Calls for Funders to Get on the Map
8 March 2018 at 8:43 am
Australian funders are being invited to share their granting data and “get on the map”, to show who is funding what and where in Australia for the first time.
Philanthropy Australia has partnered with the US-based Foundation Center to help make grantmaking activities smarter and more strategic by making granting information available for, and about, funders in Australia.
This data will be delivered through Foundation Maps: Australia – a highly interactive and searchable mapping platform.
Philanthropy Australia philanthropic services manager, Chris Wootton, told Pro Bono News the initiative would address the current lack of information.
“Foundation Maps: Australia will address the current total lack of information on where funding lands in Australia – which severely hampers all funders and grant seekers in their forward planning and strategy development,” Wootton said.
He gave a number of examples where FMA could make a difference to the grantmaking landscape.
One example was for a new funder who wanted to support homelessness in rural and regional areas of NSW.
Currently, there is no information readily available, however with FMA they will be able to look up who funds homelessness projects and where.
“So that they can see gaps, contact directly other funders with similar interests and explore co-funding/collaboration etc,” Wootton said.
The FMA will also benefit experienced funders who wish to review their funding strategies, as they will be able to see where their funds land in comparison to other funders and can explore areas of duplication and/or gaps, and the impact of changing their target groups.
A funder who has an application to support a STEM program will also be able to look at FMA to see who else has funded this organisation and/or STEM programs to make a more informed decision.
The FMA will also assist fund seekers, who can use the map to see who else funds their area of activity or target group, see what has been funded before or any gaps that might exist, and use this information to be more strategic in their applications and in their specific asks.
Wootton said the initiative was “the missing link”.
“The concept and the need to map grants is not new – and had been raised by many members over the years as the missing link for both funders and grant seekers,” he said.
“From Philanthropy’s Australia work with the Foundation Center over the past few years – the opportunity was identified, they had the system and tools to make it happen effectively and a few of our key funders have made it happen.”
Foundation Maps Australia has been supported by the Ian Potter Foundation, Gandel Philanthropy and Perpetual and will be officially launched at the Philanthropy Australia conference in September.
Both philanthropic and corporate funders across Australia are being encouraged to take part and “get on the map”.
