Reichstein Foundation

And the winners are… 🏆   Congratulations to Koda Capital and Australian Impact Investments — joint winners of Australia’s first Endowments for Impact Challenge! 🎉   These firms stood out among six exceptional finalists, competing for the opportunity to manage a combined $170 million investment pool at today’s Grand Finale event in Sydney.   👏 A special shoutout to our highly commended finalists — Argus Advisory, Ethinvest, Evans & Partners and LGT Crestone Wealth Management Limited — and to Evans & Partners, winner of the People's Choice Award. With the Challenge attracting 50 proposals from investment advisors around the country, it's a significant win for these firms. It's a win for philanthropy too. As Rachel Ball, Reichstein Foundation CEO, said in her opening remarks today:   “Our sector’s intention to align our investments with our missions and values is clear. But it’s not always obvious how to go about it and many of us rely on external support from professional advisors. The right advisors will play a critical role in supporting our shift towards responsible investment." A heartfelt thank you to all our finalists for their insightful presentations, our expert panel— Abhilash Mudaliar, Craig North and Dame Caroline Mason CBE — and our MC, Dan Ziffer, who skillfully guided today's discussions, including a dynamic Q&A with a packed room of philanthropists, investment advisors and NGO representatives.   This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the support of our fellow participating trusts and foundations, as well as our valued supporters —thank you!   📢 What’s next? We’ll soon be releasing a State of the Sector Report, showcasing the most outstanding examples of responsible and mission-aligned investing from the selection process, along with key areas for industry improvement.   Want to stay in the loop? Sign up for Challenge updates here: https://lnkd.in/g-iym3vD

Last night, the Federal Government and Opposition supported changes to the nation’s environment laws that will allow the salmon industry to continue in Tasmania’s Macquarie Harbour: https://lnkd.in/g7FvU4Hj This legislation weakens our national environmental laws, threatening the Maugean skate with extinction as well as other rare, iconic species from across Australia. Moreover, it is a deeply disappointing outcome for 65% of Tasmanians who support reducing salmon farming in Macquarie Harbour to protect the skate, according to polling conducted on behalf of our grant partner Environment Tasmania: https://lnkd.in/gz_B7APQ The Reichstein Foundation is one of several Australian philanthropic funders contributing significant investment to environment and climate initiatives each year. Together, we are committed to using our collective resources to improve national and global environmental conditions, to ensure Australia is a place where people and Country thrive. As such, we have a keen interest in ensuring that Australia has effective national environmental laws, and that those laws are applied consistently to all industries and activities. We remain steadfast in our commitment to stronger national environmental laws as well as the exceptional work of our grant partners Neighbours of Fish Farming and Environment Tasmania, who are giving their all to Save the Skate: https://lnkd.in/gtJZnTPE Controversial bill to protect Tasmanian salmon industry passes despite environmental concerns | Endangered species | The Guardian

We can address climate change, but it will take a village. Heartfelt thanks to our fellow villagers Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN), Australians Investing In Women and inspirational line-up of speakers who showed us how a gender-wise approach to climate action leads to better, more sustainable outcomes for everyone. 

Grantseekers — WELA Giving Circle’s Small Grants Program is OPEN! This is a fantastic opportunity for women and gender-diverse led organisations creating environmental and climate impact: https://lnkd.in/gcz9_Gbq

Resource Generation is officially up and running in Australia! As a supporting partner, we’re excited to see what unfolds from here … Resource Generation is a global network of young people with inherited, earned or future wealth. Their mission: to educate people with wealth about the roots of inequality and equip them to take bold action to redistribute wealth, land and power in solidarity with movements for social justice. This model is seeing rapid growth in the US, UK and Canada, and now it has finally made its way to Australia. Resource Generation is currently recruiting young people who are passionate or curious about social justice to join a transformative six-month learning experience in Gadigal/Sydney, starting in May. Know someone who might be interested? Share this incredible opportunity with your networks! https://lnkd.in/gSrpy6TJ

“Values, priorities and approaches change when there are different voices at the table. Specifically, when there are women’s voices at the table.” — Jill Reichstein OAM Over 40 years, Jill Reichstein OAM has overseen a transformative shift in the Reichstein Foundation’s approach, from conservative funder to one operating at the forefront of environmental and social change philanthropy in Australia. In this piece based on her International Women’s Day speech at Morgan Stanley in Melbourne, Jill reflects on the importance of gender lens philanthropy and how embracing different perspectives has shaped the foundation’s work and impact: https://lnkd.in/dMMtAzz7 Women's Environmental Leadership Australia, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), Trans Justice Project LTD., ACOSS Australian Council of Social Service, Mannifera, Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN), Australians Investing In Women, Philanthropy Australia

📢 We’re pleased to announce the six finalists in our Endowments for Impact Challenge: Argus Advisory, Australian Impact Investments, Ethinvest, Evans & Partners, Koda Capital and LGT Crestone Wealth Management Limited. The Challenge is a collective public tender competition initiated by the Reichstein Foundation to reshape philanthropic investment in Australia. To realise this ambition, we've joined forces with five of Australia’s leading trusts and foundations to identify and promote investment advisors best able to support responsible and mission-driven investment. Join us at the Impact Investment Summit in Sydney on Thursday 27 March to see these advisors pitch their proposals for managing our combined $170 million philanthropic investment pool. Register for the grand finale townhall event at: https://lnkd.in/gVXHK8rF. We’re proud to collaborate on this groundbreaking initiative with the Dusseldorp Forum, Inner North Community Foundation, Northern Rivers Community Foundation, Besen Family Foundation and Oranges & Sardines Foundation. With thanks to our expert panel: Dame Caroline Mason CBE, Abhilash Mudaliar and Craig North. #ImpactInvesting #Philanthropy

If we’re serious about reducing entrenched economic inequality, we need a fair and balanced tax system — and bold advocates to champion the cause. Our hats off to Thomas Walker at Think Forward for this insightful piece in yesterday’s Age/SMH, which details how Australia’s growing inheritance wealth transfer is widening economic inequality. Many younger Australians now depend on family wealth for financial security, with 40% of first-time homebuyers receiving parental support. This trend, driven by tax policies favouring private wealth accumulation, undermines social equity. To address this, Thomas argues for an inheritance tax to fund vital public services like education and affordable housing and to create a fairer system where hard work — not inheritance — determines economic success. The Reichstein Foundation has long supported tax justice as a key component of a fair, equal and sustainable Australia, with grants supporting Per Capita Australia’s Community Tax Summit last week, and the Economic Media Centre’s advocacy on Stage Three Tax Cuts in early 2024. Recipients of our latest tax justice grant round with Tripple to be announced soon! https://lnkd.in/gHen8bv6

Such a formidable line-up of speakers! Delighted to be partnering with Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN) and Australians Investing In Women on this event. To register head to https://lnkd.in/gyYVYdHF

Today’s panel discussion ahead of tomorrow’s Community Tax Summit brought together passionate voices from civil society and philanthropy to discuss the key issues behind a renewed push for tax reform. A big thank you to the expert panellists — Emma Dawson, Thomas Walker, Krystian Seibert, Harriet McCallum, Rachel Ball, Stephen Torsi — who shared their unique perspectives on how tax reform can drive social change, and how and why philanthropy can support this work.   Some key takeaways: 1. Our tax system is failing us: Two-thirds of Australians say our tax and transfer system either does nothing to reduce income and wealth inequality or makes it worse (Per Capita Australia Tax Survey 2024). 2. Young people are missing out: Our tax system is rewarding the wrong things — accumulation, speculation, rent-seeking — denying younger generations a future of shared prosperity on a liveable planet. 3. An inclusive economy is crucial for a strong democracy: Rising inequality erodes trust in our democracy and discourages people from participating. 4. Philanthropy has limits: While philanthropy plays a key role in funding innovation and community-based efforts, it simply doesn’t have the funds to single-handedly solve pressing issues like housing, climate or poverty. To crack those nuts, government is the main game — specifically, governments with an adequate revenue base. 5. Governments are accountable: Governments, not private funders, should primarily shape society. They’re accountable to the people, and we can hold them responsible if they mismanage resources or fail to address key issues. 6. Tax reform matters regardless of your mission: The Reichstein Foundation funds work in economic justice, but even for those who don’t, inequality drives many of society’s challenges. A tax system that addresses economic inequality is key to creating a fairer, more equitable society.  For more, check out our latest tax justice grant round with Tripple, with successful recipients to be announced soon: https://lnkd.in/gHen8bv6