Dear Friends,

As I write to you from Lockdown#4.2 in Melbourne my thoughts are with the many people whose lives and livelihoods are currently affected in so many ways.

We are conscious that many funders are finalising their distributions for this financial year and, accordingly, we have focussed this newsletter on the investment needs and opportunities identified in our recent Equity Economics research report: Gender-wise Investing: A Springboard for Australia’s Recovery, examined the impact of this ongoing pandemic on women and girls.

Thank you to those funders in our community who have let us know how helpful it has been to have this research report with its important analysis of the gendered impacts of COVID-19 and the identification of key areas for philanthropic investment. Thanks also to the Not-For-Profit organisations who are working hard every day to have a positive impact on the lives of women and girls and who have told us that the data and analysis in the report has helped them to make the case for their particular funding needs.

We are happy to hear that this work, bringing evidence-based research about the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls to the attention of funders, is helping to direct investment to the areas of greatest need.

We are nearing the end of National Reconciliation Week, a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. We are also approaching World Environment Day on 5th June – a timely reminder of the important nexus between climate justice, gender justice and racial justice. We encourage you to read and sign up in support of the Uluru Statement From The Heart and explore the suggested suite of actions we can all take in support of reconciliation.

In presenting the end of year investment opportunities below we have selected projects that address each of the five areas of need identified by our research and, where possible, those with a focus on First Nations women and on the environment.