SA Giving Week: The ripple effect

By Em Worthington

SA Giving Week: The Ripple Effect

For one week in May, SA Giving Week put generosity in the spotlight. In boardrooms, coffee shops, social media and community events — conversations about giving were popping up everywhere.

For the volunteer committee behind the inaugural SA Giving Week — leaders from across South Australia's philanthropy, arts and community sectors — it was a sign that something big was building.

Together, Kay Burton, Sophie Doyle, Hannah Kothe, Kate Stock, Jodi Farley and Nikki Hamdorf shared a vision: to create a statewide conversation about generosity and inspire more South Australians to be part of it.

Across five days, South Australians came together to share stories, hear from leading voices in philanthropy and community impact, and explore new ways to support causes they care about.

What began as an ambitious idea took shape over several years before growing into a movement. For SA Philanthropy Network founder Kay Burton, there was never any doubt it would resonate.

“It was inspired by Queensland's Philanthropy Week, and I always felt that model would work really well in South Australia,” Kay says.

“We're a similar-sized state and everything here is relationship-based. I kept thinking, ‘We should have a Giving Week,’” she says.

“South Australia is just so humble. There's a lot of generosity that exists in this state. It's just understated.”

SA Giving Week was designed to bring that generosity into the open — creating a platform for people to share stories, inspire others and celebrate generosity.

“I always thought philanthropy belonged at a statewide conversation level, not just in smaller pockets,” Kay says.

When founding supporters backed the vision, a volunteer committee rolled up its sleeves and SA Giving Week came to life within a matter of months.

“It came together quickly, but having everyone working towards the same goal with a consistent message was a huge part of what made SA Giving Week such a success,” Kay says.

At its heart, the initiative aimed to celebrate giving in all its forms. Whether someone was volunteering, donating, mentoring, supporting a cause through their business or simply helping a neighbour, every contribution mattered. And judging by the conversations happening across the state, that message resonated.

Foundation SA CEO Sophie Doyle believes generosity has always been woven into the fabric of South Australian life.

"South Australians have a genuinely generous culture of giving, but a lot of it happens quietly, behind the scenes. SA Giving Week was about bringing that generosity into the light. Showing that giving takes many forms, so we can inspire even more people to get involved," Sophie says.

Throughout the week, community organisations, volunteers, donors and changemakers shared stories of impact across the state. For Sophie, those stories were the most important part of the campaign.

“Giving is nothing without the impact it leads to. SA Giving Week created an opportunity for community and nonprofit organisations to share their stories and highlight the critical work they do tackling some of society's biggest social and environmental challenges,” she says.

Those stories can also be a powerful catalyst for action.

“Often people have the desire and capacity to give, but don't know where to start. Seeing the impact of giving and feeling part of something bigger can help inspire people to take that first step,” Sophie says.

“What gives me optimism is seeing the impact being created in communities every day. Even small acts of giving can create meaningful change.”

Creative Australia State Manager, Development and Partnerships SA/NT, Hannah Kothe was an early supporter of the initiative.

“There was a shared desire to see the culture of giving grow in South Australia. We know generosity needs to be broad and community-wide, and SA Giving Week was an opportunity to help grow that culture.”

One of the highlights for Hannah was a panel featuring three female philanthropists sharing their experiences of giving, including Ana Koch, founder of the Ana and Christopher Koch Foundation and a founding supporter of SA Giving Week.

“Ana Koch said this was the first time she'd publicly spoken about her philanthropy. People often don't want to speak about their giving, so hearing her share her story and seeing the audience's response was a real reminder of how important those conversations are.”

For Hannah, it highlighted the importance of having visible role models for future leaders.

“It was really inspiring to see the next generation of women making this happen. Seeing so many women getting up, speaking and leading those conversations felt powerful, and I think they were approaching it in a way that perhaps only females can do.”

By the end of the week, it was clear the conversation was resonating.

“This first year was about establishing a presence and starting the conversation. SA Giving Week now has a voice and an identity, and people are already saying they want to be involved next year. It's built that presence, it's got people excited, and now it can really take off,” Hannah says.

As the week unfolded, those connections were being felt across the state. For Philanthropy Australia Director Engagement (SA) Jodi Farley the week reinforced something she has always believed about community.

“We're stronger together,” Jodi says. “Not everyone has the same opportunities or resources, so when people work together towards a shared goal, it's better for everybody. Giving isn't a one-way exchange — it's something that benefits everyone.”

Throughout the week, Jodi watched people connect across organisations, sectors and communities.

“I observed a really strong sense of pride. People were proud to be part of something special, and it reinforced that when we come together, the collective is bigger than the individual parts. I think people want to be part of that, and that connection is really important.”

Jodi believes one of the biggest barriers to growing generosity is the perception that giving is only for the wealthy.

“Not everyone is wealthy, but there is so much potential for people to see themselves in philanthropy and as someone who has something valuable to give. It doesn't have to be big sums of money — people can give their time, talents or resources.”

She says one of the best ways to overcome that hurdle is for more people to hear and share stories that celebrate the many ways people give.

“People don't speak about giving enough, and that's a handbrake. Sharing stories of impact is important because it helps more people recognise they have something valuable to contribute.”

Fellow committee member and JamFactory Development Director Nikki Hamdorf agrees that stories have an important role to play in growing generosity.

“Storytelling helps people connect emotionally with the impact of generosity,” Nikki says.

“Hearing the impact of someone's kindness makes generosity feel more tangible and relatable. It publicly shines a light on positive actions and encourages others to do the same.”

Fellow committee member Kate Stock noticed that growing willingness to engage with giving too. As Director of the Day Family Foundation and a founding supporter of SA Giving Week, Kate has spent years helping grow philanthropy in South Australia and encouraging people to think differently about giving.

After attending events across the week, she came away energised by the response.

“What really stood out was the appetite for a campaign like this and the strong support from philanthropists, charities and the broader community,” Kate says.

“People were really interested in structured giving, community funds, giving circles and learning more about different ways they could contribute. The appetite for education was great.”

She believes one of the greatest opportunities lies in helping people build giving into their lives over time. Through the Day Family Foundation, Kate has seen firsthand how giving can become part of a family's culture and values.

“It changes the way you think about giving,” she says. “It becomes a value. It becomes part of who you are.”

That's why she hopes SA Giving Week encourages more South Australians to embrace structured giving.

“We have significant family wealth in this state and there is so much need. Structured giving helps people think differently about their wealth and create a lasting legacy of giving back to the community.”

But whether people chose to volunteer, donate, join a giving circle or simply start a conversation, the broader goal of SA Giving Week was never about telling people what generosity should look like. It was about helping them recognise the generosity already present in their own lives, workplaces and communities.

Looking back, Kay is most proud of the conversations that were sparked across South Australia. Some people were inspired to volunteer, others explored structured giving for the first time, and many found new ways to support causes they care about.

While the full impact may not be known for years, one thing is already clear.

“It's hard to measure the impact right now, but people were talking about generosity and giving, and that was so important. We set out to create a movement around education and inspiration, and I think we've built a strong foundation,” Kay says.

Momentum is already building for what comes next. The South Australian Government has committed $250,000 over the next two years to support SA Giving Week, while founding supporters have renewed their backing and additional philanthropic funders have come on board.

For Kay, that support reflects the strength of what has been built.

“The founding supporters made it possible, the volunteer committee brought the energy and networks, and the marketing helped us reach people across the state. The State Government's support for the next two years is an exciting endorsement of what's been built,” Kay says.

For a movement that went from concept to reality in just a few months, it’s a remarkable vote of confidence. More importantly, it suggests the conversation has only just begun. For Kay, that's a strong source of hope.

“For one week, people were talking openly about giving across South Australia,” she says. “If we can keep that conversation going, the ripple effect will extend far beyond the week itself.”

Our heartfelt thanks to the SA Giving Week Committee for sharing their reflections. Stay tuned for more incredible South Australians in our ongoing series.