#139 Guiding a nation’s generosity, Maree Sidey CEO of Australian Communities Foundation

Welcome to Purposely with Maree Sidey, CEO of the Australian Communities Foundation. As a unique donor-advised fund with total funds of over £150 million, the foundation aims to activate a nation of givers. It was established in 1997 by Marion Webster OAM and Hayden Raysmith AM, with the assistance of the late Peter Hero from the highly successful San Francisco Community Foundation. They pioneered the community foundation model in Australia, initially establishing the Melbourne Community Foundation, which later became the Australian Communities Foundation in 2011. Maree has been leading the foundation since 2015, and under her leadership, the organisation has doubled in size, reach, and impact over the past eight years. In this episode, Maree discusses a wide range of topics and issues, both professional and personal. She shares her personal journey as the daughter of a minister, her passion for social justice, and the significance of values-based leadership and authenticity in the workplace (as well as at home as a mother to teenagers!). It's a fascinating conversation that showcases one of the success stories of people-powered philanthropy. ‘Social justice runs through my veins. As the daughter of a social worker and a Baptist minister, the values of justice, equity, privilege, inclusion, and giving voice to the marginalised were deeply ingrained in our family and shaped the way we perceived the world’. Initially, Maree pursued a career as a social worker, developing a deep passion for a systemic approach to understanding the world. She analysed underlying dynamics and sought ways to intervene and create a fairer system. This focus has remained constant throughout her career, whether she was working in Child and Family Services, Youth Mental Health organisations, or even in the realm of drug and alcohol services and community sports clubs. Her goal has always been to promote social justice and effect positive change. Maree also explains how this commitment led her to her current role in philanthropy. Maree i