Where generosity meets community
Vision
We envisage a world where minds, communities and ecosystems flourish.
Mission
To grow a movement of modern givers - who are informed, inspired and driven to make lasting change in the community through collective generosity.
Focus areas
We give across three key areas:
Thriving Minds - youth mental health
Thriving Communities - family & domestic violence
Thriving Ecosystems - conservation & biodiversity
Approach
The Purpose Fund is redefining philanthropy, making it accessible, engaging and community-driven.
Through low-barrier participation we turn everyday people into active changemakers.
We’re committed to:
Unrestricted funding - providing trust-based, untied support, so communities can lead their own change
Prevention & response - funding both long term solutions and urgent crisis response initiatives
People
It started with a few. It grows with you.
Born by a group with the belief that giving and philanthropy could be more accessible, open, informed and human - not institutional.
We’re a community of people who know that everyone can make a difference.
Our why
The Purpose Fund was born from a shared belief:
That giving shouldn’t be something that people only engage with later in life.
It’s common for philanthropy to begin once wealth has been accumulated - often tied to legacy, retirement or ‘giving back’. But what if giving wasn’t saved for later?
What if generosity was something we grew into? What if it was what we talked about around the dinner table. Mainstream conversation. Shared with friends. Practised from early-on in our careers. Made part of who were are. Something we’re proud of. Our identity.
We saw an opportunity to grow a culture of giving that spans a lifetime, by encouraging everyday people to learn about the for-purpose sector, connect with causes that are meaningful to them and take action through collective giving, or in whatever way works for them.
At its core The Purpose Fund exists to grow and normalise a culture of giving. It’s about shaping the kind of society we want to live in, one that is more connected, inclusive and equitable.
Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are some of the wealthiest countries in the world - we see ourselves as a pretty generous bunch. In fact, we rank highly on the World Giving Index, thanks to our willingness to give time, service and support others. The Black Summer fires of 2019-2020 were a perfect example of Aussies coming together at a time of unimaginable devastation, giving what they could, showing that when we act together, we can make an extraordinary impact.
That same generosity and solidarity is at the heart of collective giving. It’s about voting with your dollar for the kind of future we want to build, one where communities, young minds and ecosystems flourish.
For emerging givers, it offers a way to learn by doing, engaging with issues that matter and seeing their personal contribution amplified through shared action. For the for-purpose sector, this means more diverse, flexible and values aligned funding that can sometimes go missing with traditional philanthropy.
Ultimately, collective giving is how we make giving mainstream. Not a reaction to crisis, not an obligation, but a part of our identity.