Community Investment Funds
Building the infrastructure for local investment, ownership and impact.
What it is and why it matters
What it is
This program is building the infrastructure needed for communities to participate in and shape investment — creating locally governed fund structures that enable communities to pool capital and invest in what matters locally and generate a financial return.
It is also creating clearer pathways for investors — including government, super funds and impact investors — to participate in place-based investment that delivers both financial and community outcomes.
Why it matters
Communities often lack the structures and pathways to access and influence capital, while investors and government are seeking more effective ways to support place-based outcomes.
This program connects these needs by developing practical, scalable models that enable community participation, align capital with local priorities, and support long-term impact.
What’s involved
This stage builds on prior work. The need and opportunity have already been identified, and initial models and design concepts have been explored with communities, partners and investors.
This next stage will:
advance the design of locally governed funds and a shared national network
work through ownership, governance, legal and financial requirements
test the model with communities, investors and enabling organisations
build readiness for implementation
We are now inviting communities, investors and enabling organisations to participate in this program. See below for more information.
Opportunities to participate for community, investors and government
Communities and Places
We are inviting communities, places and local organisations to participate in this program.
This is an opportunity to:
learn about community-led investment
explore what could work in your place
contribute to shaping a national model grounded in real community contexts
connect with others working on similar challenges
build readiness to move towards implementation
For more information and to express your interest.
Investors
We are inviting aligned investors to participate in shaping this work.
This program provides an opportunity to:
contribute to the design of practical, investable community investment structures
explore how capital can support locally governed investment
test models across different contexts and places
help build pathways for scalable, place-based and community investment
This is a chance to engage early in the development of a new investment architecture that connects financial returns with long-term community outcomes.
Government
We are inviting government partners to participate in shaping this work.
This program provides an opportunity to:
contribute to the design of practical, place-based investment approaches
explore how policy, funding and investment can better support locally-led development
test enabling models across different communities and contexts
strengthen pathways for community participation, resilience and long-term economic wellbeing
help shape scalable approaches that improve the impact and effectiveness of public investment
This is an opportunity to engage early in the development of new approaches that connect policy, investment and community outcomes in more coordinated, locally responsive and sustainable ways.
Enabling Organisations
We are inviting enabling organisations to be part of this work. This includes organisations working across:
legal and regulatory frameworks
finance and investment structuring
governance and institutional design
philanthropy and impact
policy, research and systems change
Your role is critical in helping to:
address structural barriers
shape viable models and pathways
support communities to move towards implementation
contribute to shared infrastructure and support systems
For more information and to register your interest contact us.
Program Announcement
