Creative Australia uses the term Private Investment to mean financial and in-kind support secured from individuals, families, trusts, foundations, businesses and partners. It can also be defined as private sector support. We use these terms interchangeably when describing income secured from non-government sources. Terms such as philanthropy, development, fundraising and business partnerships are also commonly used by those working in the arts and cultural sector.
Our Private Investment Capability Program is focused on empowering artists and arts organisations to leverage new investment models and support deeper engagement with philanthropic and corporate investment.
The context
The Great Wealth Transfer in Australia is an unprecedented intergenerational shift where an estimated $5.4 trillion in assets is expected to pass from Baby Boomers to younger generations over the next two decades. This transfer of wealth has already begun, impacting both philanthropic and corporate giving.
This presents a significant opportunity for the arts and cultural sector with research suggesting the next generation of givers wants philanthropy that is personal, values-led and clear about impact.
The most recent GivingLarge report, tracking corporate giving in Australia, revealed that the top 50 corporate givers contributed a record $1.5 billion to community initiatives, representing a 14% increase on the previous year.
Those in the arts and cultural sector who clearly explain what they do, why it matters and how people can help will be best placed to benefit from this momentum in giving.
Image: Sad Man Illustrations
Our framework to build capability
Creative Australia invests in private investment capability to support a financially sustainable and thriving creative sector through increased private sector investment.
Our Private Investment Capability Framework guides our program design and investment approach. It outlines the knowledge, practice areas and skills that help artists and arts organisations build confidence and capability in fundraising.
The framework is structured around different learner levels, and this is reflected across our program design, with opportunities and resources for capability development targeted at those new to fundraising through to those operating strategically and adaptively.
Private Investment Capability Framework
Practice domains
The framework covers the main ways artists and arts organisations can attract, grow and sustain private sector support, and the knowledge needed to work across each area.
- Private investment landscape: understanding the broader private investment environment, including the different sources of private support available to the arts and major trends and opportunities.
- Philanthropy: understanding donations, donor motivations, giving pathways and support from trusts and foundations.
- Business partnerships: understanding how businesses can support artistic work through sponsorship, in-kind support and partnerships that create shared value.
- Fundraising events: understanding how events can generate income, engage supporters and strengthen relationships.
- Volunteering: understanding how volunteers can contribute time, skills and experience to support artistic and organisational activity.
Skill domains
The framework also identifies the practical skills that help turn private investment knowledge into action. These are four universal, transferrable skill areas that are applied across all practice domains.
- Communication and storytelling: articulating the value of the work, developing a clear case for support and communicating with different audiences.
- Managing resources: organising the time, tools, materials, information and budgets needed to support fundraising activity.
- Strategy and planning: setting goals, identifying opportunities, prioritising effort and adapting plans over time.
- Managing relationships: identifying, building and sustaining relationships with supporters, partners, collaborators and volunteers.
Learning levels
The practice and skill domains work together, recognising that fundraising capability develops through both knowledge and practice.
The framework is organised across three learning levels that apply to both the practice and skill domains. These levels show how fundraising capability can grow over time, from early awareness through to more confident, strategic practice.
- Beginner: building awareness, developing foundational knowledge and beginning to apply simple fundraising practices in supported or straightforward settings.
- Intermediate: applying fundraising knowledge more independently, with growing confidence, judgement and consistency.
- Advanced: applying fundraising capability strategically and adaptively to support long-term sustainability.
Opportunities
Matched Funding Opportunities
Learning Levels: Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
We offer matched funding programs to maximise your fundraising efforts, boost your revenue and help you to nurture meaningful connections with your audiences and communities.
Matched Funding for Artists and Artist Groups – Intermediate supports artists to build on existing private sector fundraising experience and strengthen their practice over time.
It is designed for artists and artist groups who have some private sector fundraising experience and are ready to develop more consistent and strategic approaches to private sector support.
Matched funding is provided alongside fundraising capability development through group training, peer-to peer learning and one on one support and advice.
Matched Funding for Organisations – Beginner supports arts and cultural organisations to build and embed private sector fundraising skills, knowledge and confidence over time.
It is designed for small to medium-sized organisations at an early stage of fundraising, who are ready to move from informal fundraising activity to a more structured and sustainable approach.
Matched funding is provided over two years, alongside structured capability development to help organisations build and embed fundraising practice across the whole organisation.
Matched Funding for Organisations – Advanced supports small to medium arts and cultural organisations to lead and evolve sophisticated private sector fundraising practice and embed it for long-term sustainability within their organisation.
This opportunity is for organisations with mature fundraising capability, strategic clarity and strong ambition to grow or transform their fundraising efforts.
Matched funding is provided over two years, alongside a structured approach to support ambitious fundraising innovation and future-proofing.
Resources and Self-Guided Learning
Learning Level: Beginner
In October Creative Australia will launch a new learning hub with practical guidance and resources to support artists, arts workers, and organisations to build skills and capability in private investment, leadership and governance, and audience development.
Resources will include guides and fact sheets, templates, checklists and case studies to support best practice arts fundraising and the development of fundraising capability.
This new learning hub will provide a structured and self-paced learning experience for those new to fundraising and seeking to build their understanding of the private investment landscape.
Workshops
Learning Levels: Beginner
Our fundraising capability workshops are delivered by the State Managers Development and Partnerships and offered across every state and territory.
They are a core part of Creative Australia’s broader private investment capability program and provide the only arts-specific fundraising training in Australia.
In February 2027, we will launch two new full-day workshops. Delivered nationally, they will prioritise action-learning, meaning participants will practise fundraising behaviours, test ideas, receive feedback and leave with clear next steps.
Fundraising for Artists: Fundamentals
Audience: Independent artists and creative practitioners who are new to fundraising or only beginning to test it in practice.
Purpose: Build confidence, language and readiness for artist-led fundraising.
Practical takeaways: Greater confidence, a clearer case for support, a small supporter shortlist, simple language for a first ask or invitation, and one practical next step.
Fundraising for Organisations: Fundamentals
Audience: Arts workers with fundraising responsibilities, including development staff, producers, executives, generalist staff and volunteers contributing to organisational fundraising
Purpose: Support participants to translate core fundraising concepts into practical organisational behaviours, tools and next steps.
Practical takeaways: Greater confidence, a clearer case for support, a small supporter shortlist, simple language for a first ask or invitation, and one practical next step.
Webinars
Learning Levels: Intermediate / Advanced
Later this year, we will launch our new webinar series - Mastering Arts Fundraising with two distinct streams.
Mastering Arts Fundraising – Artists and Artist Groups
This stream will prioritise those seeking to strengthen their fundraising practice, moving from beginner to intermediate. It will be suitable for those who have some existing experience running a fundraising campaign.
Webinars for artists and artist groups will focus on the stages of undertaking a fundraising campaign.
The webinars will be in a range of formats including topic-based panel discussions, peer presentations of real-world case studies and facilitated sessions supporting peer learning to strengthen shared practice.
Mastering Arts Fundraising – Organisations
This stream will be for dedicated fundraisers, those with fundraising responsibilities as part of a broader role, senior leaders and board members. It will be suitable for organisations at an intermediate or advanced level of fundraising capability.
Webinars for organisations will cover topics that build practical skills, like making the ask, as well as strategic insight, from collective giving to bequests and everything in between.
The webinars will be in a range of formats including topic-based panel discussions, peer presentations of real-world case studies and facilitated sessions supporting peer learning to strengthen shared practice.
Peer Learning Networks
Communities of Practice
Learning Level: Advanced
Our Private Investment Communities of Practice are designed to support networks of collective inquiry and exchange around contemporary arts fundraising.
In 2027, we will pilot seven Communities of Practice, providing a structured peer learning space where participants can test ideas, reflect on live challenges and strengthen judgement, confidence, strategic thinking and applied practice over time.
In year one, we will convene five Advanced Fundraisers Communities of Practice for in person sessions. These will be by invitation for the pilot year.
In addition, two online Communities of Practice will bring together national groups of Regional and Remote Fundraisers and First Nations Fundraisers.
Communities of Practice will run for one year, with six sessions structured around themed discussions.
Development Collectives
Learning Level: Intermediate / Advanced
The Communities of Practice will complement our existing networking and convening events that support more informal exchange between fundraising professionals.
For more information on upcoming Development Collective events taking place in Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, email capabilityprograms@creative.gov.au.
Training Scholarships
Learning Levels: Intermediate / Advanced
Creative Australia is collaborating with the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA) to offer training to arts managers and leaders in arts fundraising. This development opportunity is suitable for those at an intermediate and advanced level, with at least two years fundraising experience.
Scholarships will support attendance at the 2027 FIA Conference on the Gold Coast 24-26 February 2027 and participation in FIA training courses from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027.
Applications will open in September.
First Nations Arts Centre Mentoring Program
Creative Australia’s First Nations Art Centre Mentorship Program is delivered in partnership with the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Foundation and Balanced Effect. The program supports participating art centres to strengthen their fundraising knowledge, grow private sector support and build long-term financial sustainability.
In 2025–26, the program worked with three Western Australian art centres through tailored mentoring, fundraising planning and capability development activities. The program reflects Creative Australia’s commitment to supporting First Nations-led approaches to capacity building, helping art centres develop fundraising strategies that align with their cultural, community and organisational priorities while building confidence and capability that can be sustained into the future.
Register your interest
To engage in our Private Investment Capability Program.
Frequently asked questions
How does Creative Australia define Fundraising?
Financial and in-kind support secured from individuals, families, trusts, foundations, businesses and partners.
Will Plus1 and MATCHLab be running again?
No. They have been replaced by the three new matched funding opportunities.
Is the coaching and advice service still available?
The coaching and advice service previously delivered by the State Manager Development and Partnerships team is changing.
Until September 2026, the team will continue to support existing clients through current coaching and advice arrangements. After this, the service will move to a more targeted model focused on intermediate-level arts organisations as part of Creative Australia’s broader Private Investment Capability program.
General coaching and advice will no longer be available in the same way. Artists, arts workers, and beginner and advanced organisations will be supported through matched funding programs, workshops, webinars, peer learning networks, training scholarships, self-guided learning and resources. Coaching and advice will also be included as part of the capability developing support for organisations and artists participating in matched funding opportunities.
How do I know which learner lever applies to me?
The learner levels are a guide to help you choose the opportunity that best matches your current fundraising experience, confidence and goals. You may be at different levels across various skill and practice domains of fundraising, so start with the level that best reflects where you need support now.
Beginner opportunities are for those who are new to fundraising or building the foundations. Intermediate opportunities are for those with some experience who are ready to apply their knowledge more consistently and strategically. Advanced opportunities are for those with established fundraising practice who want to strengthen leadership, innovation and long-term sustainability.
Do the learner levels apply to the individual staff within an organisation or the organisation as a whole? What if we have different skill levels within the organisation?
The learner levels can apply to both individual staff and the organisation as a whole, depending on the opportunity.
For organisational opportunities, the level generally refers to the organisation’s overall fundraising capability, including its systems, leadership, resourcing, strategy and track record. However, we recognise that different people within an organisation may have different levels of experience around the different practice and skill domains. For example, a development manager may be advanced in some areas, while board members, producers or generalist staff may still be building foundational knowledge of the private investment landscape.
When choosing an opportunity, consider the level that best reflects your organisation’s current fundraising practice and what you are trying to strengthen. Some opportunities are designed to build shared understanding across a team, while others are better suited to staff or leaders with specific fundraising responsibilities.
Are there any costs to participate in any of the programs?
No. Participation in Creative Australia’s Private Investment Capability program is free.
There is no cost to take part in workshops, webinars, peer learning opportunities, advice sessions, resources or matched funding capability development activities. Some programs may require an application, registration or invitation, depending on the opportunity, but there is no participation fee.
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