Helping build more compassionate, creative and clever communities
Pinnacle is passionate about enabling better lives through investment excellence. This belief is reflected through Pinnacle’s strong commitment – together with affiliated fund managers – towards partnering with the PNI Foundation to drive positive, long-term social change.
Current Partnerships
Multiple partnerships with 18 NFPs are driving long term sustainable impact across five core focus areas:
MENTAL
WELLBEING
SEXUAL,
DOMESTIC AND
FAMILY VIOLENCE
DISADVANTAGED
CHILDREN AND
YOUNG PEOPLE
SPECIALISED
MEDICAL
RESEARCH
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY
Funding Approach
PARTNERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
In every partnership the Foundation’s aim is to facilitate the delivery of solutions which can be analysed and assessed, strengthened and scaled.
As an early-stage backer which frequently offers seed funding to encourage trials and incubate new projects, the Foundation has often been able to invest in the future of young, passionate not-for-profit (NFP) entities as they seek to have a growing impact within their communities. Many partners have leveraged this initial support, securing further funding from private and public donors to successfully build their long-term capacity to drive change.
Aiming to grow the reach and impact of creative and clever organisations, five core focus areas are currently supported.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Offering support through community connection, together with mental illness prevention and early intervention strategies
SEXUAL, DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE
Facilitating legislative reform and legal support, together with advocacy for the power of lived experience, for abuse sufferers and survivors
DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
Providing face to face and online education, individual and group-based support, and pathways to empowerment for young people
SPECIALISED MEDICAL RESEARCH
Seeking early diagnosis, new trials and treatments, and ultimately cures for children’s genetic diseases and for dementia sufferers
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Focussing on water resource management and regulatory frameworks, disaster recovery and drought mitigation
Partner Support and Selection
The Foundation provides annual funding of between A$20,000 and A$100,000 for specific projects and programs, which are approved via a formal application process. Partnerships are by invitation only, with no open grant rounds or public submissions.
The goal is to build multi-year engagements which foster strong and close relationships, and support the ability of selected NFP partners to address often complex social issues. These reflect UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) identified and adopted as priorities by the Foundation.
PNI Group FY25 Aggregate Charitable Giving
In FY25, the Foundation made donations of $725,000 to its 17 long-term NFP partners, plus just over $40,000 to other NFPs aligned with the Foundation’s six dedicated focus areas.
- Affiliates donated a further $386,000 to jointly support 12 of these 17 core partnerships.
- A further $100,000 was gifted across the NFP sector by PNI, Affiliates and valued supporters.
- Matched workplace giving programs across the Group contributed a further $70,000 to 70 Australian NFPs in total.
These combined financial donations were in excess of $1.3 million.
Together with $47,000 contributed towards purchasing tickets and tables to support NFP flagship events and those championed by the financial services industry, this aggregate support has been incredibly important in making a tangible difference in communities right across Australia.
We’ve helped our partners drive impactful change through workshops, forums, online advice, counselling, education, leadership training, medical treatments, reading books, legal advocacy, safe housing and technology support, plus undertake new research, pilot projects and bring a sense of purpose and positivity to their operations.
Wider NFP Sector Support
In order to further support the NFP Sector and spread impact to more grassroots NFPs, the Foundation formed a partnership with The Funding Network (TFN). The partnership will allow TFN to build the capacity of their current offering to their alumni organisations, including ongoing connection and professional development support. In addition, Foundation funding will potentially allow TFN the opportunity to work with the “runners up” their events; those unable to be selected for profiling but still deemed exceptionally high quality by the assessment panel.
One-off major donation
In recognition of the challenges facing women seeking emergency accommodation, a one-off donation of A$30,000 was made in FY24 to the Sydney-based Women’s Community Shelters (WCS). WCS collaborates with local communities to establish new safe crisis accommodation options for women and children. At a time of reduced government spending, WCS is offering a new and ground-breaking ‘tri-partite’ funding model in which government, philanthropy/business and community all work to provide funding to establish and operate shelters.
History and Vision
Tracing its history back to Pingroup Investment Management’s antecedent companies in 1987 – including Wilson HTM, Wilson & Co and the Wilson family – today’s PNI Foundation is closely aligned with the strategic business objectives of the Pingroup Investment Management Group (ASX: PNI).
Rebranded at the start of 2024 from Pingroup Investment Management Charitable Foundation, and now reflecting Pingroup Investment Management’s ASX ticker, the PNI Foundation is supported by the Group to achieve its vision of “helping to build a more compassionate, creative and clever Australia.”
The PNI Foundation operates as an independent public ancillary fund (PuAF), registered with the ACNC (Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission) with DGR Type 2 status.
Board of Directors
The management and control of the business and affairs of the Company and Foundation are vested in the Board of honorary Directors. The Board provides direction, control and accountability for overall governance, strategy and performance. The Directors delegate day to day duties and responsibilities to the executive team, to enable efficient and effective operation.
Jonathan Trollip - Chair
Lorraine Berends AM - Director
Mark Connors - Director
Andrea Heffernan - Director
Alex Ihlenfeldt - Director
Jayne Shaw - Director
Gerald Willeston - Director
Executive Team
The executive team manages the Foundation’s daily operations and long-term priorities, ensuring effective and efficient delivery. Working closely across multiple departments within Pinnacle and Affiliates, the team is supporting NFP charity partners, strengthening relationships and helping to create lasting impact across communities.
Resources
Donate
Anyone wishing to support the PNI Foundation as it continues to facilitate the ongoing commitment of these inspiring organisations, is invited to make a tax-deductible donation.
Pingroup Investment Management and Affiliate stakeholders are also invited to contribute directly to the Foundation, with 100% of all public donations directed to charity partners. As the Foundation is endorsed by the ATO as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) covered by Item 2 of the table in section 30-15 of the Income tax Assessment Act 1997, eligible donations made to the Foundation over $2.00 are tax deductible.
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