Across the globe, Indigenous peoples represent the most prominent blind spot in the funding community and in Australia, only 0.5 per cent of philanthropic funding goes to First Nations communities. It’s a shameful statistic and one that requires urgent and committed action to redress.
With existing funding systems in Australia rooted in colonialism and, in many instances paternalism, this statistic is no accident. Strict, rigid and pre-determined eligibility criteria, extensive monitoring and surveillance, lengthy reporting obligations aligned to incompatible theories of change - these are just some of the factors that contribute to the significant barriers facing First Nations community-driven initiatives when it comes to accessing the flexible, sustainable and autonomous funding they need to thrive.
As a First Nations-led and driven funding platform, First Nations Futures stands in stark contrast to existing models and is driving an agenda of economic justice by calling in the shared responsibility of all Australians to collectively invest in First Nations-led solutions. Guided by their own values-based impact framework, the platform delivers unrestricted, long-term and culturally safe funding to a growing network of grassroots, First Nations community-driven initiatives, better enabling them to self-determine their own destinies.
If the last few months have taught us anything it is that, without question, First Nations people must be the architects of their own futures. Supporting community-led funding models, like First Nations Futures, provides a significant opportunity for non-Indigenous Australians to co-invest in this objective and to put allyship with First Nations peoples into tangible, meaningful action, post referendum.
Lend your support:
Co-invest* with First Nations Futures
*In this context, Co-invest is an act of responsibility to collectively invest into a shared benefit without monetary return.
Learn More:
First Nations Futures - Website
First Nations Futures - Impact model
Follow:
Instagram - @firstnationsfutures
Facebook - www.facebook.com/firstnationsfutures
LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/company/first-nations-futures/
*Pure Community and Pure Finance have no direct affiliation with the organisations and initiatives listed above. We simply appreciate the work that they do, and choose to show our appreciation by lending our support.