Why we started Impact Collective
Marg, Strategy and Advocacy Specialist
I knew from a young age that I wanted to make a difference in the world. I didn’t always know what that would look like. In primary school it was as a first aid volunteer on weekends for St John Ambulance. In high school it was protesting against war. In university I took a keen interest in policy and politics, swept up in Obamamania and later the appointment of Australia’s first female Prime Minister.
I was fortuitously offered an administrative role in a nonprofit while I studied, and that provided my first taste into the world of purpose-led work. My managers had great belief in my ability, supporting me at every turn. Whether it was counselling my next career move or allowing me to take extended leave to study and work abroad; I am grateful to have encountered a series of strong women who saw something in me long before I ever saw it in myself.
When I made the jump from environmental advocacy to gambling reform in 2019, I’d found my place in the world. I loved the startup energy of a small, nimble organisation, always willing to try something new. Guided by the values of centring lived experience, its proximity to people allowed me to draw a direct line between my work and the lives of those impacted.
When I moved to another organisation, this time in the global health space, I started to notice a trend of common challenges organisations of a similar size faced. I spoke to colleagues and their experiences were the same. An endless ‘to-do’ list and very little time for deep thinking or meaningful evaluation. While our work was undoubtedly impactful, we lamented how much greater impact we could have if only we had time or headspace to engage in this critical thinking.
We started Impact Collective in response to these challenges; to be the support we needed to turbocharge our impact. The people who understood our context, shared our values and were equally committed to investing in our capacity to create a better world. We believe we can fundamentally change the way small purpose-led organisations do business by providing the structures and capability to think clearer, work smarter and collaborate better. And we’re passionate about this because we believe it’s the most effective way that we too can make a positive impact in the world.
Cara, Communications and Fundraising Specialist
Smug greenie. Bleeding heart femmo, pinko, latte-sipping, inner city leftie. Over-privileged hippie tree-changer. These are all charges you could (and maybe should) level at me. And they have made me feel embarrassed and foolish over the years. But they also make me proud. Because I think these slurs speak to a lifetime of being uncomfortable with the status quo, of thinking things through, and considering all sides and fighting for what’s fairest and for hanging onto hope that the world can be more just for everyone and everything.
For me, in this time of relentless doom, that sliver of hope means getting up in the morning is still something to look forward to.
I used to be a little bit ashamed of my earnestness, and my career made up of working for do-gooder NFPs in the social services, the arts, conservation and humanitarian sectors. But these civil society organisations are the pulsing engine room that helps make the world a better place, and if I can lend them my words and my voice, then I can feel that I too am doing my bit.
The problem is that so many of these smaller organisations are struggling. They run on passion and zeal, but not on money, or time, or clear, logical thinking. And that means they aren’t kicking the goals that they should be. They aren’t making the change they want to see. It means the bad guys are winning more than they should.
I’ve bellyached with Marg about inefficent, incompetent, inept NFPs more times than I can count. It’s so frustrating and so galling to see precious money and time going down the drain when the world’s burning and the places trying to put out the fire are hamstrung by common (but easily solved) problems.
That’s where we want to come in, and where we think we can make a big difference. Impact Collective is working to change the ways for-purpose organisations think and act, so that they can get the runs on the board and create the more equitable, just and hopeful world that we all deserve.
