Welcome to the SA Philanthropy Network

We connect generous South Australians with the guidance, opportunities and networks they need to make giving more effective, ultimately building a thriving culture of local philanthropy.

If you’re a family, individual or organisation looking to begin or expand your philanthropic endeavours, you’ve come to the right place.

The SA Philanthropy Network heart icon

How we help you make an impact

Guidance

Looking for advice on where to start your giving journey? We connect you with the right resources and experts to help you navigate your options and maximise the impact of your generosity.

Funded

Funded is a digital platform that connects generous South Australians with local giving opportunities, making it simple to discover and support projects that create meaningful community impact. We're a matchmaker between donors and charities.

Network

Join a vibrant community of like-minded philanthropists. Through our quarterly events and connections, you’ll gain insights, share ideas, and build relationships that amplify your giving.

Philanthropy, noun from Greek philanthrōpía love of humanity

Hero 2

How it works

The SA Philanthropy Network warmly welcomes anyone who shares a passion for philanthropy and connecting with like-minded individuals and organisations.

Joining us is hassle-free, with no membership requirements or joining fees. Simply sign up to our mailing list, and you’ll be informed about the latest sector news and upcoming events. It’s that easy!

NEXT EVENT

6 March 2025

You are invited to join the SA Philanthropy Network for the official launch of Funded – an innovative platform designed to streamline the matching and distribution of philanthropic funds, empowering donors and organisations to create greater impact together. It's a matchmaker between donors and charities!

Hero 3 edit

Funded - launching soon!

Discover and support

Funded is South Australia's first digital platform dedicated to connecting donors with local giving opportunities. The platform simplifies philanthropic giving by providing a clear, accessible way to discover and support community projects across the state.

From the Founder

Kay Burton

Meet Kay, a Passionate Advocate for Giving

Kay Burton founded the SA Philanthropy Network with a simple yet powerful goal: to unlock South Australia’s incredible potential for community giving. With over 15 years of executive experience across the US and Australia, Kay has seen the transformative power of strategic philanthropy. Her work establishing SAHMRI’s inaugural fundraising strategy and serving as State Manager for Philanthropy Australia gave her unique insights into the challenges donors face and the opportunities for making generosity more impactful.

In 2018, Kay co-founded the Burton Foundation with her husband, Julian, where she experienced these challenges firsthand – from finding the right opportunities to building connections with like-minded donors. This inspired her to create the SA Philanthropy Network, an organisation designed to make giving easier, more accessible, and more effective for everyone.

Today, Kay leads a movement to foster a thriving culture of philanthropy in South Australia. Through personalised guidance, the innovative Funded platform, and dynamic networking events, the SA Philanthropy Network is helping donors maximise their impact and shape the future of giving in the state.

Latest

🎉 And we’re back!

Join us for our first event of 2025 on Tuesday, February 18: "The Dragon of Family Wealth: How to Tame It and Train It."

This exclusive evening is tailored for funders—individuals, families, foundations, and professional advisors—seeking to deepen their understanding of family wealth dynamics and elevate their philanthropic impact.

🗓️ Event Details
📍 Location: Flinders University City Campus, One Festival Tower, Level 14, Station Road, Adelaide
🕠 Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM ACDT

🌟 Featuring:
-Patrycja Slawuta: Behavioural scientist and entrepreneur, offering insights into human complexity.
-Heather Lord: Philanthropic expert with decades of experience designing transformative impact initiatives.

✨ A special thank you to our event partner, Flinders University, for hosting this event and supporting our shared mission to grow philanthropy across South Australia and beyond.

👉 Visit our website to reserve your spot today!

#SAPhilanthropyNetwork #Philanthropy #FamilyWealth #SAGiving

❤️2024: A Year of Impact and Connection.
We’re excited to share the SA Philanthropy Network’s 2024 Recap Video—highlighting the milestones and moments that defined our inaugural year

From launching the Network and hosting impactful events to sparking meaningful conversations and connecting philanthropists with not-for-profits, 2024 was a year of collaboration and progress.

🌟 Thank you to our incredible network of individuals, families, foundations, businesses, and NFP partners, as well as our event partners—your support made this year possible.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season! #philanthropy #saphilanthropynetwork #adelaideevents #communityimpact #generosityinaction

Here’s the third and final insightful Q&A takeaway from The Art of the Ask night with Louise Walsh:

Louise highlighted the importance of involving experienced advisers or board members with proven skills in securing government funding and building relationships with larger organisations. She emphasized how diversifying income streams, strategic leadership and a clear vision can open doors to transformative opportunities, ensuring long-term impact and growth.

3/3✨

#TheArtOfTheAsk #SAPhilanthropyNetwork #StrategicFunding #Philanthropy #AdelaideEvents #CommunityImpact

Here’s the second insightful takeaway from The Art of the Ask night with Louise Walsh:

Louise emphasized the importance of measuring impact in philanthropy, highlighting the role of data in demonstrating results and tailoring approaches to what donors value most. She also noted that younger donors often seek clear evidence of their impact and shared strategies for overcoming challenges through effective use of data.

2/3✨

#TheArtOfTheAsk #SAPhilanthropyNetwork #GenerosityInAction #Philanthropy #AdelaideEvents #philanthropy #communityimpact #adelaide #adelaidefringe #philanthropymatters

Here’s one of the insightful questions from The Art of Ask night with Louise Walsh. In her response, she shares valuable advice on donor communication and offers strategies for overcoming challenges by gaining a deeper understanding of your donor’s perspective.

1/3✨

#TheArtOfTheAsk #saphilanthropynetwork #theartoftheask #generosityinaction #Philanthropy #AdelaideEvents #CommunityImpact #SAPhilanthropy

✨ What an unforgettable night at The Art of the Ask at the stunning Piccadilly Theatre! 🌟 A huge thank you to our incredible guest speaker Louise Walsh for sharing her wisdom and stories, the inspiring @heathercrl and the brilliant @adlfringe team for teaming up as our event partner, and to @isaachumphries7 for an unforgettable performance. 🎭🎤

We also always love a warm welcome from Uncle Tamaru!

Special shoutout to @blankcanvasstudioco for perfectly capturing the magic of the evening 📸💫—a celebration of generosity, creativity, and the power of a well-placed ask! 💌

💡 Don’t miss out on future events that inspire and connect—join the @saphilanthropynetwork today and be part of South Australia’s giving movement!

#TheArtOfTheAsk #Philanthropy #AdelaideEvents #CommunityImpact #SAphilanthropy #GenerosityInAction #adelaidefringe

New event! The Art of the Ask: Engaging Your Board in Major Gift Fundraising.

Join us for an exclusive session featuring Louise Walsh, one of Australia’s top philanthropic advisers and fundraising experts, as she shares invaluable insights on how to engage board members in securing transformative gifts.

🗓 Date: November 13, 2024
🕒 Time: 5:30PM – 7:00PM
📍 Location: The Piccadilly, 181 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide

This event is perfect for: Board Members; Fundraising Professionals; Philanthropic Advisers; and Nonprofit Leaders.

The @saphilanthropynetwork is thrilled to partner with the @adlfringe to bring you this special event. A huge THANK YOU to the Fringe team for their incredible support! 🙌 🎉

👉 To learn more and register, visit: saphilanthropy.org

#Philanthropy #MajorGifts
#Fundraising #Nonprofits #Leadership #BoardEngagement #SAPhilanthropyNetwork
#AdelaideFringe

Last week, we hosted "Trends in Philanthropy," a special networking lunch at @skycityadl.

Guests had the privilege of hearing from one of Australia’s foremost philanthropic experts, John McLeod, who shared insights on the latest trends and opportunities for giving in a post-COVID world, amidst the significant wealth transfer currently underway.

Attendees also received a unique preview of the upcoming JBWere Bequest Report, the first of its kind, set to launch at the end of June!

Special thanks to those who made the event possible:
👏Our guest speaker, John McLeod, for his insightful and expert presentation.
👏Wendy Scott-Hamilton and the dedicated team from our event partner, JBWere, for their commitment to growing philanthropy in Australia and beyond.
👏The team from our presenting partner, SkyCity Adelaide, including Interim COO Avril Baynes and @libby_rayner1, for their incredible generosity in providing the venue and outstanding food and service.

📈 Make sure to stay tuned for the release of the JBWere Bequest Report later this month on their website!

#saphilanthropynetwork
#philanthropy
#jbwere
#skycityadelaide
#bequestreport


Join the network

Joining us is hassle-free, with no membership requirements or joining fees. Simply fill in your details below, and you’ll be informed about the latest sector news and upcoming events. It’s that easy!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

By submitting this form, you agree to join our email list and consent to receiving occasional tracked updates from us.

FAQs

What is the SA Philanthropy Network?

How much does it cost to join the network?
I’m a not-for-profit organisation, can I join?

How is the network funded?

This is the only forum where I’ve been able to connect with so many charities that have benefited from donations from our fund. I’ve also met a new potential charity to support and I’m now scheduled to meet with them in a couple of weeks.
Ryan Finnimore Senior Manager, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank
Thank you for organising and hosting a fantastic and inspiring event yesterday. I exchanged details with a few people who I believe would be great recipients for our next grants round, which is a fantastic outcome from my perspective.
Angelo Russo Deputy Chairperson, Morialta Charitable Trust
I have been working through the PAF establishment with my accountant and I’m very excited about the opportunity. I would never have known about this were it not for the exposure gained through your advice and introductions.
Richard Barrett Chief Executive, Industry Leaders Fund
For the first time in the 5+ years I’ve been in the philanthropy sector, this is a newsletter that tells me what I need and want to know about. A beautiful balance of facts and stories.
Erin Faehrmann Chief Play Officer, Lead With Play
Your unique approach is making a valuable difference in South Australia. I met two potential collaborators at the event last night whose missions align with our research. I’m excited to introduce them to people who may be able to support their work in the future.
Monique Littlejohn Senior Philanthropy Manager, Major Gifts, University of South Australia

Keen to get involved or want to learn more?
Get in contact with Kay Burton.