- Nature-Positive Systems
The International Funders for Indigenous Peoples (IFIP) is a network of funders working to advocate for direct access to equitable funding for Indigenous peoples initiatives and shift philanthropic practice.
IFIP’s approach places culture, self-determination and long-term relationships at the centre. It connects funders with Indigenous leaders, runs gatherings and workshops, and develops practical tools and insights to guide grantmaking that is aligned with Indigenous peoples’ rights and aspirations. The aim is to ensure resources are directed in ways that work for communities and lead to lasting results.
Funding details
Funding Type:
Core support for the establishment of the Australia Working Group
Location:
Australia
Duration:
Three years from 2024
Project Overview
In 2024, Macdoch Foundation provided IFIP with three-year core funding to recruit a local lead to establish an Australian Working Group. The idea emerged from the 2022 Australia Regional Dialogue in Newcastle, where First Nations leaders called for more respectful, effective engagement from philanthropy. The Working Group is a forum for practical collaboration between funders and community leaders. It focuses on making sure Indigenous priorities drive funding decisions, and that resources are delivered in ways that are relevant, sustainable, and informed by lived experience.
Why this Work is Important
Macdoch Foundation shares IFIP’s vision that when funding is driven by community priorities, it’s more effective and sustainable. This project supports our objective to recognise create fair, equitable systems in food, agriculture, and beyond. Funding can be short-term and disconnected from local realities. IFIP’s work addresses this by promoting Indigenous-led solutions, encouraging funders to listen, learn and adjust their approach, and strengthening relationships based on mutual respect. By embedding First Nations voices in decision-making, this initiative works towards a more balanced and effective funding landscape—one that builds capability, supports local leadership, and leads to better long-term outcomes for communities.
Outcomes and Impact
The Australian Working Group has already grown its membership and finalised its strategy. In FY25, six new members joined the AWG, two Indigenous-led fund workshops were held and additional program funding was secured.
The Working Group is building stronger networks between funders and communities, increasing knowledge on how to establish effective, respectful partnerships. Over time, these shifts aim to create a funding culture where investing directly in Indigenous-led and controlled organisations is standard practice.
The long-term impact will be: more resources reaching Indigenous-led initiatives, better alignment between funding and community needs, and greater confidence across the sector in funding approaches that deliver lasting, practical results.
By 2030, the aim is to have a visible network of Indigenous leaders in philanthropy in Australia and the around the world.
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Macdoch Foundation acknowledges the First Peoples as the first inhabitants and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.