Think Forward is a bipartisan think tank and lobby group for young Australians that strives to put intergenerational fairness issues front and centre in Australia’s political debates and include youth perspectives in key economic discussions.

Mannifera grants received:

2024 Signature Grant, $80,000 x 2 (multi-year)

2023 Signature Grant, $35,000

2022 Signature Grant, $70,000

What we funded: 

Think Forward received its first-ever core funding from Mannifera, used to employ staff, accelerating their work in the early stages of the new federal government. Think Forward also received renewed core funding in 2023 and 2024 as they  significantly progressed their advocacy work, bringing the voices of younger people into economic debate and building the case for a parliamentary inquiry into intergenerational fairness.

The Economic Media Centre (EMC) is the first pro bono, cross-sector media capacity building organisation in Australia. They support spokespeople from grassroots groups and NGOs contribute to economic policy debates through the mainstream media to secure more equal economic policies and shift economic narratives.

Mannifera grants received:

2022 Signature Grant, $20,000

What we funded: 

EMC received support to grow its team and focus on three priority issues including, strong public services, income inequality and the inclusion of marginalised voices. EMC plans to deliver not-for-profit sector capacity-building, media campaigns and narrative shifts at scale.

The Australian Council of Social Service is a national advocate supporting people affected by poverty, disadvantage and inequality, and the peak council for community services nationally.

Mannifera grants received:

2021 Rapid Response Grant, $20,000

2020 Signature Grant, $125,000

What we funded:

Mannifera, with a consortium of funders, provided support to the ACOSS-led Raise the Rate Campaign.The campaign used evidence, data and stories describing the impact higher JobSeeker payments were making on people’s lives and for local economies. Following months of hard campaigning, the Australian Government permanently increased the pre-pandemic rate of JobSeeker by $25 a week. 

The Centre for Policy Development (CPD) is an independent, non-partisan public policy institute. CPD confronts the toughest policy challenges facing Australia and the Indo-Pacific region, and takes people on the journey of solving them through a unique collaborative method that creates enduring systemic change.

Grants received:

2023 Capacity Building Grant, $50,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera has provided capacity building funding to the Centre for Policy Development to convene and coordinate joint advocacy between civil society organisations working towards a more inclusive wellbeing economy.

A joint project from Australian Progress, Australian Communities Foundation and Australian Council of Social Services, the Rapid Advocacy Fund was established as a donor pool to facilitate responsive funding for grassroots organisations participating in policy debates during the Covid-19 health and economic crises.

Mannifera grants received:

2020 Signature Grant: $50,000

What we funded: 

22 organisations across a diverse range of areas including affordable housing, gambling reform, mental health and Australian democracy have been supported by the fund.

The First Nations Workers Alliance was established by the ACTU in response to the need to provide its Indigenous members with a union where their concerns and aspirations are heard and represented. 

Grants received: 

2020 First Nations-led Grant, $50,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera was the first and, so far, the only philanthropic funder of the First Nations Workers Alliance’s successful campaign to abolish the Community Development (work for the dole) Program, which was inherently unfair, disempowering and racist.

Global Sisters exist to make business possible for women. They enable economic participation for women facing systemic and structural barriers to employment and financial security.

Grants received: 

2023 Signature Grant, $25,000

What we funded: 

Global Sisters received funding that allowed them to hire a policy advisor to support advocacy work aimed at welfare policy reform, in order to create a system that enables self-employment as a means of sustaining long-term economic security for women.

Economic Justice Australia (EJA) is the peak organisation for community legal centres, providing specialist advice to people on their social security issues and rights. Their vision is of a fair social security system.

Grants received: 

2023 Signature Grant, $70,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera support helped EJA to hire a communications specialist to work across their social security automatic and domestic violence projects. Following compelling submissions at the Jobs Summit and Robodebt Royal Commission, this role came at a time to strategically highlight the work of their legal experts to the broader public and gain support.

The Australia Institute (TAI) is an independent, non-partisan public policy think tank conducting high-impact research that combines rigorous fact-driven material with cutting-edge communication strategies.

Grants received: 

2021 Rapid Response Grant, $10,000

2021 Signature Grant, $20,000

What we funded: 

Mannifera supported TAI’s ‘Tax is Good’ campaign, which ran in the lead-up to the 2022 Federal Election and focused on shifting the national economic debate. 

The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS) is the peak body for the non-government health and community service sector in South Australia, and has a vision of justice, opportunity and shared wealth for all South Australians.

Grants received: 

2023 Signature Grant, $25,000

What we funded: 

In line with Mannifera’s commitment to geographic equity, SACOSS received funding to support strategic communication to socialise the inequities in the state concession system, build public support for its reform and bolster their inside track advocacy efforts.