During May, like much of the for purpose sector, we celebrated National Volunteer Week. Greatest Good is very fortunate to be driven by an Advisory Board team of volunteers. Some have been with us for three to five years (a year before our launch, and yes, I did miss celebrating our birthday again….), whilst others members have joined in the last two years. In addition to providing a range of technical advice and sanity checks, they have been instrumental in helping me define our new strategy moving forward.

We frequently question ourselves, our members and you on how we can do more good, and after also reflecting on insights and conversations at the Impact Investment Summit back in March (and the recurring themes from the last five years I have attended this conference), we will be expanding our online service offering and consulting services to be more impactful. It is a continuous journey to keep reflecting, checking in and crafting how we can be creating more positive social impact, so I look forward to sharing updates with you over the coming months as things take shape.

Meanwhile, the 2026 budget announcements and subsequent media coverage saw a plethora of usual commentary (budget bingo anyone?). Two things that caught my eye that didn’t get as much airplay as some of the other items were:

• The proposed 30% tax on discretionary trust income excludes superannuation funds and charitable trusts. This is great news for our long term investment and retirement savings (see additional comments below). It is also a huge win for the for-purpose sector, with most of the philanthropy structures that are significant contributors to supporting the sector doing so through charitable trusts. There had been rumours and concern that these entities would not be exempt and need to pay tax on trust earnings, reducing the funds available to support the sector (and some charitable trusts pausing grants and donations in the interim), so this certainty is a great step forward
• The Government is also considering excluding certain investments from the short term superannuation performance test (where underperforming funds cannot take on new contributions until their performance improves). If these change go ahead, it could allow super trustees to make longer term investments in asset classes such as social housing, venture capital and renewable energy. With millennials/Gen Y now making up more than 50% of the workforce and having 30+ years to retirement, this is an ideal way to use funds for some investing in longer term social, environmental and community impact. It would also help trustee to engage millennials in their super as investments could be aligned with things they actually care about and want to fund. My view is that an annual performance test isn’t suitable for products designed for up to 40+ years investments, but it is a baby step in the right direction

The Government also released it’s 5^th Women’s Budget Statement. Some of the announcements were restating prior announcements and whilst others weren’t gender specific, women are the primary beneficiaries. The five priority budget areas (gender-based violence; unpaid and paid care; economic equality and security; health; and leadership, representation and decision-making) will receive new funding and additional spending applied with a gender-lens, which aligns with our vision for building a sustainable purpose-driven economy built on integrity, equity and fairness.

Enjoy this month’s newsletter highlighting people and organisations doing their greatest good. As always, please reach out if you have any queries or suggestions on how we can do more good.

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.

• • SisterWorks celebrated its 13th birthday this month. Over the past 13 years, the organisation has played an integral role in supporting more than 4,000 women from 105 countries to build confidence, connection, skills, friendships, and economic independence
  • Space2b is launching its June Exhibition, Million Stories, celebrating Refugee Week and showcasing works from culturally diverse artists featured in their 2026 design competition
  • Annette Brodie from The Reconnect Project was recently featured on the Career Stories Podcast, discussing the organisation’s work in closing the digital divide. In the five years to April 2025, they provided 4,382 people with essential technology, including smartphones, tablets, and laptops, helping ensure digital inclusion in today’s world. Impact North also shared the story of Brendan from Gapuwiyak, who recently completed phone repair training with The Reconnect Project team in Nhulunbuy and is now launching his own phone repair venture
  • After five years of operating, Hotel Etico announced it will close its Mount Victoria hotel in the Blue Mountains on 30 June 2026. The organisation will now focus on its two new Academies of Independence in Leura and Canberra, while continuing work towards opening a third academy
  • Christie Centre continues to remind us that impact is often found in the everyday wins, supporting someone to independently purchase groceries, creating opportunities to learn through play, and providing spaces where people can grow, connect, and enjoy quality time together
  • Creative Plus Business welcomed a new Operations Coordinator, Oumi Karenga-Hewitt, to the team
  • Be Hers has been working with S. Group to create an incredible new video capturing the heart and soul of the organisation and its journey, from where it began to where it is heading in the future. Stay tuned for the release

News and Updates

For-purpose sector news

• At the Women Deliver 2026 conference in Melbourne, a new Women and Families Coalition was announced, bringing together 11 philanthropic funders who have committed an initial $32.8 million to support community-led initiatives through coordinated, long-term investment, co-funding, and shared learning
• In addition, Melbourne took centre stage in the global movement for gender equality with the launch of the Melbourne Declaration for Gender Equality at the Women Deliver 2026 Conference
• The UN Global Compact Network Australia (UNGCNA) has released its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting its role in accelerating responsible business practices and supporting Australian organisations to align with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Ten Principles
• The B Corp movement turned 20, with the B Corp/B Lab community celebrating 20 years of redefining what business can and should be
  The Principles for Responsible Investment has marked its 20th anniversary, highlighting how responsible investing has become mainstream, but noting that while progress has been made, its “work is not done”
• Australia is facing renewed international scrutiny over concerns raised by United Nations human rights bodies regarding the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, particularly highlighting systemic discrimination within youth justice and child welfare systems
  Impact Investing Australia (IIA), in partnership with Malu Pty Ltd, has been appointed administrator of the 2026–27 First Nations Social Enterprise Grants program, delivering around $2.5 million in funding to strengthen Indigenous-led social enterprises through capability-building support
• Social enterprises across Australia can now apply for capability-building grants of up to $120,000 each through the Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI), following it’s extension and additional funds allocated in the budget. This is also administered by IIA

Staff appointments and changes

• The Workplace Gender Equality Agency have appointed Christine Castley as CEO, taking over from Mary Wooldridge
• Emily Fuller has joined the Snow Foundation as Head of Strategy and Operations
• Dr Louisa Ellum has been appointed incoming Director of the Centre for Inclusive Employment (CIE) at Swinburne
• Community Foundations Australia has appointed Georgia Mathews and Dylan Smith as co-CEOs, marking a new chapter for the national network
• Michael Trail, Chair of the Paul Ramsay Foundation has stepped down after almost 10 years. Current director, Natalie Walker is stepping up as interim Chair

Opportunities to do your greatest good

We are updating the Events/Courses and Paid/Volunteer work pages weekly, so keep checking back to find new events and job opportunities throughout March and beyond.

Asks/offers and resources

We now have over 120 free resources in our Asks/Offers & Resources section designed to help you and your organisation maximise your impact - everything from offers to grow and develop, free guides and toolkits, through to expert advice and services. Use our filters and search bar to quickly find what you need to do your greatest good. Here’s a handful of things we’ve added recently:

• Eligible NSW small businesses can apply for a National Energy Bill
• Relief payment of up to $150 in financial year 2025-26
• Take part in the Digital Technology survey via the Not-for-Profit Sector Survey
• The Western Australian Community Impact Hub provides an interactive
• Theory of Change Toolkit to help organisations clearly define their intended outcomes and articulate their impact
• Social Impact Hub are taking expressions of interest for fellowship scholarships
• Applications are now open for the Westpac Social Change Fellowships
• Applications are now open for the La Trobe LaunchPad, a 12-week pre-accelerator program helping emerging founders turn tech-driven ideas into scalable ventures

Many people and organisations are doing meaningful work in the climate crisis space, and we have listed resources, tools, and organisations, to support your journey to action:

• Just Futures Collab is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island-led giving circle activating resources for climate justice, shifting money and power to First Nations-led solutions
• Groundswell is a collective connecting everyday people who want to make a difference with experts and organisations deploying climate solutions around the country
• The Climate Change Funding Framework was developed in consultation with over 60 global experts and outlines opportunities for strategic philanthropy in addressing the climate crisis in Australia
• The Climate Lens helps funders assess and strengthen the climate impact of their giving across all grant making
• Climate Philanthropy Research by ClimateWorks delivers actionable insights for funders and implementers to move faster and more collaboratively towards climate progress
• Insights from the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN), 350 Pacific and world-renowned COP expert, Andrew Highham, offer best-practice tips for climate giving
• Although still in development, White Box Enterprises has released the first two advocacy and communications resources from the WISE Toolkit

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:

• The Fair Work Commission has announced changes to junior pay arrangements for employees aged 18 to 20 under the General Retail Industry Award 2020, Fast Food Industry Award 2020, and Pharmacy Industry Award 2020
• Australia’s community foundations sector is poised for significant growth following new Federal Government reforms designed to make charitable giving easier and more accessible, including the introduction of a new “community charity” category
• The Federal Government delivered its 2026 Budget
• The ATO Instant Asset Write-Off (IAWO) allows eligible Australian businesses to immediately deduct the business portion of the cost of eligible depreciating assets, helping improve cash flow and support business investment
• A reminder that payday super commences on 1 July, with the ATO’s Small Business Superannuation Clearing House to closing on 30 June
  Other upcoming changes include changes to SMS branded texts that apply from 1 July 2026 and changes to work from home legislation (1 September 2026)

Guidance and updates

• The Governance Institute of Australia, in collaboration with a range of professional services firms, has released a six-part white paper on governance in the age of agentive AI
• The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has released new guidance to support charities that wish to invest money for a financial return, helping organisations better understand their obligations and responsibilities when making investment decisions
• The Australian Institute of Company Directors offers a practical guide on governance of culture, grounded in director experience, expert insight and contemporary governance practice
• Delivered under the National AI Plan, AI.gov.au brings together practical guidance, tools and resources from across Government in one place, giving businesses, not-for-profits and other organisations a clear and trusted starting point for using AI

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.