Happy July! There’s lots of news to warm the cockles of your heart, as my grandmother used to say, so read on and be inspired by the people and organisations doing the greatest good.

Following our exciting news last month that we are extending our membership offering to support majority female-owned and lead organisations, we will be redeveloping the Greatest Good hub to make it easier for everyone to do more good. This will increase your impact and ours, whilst providing greater usability, functionality and the additional products, services and reporting that you’ve been asking for. It is an evolution of how we all do good.

To prepare for the transformation, there will be a range of changes over the coming months. Firstly, our shopping and donating functions will temporarily disappear at the end of July. Based on the input and feedback we have received, we will also be introducing a range of new memberships to help different types of female founders and for-purpose organisations. We’ll keep you updated as things evolve, and we welcome your feedback, ideas and suggestions as we continue on this exciting journey.

Of course, all of these developments takes time and money, so if you are interested in supporting us, please reach out. We are currently seeking auspicing arrangements and will share more on this in the coming months.

In the meantime, if you would like to register your interest in joining our next intake of Greatest Good members, you can do so below:

• Female founders (majority female owned and lead organisations creating impact)
• For purpose organisations (social enterprises, B Corps, charities and not for profits)
• Service providers (supporting female and for-purpose organisations)

As a co-designed hub, we take on board all feedback and suggestions. Last week, a potential female founder member suggest an impact category we hadn’t considered, so that’s being added to the new system. So, as always, please reach out if you have any queries or suggestions on how we can do more good. I personally read and respond to all your comments and suggestions.

Jenni Harding - Founder/Managing Director, Greatest Good

Inspiration from our members

Member news

Our members are creating real impact every day, so we’re highlighting incredible milestones and achievements across the network.

• Ember Connect has reached a significant milestone with the appointment of its inaugural Chief Executive Officer, Latoya Bolton
• Space2b is launching its new exhibition, The Art of Printmaking: In Its Many Forms, alongside a community workshop inviting participants to explore printmaking, learn new skills and express themselves creatively
• Shannan Bruce has joined One Roof as their new Experience & Gathering Lead, replacing Abbey Pantano. Shannan brings a plethora of knowledge and experience to the role and will help shape One Roof's events and programs, with upcoming masterclasses, guest speakers and more opportunities for community connection
• It has been a busy time at SisterWorks, one of our founding members. In addition to hosting us for a tour of their office and warehouse where so much good happens, they have now established a new Brisbane office. This important step into Queensland will build partnerships to create more employment opportunities for migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking women. They’ve also been shortlisted twice in the global Sport Positive Awards 2026, becoming the only organisation recognised for two separate collaborations in the Purpose-led Partnership with a Non-Profit category for its impactful partnerships with both the AFL and Richmond Football Club
• Hotel Etico is still hiring Support Workers across several locations. Find out more here
• Bringing freelance creatives together, Creative Plus Business presented a workshop and facilitated a lively roundtable at the Inner West Creative Toolbox. Founder Monica Davidson also shared practical insights and strategic planning tips on the Creative Plus Business blog to help small businesses and freelance creatives build sustainable, successful careers
• Donate items to help support women and families experiencing vulnerable situations. Be Hers has a donation call out for items to fill their Community Pantry, including rice, canned food, lentils, beans, herbs and spices, cooking oil, UHT milk, and fresh fruit and vegetables

News and Updates

For-purpose sector news

• Sefa has announced a bold $500 million moon-shot goal by 2030, unlocking flexible capital to help more impact-led organisations grow, strengthen communities and create lasting change across Australia
• The finalists for the 2026 WA Social Enterprise Awards have been announced, celebrating the inspiring businesses using purpose and profit to create jobs, strengthen communities and drive positive change across Western Australia
• Innovation Victoria has launched as a new single front door for Victoria’s innovation ecosystem, bringing together support, investment and connections to help founders turn ideas into scalable, globally competitive businesses
• Australia’s social enterprise sector has united behind a new Unified Definition, creating greater clarity and consistency for the 12,000+ businesses using trade to drive social and environmental impact
  Philanthropy Australia’s Giving Together report reveals the growing power of collective giving in Australia
• The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 highlights a decade of progress while calling for urgent action to keep the world’s 2030 sustainability goals on track
• Meet the First Nations entrepreneurs turning ideas into impact. Watch the inspiring journeys of Impact North’s Stepping Into Business graduates and see how community-led businesses are creating change
• Discover Australia’s first comprehensive National Social Enterprise Research Project and how it is building the data and insights needed to strengthen the social enterprise sector and unlock greater impact
• Australia’s social enterprise sector is shaping a shared future through the Social Enterprise Australia National Strategy for Social Enterprise, a sector-led roadmap designed to unlock the power of social enterprises and drive greater social and environmental impact
• New research from Buy Social Canada reveals the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of Canada’s social enterprise sector
• Ireland’s social enterprise sector is calling for a stronger future through the Social Enterprise New Deal (SEND), a campaign by Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI) advocating for greater investment, stronger policy support and recognition of social enterprises’ role in building inclusive, sustainable communities
• A new Social Traders report reveals that while there is no single blueprint for success, financially sustainable social enterprises are built through strong leadership, strategic funding, and an evolving partnership with their parent NFP.
• The Centre for Social Impact (CSI) has released the latest findings from its Social Economy Survey Wave 2 Report, providing one of the most comprehensive insights yet into the opportunities and challenges facing Australia’s social economy

Opportunities to do your greatest good

Events

We have hand-selected some of the best events in the for-purpose space to help you do your greatest good. Here’s just a few of the highlights:

• Get early access to the new Impact Investing Legal Toolkit at Impact Investing Made Easy, a free in-person workshop helping investors and purpose-led organisations navigate the legal foundations of impact investing
• Convene is back, bringing together purpose-driven leaders, changemakers and organisations to connect, collaborate and explore practical ideas that create lasting social impact
• Register for the free Social Traders webinar, Your Guide to Australia’s Social Enterprise Certification, to learn more about the certification
• B Local hosts free Coffee & Catch Up events across Melbourne, Sydney and the Northern Rivers. These informal gatherings are a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people working in, or looking to move into, the for-purpose B Corp sector
• Impact Investing Hub has launched a new masterclass series designed to help social enterprises navigate growth funding. The series covers three critical topics: finding the right capital at the right time, understanding the legal journey of raising capital and blending grants, debt and equity to build sustainable pathways for growth
• GoodNorth offer a free online speed networking session to connect with purpose-driven professionals, spark meaningful conversations and grow your network within the for-purpose community. Sign up here

Check out our full list of Events/Courses here

Asks/offers and resources

We've added more free resources, asks, offers and opportunities onto the Greatest Good hub.

Here’s some we added during July:

• Applications are now open for the Startmate Accelerator, a 12-week program helping ambitious founders fast-track growth with investment, mentorship and access to one of Australia and New Zealand's leading startup networks
• Before embarking on the Accelerator, you can join the Startmate Launch Club to build your skills, connect with a community of ambitious founders and grow your startup journey
• Looking to strengthen your small business with digital tools? The Digital Solutions Program provides expert advice, practical support and tailored guidance to help Australian businesses embrace technology and grow
• Expressions of Interest are open for the Social Enterprise Festival Sydney, bringing together social enterprises, changemakers and communities to showcase purpose-led businesses, share ideas and celebrate the growing movement for a fairer, more sustainable economy
• Are you a Female Founder ready to take your startup idea to the next level? Apply for the Tech Ready Women Female Founder Startup Program and access the mentoring, skills and support to help turn your vision into a scalable business

Regulatory updates

Our regulatory updates provide a summary of the key regulatory updates, guidance and announcements affecting the for-purpose sector.

Legislative announcements and changes

Key legislative items this month include:

• ASIC launches refreshed Company Register search
• Changes to Director ID obligations

Guidance and updates

• The latest AICD Gender Diversity Snapshot provides an overview of women's representation on ASX 100, 200 and 300 company boards, highlighting where gains are continuing and where progress is beginning to plateau
• The AICD released a practical guide for directors to govern AI responsibly, balancing innovation, risk management, accountability and ethical oversight across the organisation

You can find more on these items and other regulatory updates in our monthly regulatory updates and other updates posted on the Blog Pages (use the Regulatory Updates filter). We can't provide legal advice but you can find proposed and upcoming legislative changes and other insights to discuss with your legal advisers.