Hi ,

Welcome to a fresh new look for The GoodWolf! 

In this edition:
→  We share a piece on why now is a pivotal moment for trusts and foundations to consider their balance sheets— not just their grants — to work for impact. 

→ An introduction to our upcoming Catalytic Capital report that will be launched in August

→ An overview of some of our recent work with sector leaders and organisations

Read on. And reach out!

Simon 

Australia has one of the largest private wealth markets in the world and superannuation assets north of $4.4 trillion. Yet much of this capital remains misaligned to the social and environmental challenges we collectively face. Globally, the financing gap to meet the Sustainable Development Goals is now estimated at US$4 trillion a year, and growing.

We're excited to share that GoodWolf, commissioned by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, will soon launch a new report on catalytic capital in Australia. The report seeks to build a common understanding of catalytic capital: what it is, how it is being used, and the unique role it can play in enabling greater social and environmental impact through investing activities.

 
Register your interest below to be the first to know when the report launches and webinar details. 

Client Shoutouts

Over the past few months we've had the rare privilege of facilitating a series of strategy workshops with the extraordinary team at Mātai Medical Research Institute, perched on the East Coast of NZ in Gisborne. Mātai sits at a rare confluence: globally recognised brain imaging and neuroscience research on one hand, and a deep, deliberate commitment to serving the health needs of communities like Tairāwhiti on the other.

What has stayed with us the most is the culture: eclectic, deeply talented people united by a rare humility. Scientists who also sing. Researchers who break spontaneously into music. Part research institute, part carnival of ideas, and entirely, authentically itself. It's a reminder that the best strategy work is as much about learning from our clients as guiding them. And Mātai had plenty to teach us about bringing your whole self to the work.

We’ve just wrapped up a project with Food Connect supporting them in the development of an impact framework for their work across the food system. What stuck with us from this project is the interconnected-ness of food systems work. The food we eat impacts every aspect of life, and the final framework we developed with the team spans 6 macro domains of change: farming, environment, enterprise, First Nations, Health and community.

Impact measurement can often span several major domains of change at once, rather than following a tidy, sequential path through closely related domains. We were reminded that some missions are deeply woven across systems particularly those that are fundamental to human wellbeing and life, like food.

Funders are increasingly asking grantees about the impact they are creating – not just what they’re doing, but the change they’re making. Far fewer funders are turning that same question on themselves. It's a complex thing to do well, especially for funders with diverse portfolios and multiple pathways to impact.

That's exactly the challenge the John Villiers Trust (JVT) has taken on. JVT has partnered with GoodWolf on an impact and evaluation project to build a deeper understanding of the Trust's unique role and influence - both directly and through its grantees. We've valued the Trust's openness and curiosity in treating this as a learning journey - one that builds capacity for JVT, grantees and partners. It’s been a genuine delight working alongside JVT's leadership and board, whose commitment to young people in country Queensland shines through in everything they do.

A big congratulations to Southside Community Foundation, who recently opened the second stage of their two-year pilot grants program: Grants for Collaboration. The round backs local leaders and organisations across the City of Port Phillip who are teaming up to tackle shared goals, supporting stronger cross-sector collaboration, creative ideas and greater community connection.

What we love about it: the program is built directly on what the community told Southside mattered most through their 2025 Grants for Conversation. It's a great example of a foundation moving at the pace of its community, letting the priorities surface before shaping the response. Applications have now closed, but we're excited to see what this next chapter unlocks for the Southside region. 

Wesley Research Institute (WRI) is in an exciting period of transformation. Historically the fundraising arm for medical research across the UnitingCare Hospital network, WRI has spent recent years expanding into research in its own right - and is now sharpening its focus further, building a genuine competitive advantage in spatial medicine.

With leading equipment and analytical expertise in spatial biology data, WRI has a real opportunity to cement its position as a world leader.

GoodWolf is supporting WRI through this strategic shift, running two connected processes side by side: developing an impact measurement framework alongside a new strategic plan designed to deepen the very impact that framework maps out. Doing this concurrently means the strategy is grounded in evidence from the outset, and the impact framework is built to track what actually matters to WRI's direction - rather than measurement and strategy being developed in isolation and reconciled later. Together, they're helping WRI clarify its identity, priorities and partnerships as it articulates its impact to the sector. An exciting mandate to be part of.  

Wherever this edition finds you, we hope it has sparked a thought worth sitting with. As always, reach out, share it on and tell us what you're working on. Until next quarter! 
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