Give List: Social cohesion

If you are looking to support charities working on social cohesion in our community, we have compiled this Give List to help you get started. If you have questions or would like help with any part of your giving, please reach out to our Giving Services team.

What is social cohesion?

Social cohesion is a multi-dimensional concept referring to social connectedness (the ‘glue’ that connects members of a society (AIHW 2005)), solidarity and trust amongst individuals, within and across communities and organisations, and within society at large. Societies with higher levels of social cohesion are healthier, more resilient to external shocks, and experience greater economic growth (UNECE 2023).

While the entities listed below are all known to APS, we do not conduct a detailed analysis of their financial position and governance ahead of their inclusion in this list. All charities’ audited financials are available to view on the ACNC website, and linked to their ABN below.

This is not an exhaustive list of the not-for-profit organisations working in this space.

Racism & Discrimination

B’Nai B’rith Courage to Care (VIC)

ABN 71 531 585 464
couragetocare.org.au
Courage to Care’s Upstander Programs educate and empower students across Victoria to recognise injustice and act in a safe and practical way with confidence, in the classroom and beyond.

Their interactive workshops are delivered by trained volunteer facilitators and use powerful real-life and historical stories alongside contemporary examples to show students how ordinary people can become Upstanders - choosing to act when they witness discrimination or injustice.

Online Hate Prevention Institute

ABN 65 155 287 657
ohpi.org.au
The Online Hate Prevention Institute (OHPI) is an Australian Harm Prevention Charity that aims to reduce the risk of suicide, self-harm, substance abuse, physical abuse and emotional abuse that can result from online hate. Their focus areas include cyber-racism, online religious vilification and other group-based forms of online hate, through to the cyber-bullying of individuals.

OHPI conducts research, runs campaigns and provides public education, recommends policy changes and law reform, and seeks ways of changing online systems to make them more effective in reducing the risks posed by online hate. They aim to create systemic changes that reduce the risk of harm both now and into the future.

The Dor Foundation

ABN 37 67 441 3622
thedorfoundation.org.au
The Dor Foundation supports initiatives to build tolerance, understanding and enhance social cohesion, empowering all Australians to stand against antisemitism and hate; for a prosperous and multicultural society. The Dor Foundation leverages research, data-driven insights and global best practices, working collaboratively and in partnership with other organisations to maximise their impact. They focus on:

    • Raising awareness and understanding of antisemitism and hate across the broader community
    • Building relationships and partnerships with other organisations to promote social cohesion
    • Creating a conducive policy environment to combat antisemitism and hate.

 

Together for Humanity

ABN 51 118 344 666
togetherforhumanity.org.au
Together for Humanity is an inclusive educational organisation working with school communities to eliminate prejudice and advance belonging and inclusion. They have teams in NSW, VIC and QLD and work in collaboration with partners is SA, TAS, WA and the ACT. Together for Humanity offer a range of student programs linked to the Australian Curriculum, Teacher Professional Learning and online learning for students and teachers.

Since 2016, Together for Humanity have held Youth Summits – a platform for students to voice their ideas around diversity, inclusion and community cohesion to peers, politicians, leaders and the broader community. The 2026 Summit will be held in SA.

Democracy & Accountability

Accountable Futures Collective (fund via Youth Impact Foundation)

ABN 60 662 687 425
accountablefutures.org.au
Accountable Futures Collective is an Australian systemschange initiative that brings young people and adults together to close the “accountability void” between what society promises young people and what they actually experience, aiming to create systems that genuinely enable them to thrive. It focuses on shifting power through youthdriven accountability, an intergenerational model of governance, and transformative approaches designed to reduce harm and make institutions truly responsive to young people. Their distinct point of difference lies in moving beyond tokenistic consultation to position young people as equal partners and problemsolvers in reshaping the systems that shape their lives. Their work spans the out of home, education and health systems.

Australian Democracy Network

ABN 35 655 372 133
australiandemocracy.org.au
The Australian Democracy Network (ADN) is working to create a healthy Australian democracy that puts people and the planet first. They bring people and organisations together to campaign for the changes that make our democracy more fair, open, participatory, and accountable.

AND are working on three national campaigns:

  • Stronger Charities Alliance – an alliance of over 120 charities, which formed in 2017 in response to a number of bills which would have silenced charities on issues of national importance. Formerly known as Hands Off Our Charities, the alliance has a vision of a thriving not-for-profit sector, where charities are empowered to advocate for lasting change for our communities.
  • Protect the Right to Protest – the vision is an Australia where people’s right to protest is protected by law, respected by the judiciary and the police, and valued in our culture.
  • Fair Democracy –aims to build a healthy Australian democracy that works for all, not just for the powerful few. They are working to strengthen Australia’s democracy by getting big money out of politics, tackling disinformation and regulating lobbying.

 

Centre for Public Integrity

ABN 64 634 200 445
publicintegrity.org.au
The Centre for Public Integrity is an independent research institute dedicated to restoring integrity to the foundations of Australia’s democracy. They work to prevent corruption, protect the integrity of our accountability institutions, rein in executive power, and eliminate the undue influence of big money in politics. The Centre actively engages with stakeholders, including policymakers, journalists, and the public, to promote dialogue and knowledge sharing around integrity issues. By positioning itself as a trusted source of expertise, the Centre aims to influence policy debates and advocate for solutions to democracy-related challenges.

The Ethics Centre

ABN 83 637 740 533
ethics.org.au
The Ethics Centre (TEC) promotes critical thinking and ethical reasoning to support better decision‑making and positive social change. TEC works with individuals, businesses, governments and community organisations through consulting, training, counselling and public events to help navigate complex ethical issues, strengthen ethical leadership and respond constructively to ethical failure. TEC also has a strong education focus, delivering civics and ethics‑based programs in schools that build young people’s ethical understanding, critical thinking, perspective‑taking and capacity to participate thoughtfully in public life.

TEC co‑founded the Festival of Dangerous Ideas (FODI) in 2009, now Australia’s leading ideas festival, which brings together speakers from diverse backgrounds to explore controversial and challenging issues. FODI promotes free and open debate, encouraging audiences to question assumptions and engage deeply with the ethical, political and social questions shaping contemporary society.

Information Integrity & Independent News

Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom

ABN 59 622 234 799
journalistsfreedom.com
Alliance for Journalists’ Freedom (AJF) promotes media freedom and the right of journalists to report the news in freedom and safety. Their core work includes working with Australian governments, civil society groups and industry bodies to ensure legislation supports media freedom and campaigning in the Asia-Pacific region, wherever journalists are censored, threatened, imprisoned, or killed.

Australian Associated Press

ABN 94 641 582 121
aap.com.au
Founded in 1935, Australian Associated Press (AAP) is Australia’s independent national newswire service – the backbone of Australia’s media sector, supplying wholesale text and images to hundreds of news outlets across the country and supporting diversity in our media landscape. In 2019 AAP established a dedicated fact checking unit, AAP FactCheck, to directly tackle misinformation and disinformation through debunks, prebunks and media literacy education. AAP is working to make Australia’s information environment more secure with a twin focus on producing factual, impartial journalism via the newswire and fact checking content already circulating on social media.

Digital Rights Watch

ABN 90 509 129 914
digitalrightswatch.org.au

Digital Rights Watch (DRW) exists to defend and promote a digital world where all humanity can thrive, and where diversity and creativity flourishes – to ensure fairness, freedoms and fundamental rights for all people who engage in the digital world. DRW’s campaigns work to ensure that Australians are equipped, empowered and enabled to uphold their digital rights. They also host and support on-line and in person events that bring digital policy discussion to the community.

DRW do not have DGR1 status but have an auspicing arrangement in progress. Please speak to your APS Adviser if you wish to make a gift to Digital Rights Watch.

The Trustee for The Conversation Trust

ABN 80 958 603 438
theconversation.com/au
The Conversation is a publisher of research-based news and analysis, a collaboration between academics and journalists, which is free to read and free to republish. Everything read on The Conversation is backed by science and research from academics who work together with The Conversation team of editors. This collaboration turns academics’ knowledge and insights into easy-to-read articles, making them accessible to the wider public. Their average monthly audience across all Conversation editions is approximately 28 million page views onsite, with editions in Africa, Australia/New Zealand, Brazil, Canada, Europe, France, Indonesia, Spain, Catalan, UK and US. The Conversation articles are frequently used as a source for fact-based information in classrooms, the workplace and political sphere.

Economic inclusion & opportunity

e61 Institute

ABN 64 648 844 991
e61.in
The e61 Institute is a non-partisan economic research institute founded to bridge the gap between economic research and policy in Australia. Their core services include:

  • Economic Research – They produce high quality research into Australia’s most important economic issues to empower the policy debate. E61’s research focuses on the underlying drivers of important economic trends, solutions to policy challenges and the trade-offs inherent in policy choices and spans education, housing, social and structural.
  • Data Tools – Development of interactive resources such as consumer spending trackers and tax calculators.
  • Policy Evaluation – Rigorous impact assessments of public programs and policies.
  • Insights Delivery – reports tailored for policymakers and long-form academic publications.
  • Training – Statistical and economic analysis training for government and industry to answer economic questions.

 

Talent Beyond Boundaries

ABN 20 623 493 327
talentbeyondboundaries.org
Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) connects refugees to international job opportunities – a complementary solution to traditional refugee settlement. TBB understand displaced people have the skills that employers need, and that governments can make practical adjustments to their skilled migration schemes to make them accessible to refugees. Refugees are doctors, engineers, skilled trade workers, software developers, and more, yet many find themselves in countries where they don’t have the right to work locally and are locked out of skilled migration systems. TBB are transforming skilled migration systems for refugees by removing barriers, creating new opportunities, and rewriting the story of displacement.

Wellsprings for Women

ABN 18 282 739 596
wellspringsforwomen.com
Wellsprings for Women advances economic inclusion and social cohesion by supporting migrant, refugee and asylum‑seeker women to build skills, confidence and pathways into employment while also creating trusted, culturally safe spaces for connection and belonging. Through English language, digital and financial literacy, employability and vocational pathway programs, alongside settlement support and volunteering opportunities; Wellsprings helps women overcome barriers to economic participation. It is a women‑only, place‑based model which reduces isolation, strengthens social networks, fosters community leadership and brings women from diverse cultural backgrounds into meaningful connection with each other and with local services, contributing to more cohesive and inclusive communities in Melbourne’s south‑east.

Civic knowledge & participation

Mannifera

ABN 14 681 515 604
(fund via Australian Communities Foundation Community Charity ABN 43 314 870 260)
mannifera.org.au
Mannifera is a collective of values aligned Australian funders supporting a fairer democracy and economy; investing in civil society and First Nations-led organisations while fostering collective action and shared learning. Their focus areas include:

  • Fostering first nations economic inclusion
  • Building fair tax and economic systems
  • Improving quality public debate
  • Fostering inclusive political participation
  • Ensuring accountable and open Government.

Since establishment, Mannifera have delivered upwards of $5.6 million in grants – grant decisions are made by collective members at their annual muster, and at key moments throughout the year in response to emerging issues. Mannifera offers membership and co-funder options.

Mannifera 2026 grant round theme is Strengthening Civic Knowledge and Participation.

Menzies Leadership Foundation

ABN 43 008 543 897
menziesfoundation.org.au

Menzies Leadership Foundation (MLF) work at the intersection of research, practice, and community to cultivate the leadership capacity Australia, and the world needs. Through strategic initiatives, partnerships, and learning ecosystems, we help people and organisations lead with purpose and act for the greater good.

MLF initiatives include:

  • Citizen leadership – The Foundation seeds partnerships and incubates initiatives that:
    • Equip citizens with the skills and confidence to act collectively.
    • Co-design new forms of governance that prioritise accountability to communities.
    • Create sustainable financial and cultural platforms for community-led change.
  • School leadership – through their School Leadership Incubator, they partner with educators, researchers, and ed-tech innovators to:
    • Develop practical tools that build collective efficacy.
    • Create pipelines of future-ready school leaders.
    • Bridge research and practice with systemic innovation.
  • Indigenous leadership – The Foundation partners with Indigenous-led organisations to:
    • Establish scalable platforms for women’s entrepreneurship.
    • Provide access to financial tools, networks, and cultural supports.
    • Back Indigenous-designed models that integrate cultural wisdom with innovation.
  • Emerging leadership – through the Emerging Leaders Platform, they:
    • Support fellowships and scholarships for young Australians to participate in UN, OECD, and multilateral forums.
    • Incubate youth-led ideas and innovations.
    • Create challenge prizes and ethical design competitions for systemic problem-solving.

 

Sport & social inclusion

Indigenous Marathon Foundation

ABN 39 162 317 455
imf.org.au

The Indigenous Marathon Foundation (IMF), deliver running and physical literacy programs that address the unacceptable health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. IMF uses sport as a platform to help Indigenous Australians achieve their full potential as healthy human beings, while creating a ripple effect of change in communities through education and leadership.

Their programs promote discipline, healthy living, and social connection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with a strong focus on leadership development and marathon preparation. Each program is shaped through co-design with their First Nations participants, graduates, run leaders, and partner organisations — grounding their approach in community and drawing strength from lived experience.

One Ball

ABN 70 455 159 503
oneball.org.au

One Ball is a Melbourne based charity founded by former professional footballer Kamal Ibrahim that uses inclusive, community-based soccer programs to support children and young people. They focus particularly on those from culturally and linguistically diverse, migrant and refugee backgrounds to build confidence, wellbeing and a sense of belonging. By bringing together children from different cultures, faiths and socioeconomic backgrounds in a shared sporting environment, One Ball uses football as a common language to break down barriers, reduce social isolation and foster positive cross-cultural relationships.

One Ball’s programs emphasise teamwork, respect, fairness and character development alongside physical activity, reinforcing shared values that underpin social cohesion, while partnerships with schools, families and local organisations help strengthen wider community connections. In doing so, One Ball supports both individual integration and broader community resilience, demonstrating how grassroots sport can build trust, belonging and cohesion in multicultural communities.

Team Sports 4 All

ABN 20 983 050 119
teamsports4all.com.au

TeamSports4All connect financially disadvantaged boys and girls, and their families, into their local sporting communities using the power of team sport. They cover fees, uniforms and gear, but just as importantly, provide wraparound support that helps them stay in the game, and truly belong.

The TeamSports4Girls programs that ensure they meet the specific needs of girls, working closely with different multicultural communities to ensure they are able to support kids from all backgrounds.

Arts & Social inclusion

Back to Back Theatre

ABN 95 834 484 241
backtobacktheatre.com

Back to Back Theatre creates new forms of contemporary performance created by artists with disabilities, giving voice to social and political issues which speak to all people. Based in the Victorian regional centre of Geelong, Back to Back Theatre is widely recognised as an Australian theatre company of national and international significance. In addition to its professional practice, Back to Back Theatre collaborates intensively with communities around the world, with a focus on artistic excellence and elevated social inclusion for all people of difference.

Monash Performing Arts Centres (MPAC) | Monash University

ABN 12 377 614 012
monash.edu/performing-arts-centres/kindred-people

MPAC is a place for community, creativity and discovery, presenting live music, theatre, experiential performance and festivals that bring people together through shared cultural experiences. It is where Monash’s research excellence intersects with the transformative power of artistic collaboration, creating space for dialogue, curiosity and connection across disciplines, cultures and communities.

Kindred People is a landmark gathering of global First Nations cultural leaders and a celebration of First Nations art, culture, ceremony and knowledge. It brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and international First Nations communities in an exchange of stories, creativity, truth‑telling and research. Presented by Monash University, Kindred People is a new week‑long arts and culture festival and research symposium held across Monash campuses and on Country. Taking place for the first time from 1–5 September 2026, the program will showcase the richness and diversity of First Nations cultural practice, while creating space for learning, connection and collective imagining across generations and geographies.

Think+DO Tank Foundation

ABN 28 165 968 178
foundation.thinkanddotank.net.au

The Think+DO Tank Foundation partners with marginalised communities in NSW to create and deliver multilingual arts programs that have a social impact, with a focus on culturally and linguistically diverse women, youth, and children.

Their programs are designed with community, for community. Through cultural connection, creativity, and multilingualism, they break barriers to social activity, shifting the systems that reinforce poverty. Think & Do Tank employ evidence-based approaches to improve social cohesion, reduce isolation, strengthen community capacity, and foster equity.

By using the arts, imagination, and social enterprise to engage communities, they respond to identified needs to partner with low-income communities to solve their own problems. Their programmatic focus is informed by collaborative research and is utilised for:

  • promoting multilingualism
  • increasing food security
  • tackling transport disadvantage
  • reducing digital exclusion
  • promoting safety in public spaces

Other programs include:

  • Homework Club – after-school program, providing space and support for young students and their parents struggling to connect or understand the tasks assigned to them at school, as well as creative activities to spark their imaginations, also gardening workshops and music-making classes teaching kids how to produce their own tracks.
  • Grow Well – urban community garden program; hands-on, expert-led gardening workshops where participants grow, compost, and cultivate together in the community garden.

 

Public policy, research & advocacy

Centre For Australian Progress

ABN 76 158 172 484
australianprogress.org.au

Australian Progress was started as an initiative to build civil society’s capacity to run winning advocacy campaigns and engage the public on the big issues facing our future. They were launched by a broad alliance of Australian civil society groups, including United Voice, Together, Australian Conservation Foundation, World Vision Australia, Cancer Council NSW and the World Wildlife Fund and a broad spectrum of other respected nonprofits.

Their work revitalises civil society movements, enabling them to win social and environmental progress and strengthen our democracy. Together with hundreds of partners, Australian Progress ensure the community interest shapes our nation’s priorities. Their work is across three core pillars:

  • Skills – transforming the skills of community leaders
  • Community – building relationships, knowledge sharing, and inspiring courage
  • Shared Action – catalysing new ideas, funding, research and strategic support

 

Grattan Institute

ABN 17 134 323 756
grattan.edu.au

The Grattan Institute is an independent, evidencebased public policy body that works to improve the quality of life for all Australians by informing public debate and decisionmaking. Its areas of practice span education, health, housing, energy and climate change, economic policy, budget and tax, and government effectiveness. Grattan produces rigorous, datadriven policy research and practical recommendations, combining economic analysis, realworld evidence and clear public communication to influence government policy across the political spectrum. Its work is widely cited by policymakers, public servants and the media, and has contributed to reforms in areas such as school funding, energy policy, housing affordability and fiscal sustainability, giving the Institute a reputation for both intellectual credibility and realworld impact.

Scanlon Foundation Research Institute

ABN 15 631 965 985
scanloninstitute.org.au

The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute (SFRI) is an independent research institute that exists as a bridge between academic insight and public thought on matters relating to Australia’s social cohesion. SFRI undertakes research to help Australia advance as a welcoming, prosperous and cohesive nation, particularly where this relates to the transition of migrants into Australian society. They conduct research into social cohesion, multiculturalism and related factors in Australia and publishes the outputs of their activities with a view to generating dialogue, moving forward the public agenda and making available practical tools, improvements and innovations to improve the social and economic circumstances of local communities, regions and society. They work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders interested in creating value in Australia, including academic institutions, businesses, governments, and other not-for-profit organisations.

Updated March 2026