropy in Australia and is a Board Director and Trustee for two Australian not-for-profits.
Jo-Anne Ryan Senior Project Collaborator & Grant Advisor
Jo-Anne is a passionate advocate for social justice with extensive experience across the Australian for-purpose and government sectors addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable people and communities.
She loves helping For-Purpose organisations find their edge or point of difference and positioning them to secure committed partners and funding.