What everyone in Philanthropy needs to hear about Government Engagement
By Andrew Koubaridis
Australia has much to thank philanthropy for. Over many years funders have been responsible for bridging the gaps in vital services, highlighting issues that need addressing and bringing about genuine long-term change.
It goes without saying that governments want the same thing, which is why partnerships between government and philanthropy are so important – but it’s a partnership that often can do with nurturing.
This can lead to situations where philanthropy and government aren’t exactly aligned, even if they are both working towards a common goal.
At Tanck we see this scenario playing out all the time. Many philanthropic foundations are unsure how to start engaging with government and worry about being branded as too political. They often don’t have government relations capacity in-house or the confidence to deal with political figures. The opposite is true for government and departments, who struggle to fully appreciate the philanthropic world, its priorities and timelines.
However, there is this to consider: when philanthropy engages strategically, effectively, and early with government, the benefits are wide-reaching and long-lasting. This includes:
Evidence-based funding
Government can provide insights to help funders understand where investment is needed most to avoid duplication and make sure philanthropic dollars complement public funding.
Earlier influence on priorities
Engaging with government early in the policy and budget cycle allows philanthropy to be proactive more than reactive, enabling philanthropy to be genuinely strategic in their pursuit of impact.
Stronger public confidence
When government and philanthropy collaborate, the community sees leaders working together toward better outcomes and improving public trust, something that is critical now more than ever.
Tanck’s work with philanthropy is designed to help funders develop clear engagement strategies, know who to talk to and when, and build enduring relationships. A big part of this is giving philanthropy a practical understanding of how government works, how decisions are made, and how to frame social impact messages in a way that resonates with politicians.
It’s for these reasons that we set about working with Perpetual to survey the philanthropic sector to create a new resource for the sector. That resource is our upcoming Tanck whitepaper which will examine how purpose-driven organisations can regain their influence in an increasingly competitive and uncertain world. The whitepaper will pull together real examples, and include simple, practical tools to show how purpose driven organisations and philanthropic funds can work more confidently with government, secure funding and deliver lasting impact.
As economic and technological changes continue to pose opportunities and challenges, organisations are asking, “What can we actually do next?”.
The Tanck whitepaper being released at the end of February 2026 will answer this question and help give organisations a practical path forward.
