Whether it’s teaching at Monash University, curating peer networks for senior executives or running a membership program for families exploring how to make their wealth meaningful, Carly Severino’s career has always had learning at its heart.

“I’ve always valued building community by bringing people together, learning from each other and from experts and exploring how to do things better,” Carly says.  

“We need to learn and share, because old solutions aren’t working. When you bring people together and ignite their interests and desire to have impact in different realms of life, it’s really powerful.”

As Director of Community, Carly ensures fundholders enjoy an inspiring and supportive experience at Australian Communities Foundation.

“My role is focused on helping to bring the community together, facilitating quality connections and learning,” she explains.

“Community is ACF’s superpower.”

Carly’s short-term focus is meeting with as many fundholders and clients as possible to learn how the Foundation can best support them through an annual program of activities and events that bring the giving community to life.

“I want all fundholders and clients to feel part of our community,” Carly says.

“I want to help them with their thinking about what good philanthropy looks like, how they might do it better and be clear on their goals and what they want to achieve now and into the future.”

“Our team is growing and so is our ability to build a truly national experience for our giving community.”

Insight and experience

Having completed a Masters of Philanthropy and Social Impact and being immersed in the philanthropic sector for 15 years, Carly’s experience also spans not-for-profits, consulting, higher education and corporates.

She is a Director of Private Wealth Network and ran their Victorian business for seven years, helping families with investment, succession planning and philanthropy before taking up the inaugural Executive Officer role at the Betty Amsden Foundation.

“I really enjoyed my time there,” Carly explains. “It was quite entrepreneurial, with an amazing board, and a strong arts focus, which is a real interest area of mine. I also loved that so much of what we granted to was around learning and professional development for those working in arts NFPs.”

After doing more consulting in the sector, including working on projects with ACF, Carly accepted an invitation to join the team in the newly created role of Director of Community.

“The concept of community was a big drawcard for me,” she says.

“I think that’s at the heart of what I do more than philanthropy per se. I work in philanthropy, but it’s really about community building and connecting people with networks.”

Carly is also experiencing the ACF giving community in a personal capacity, having recently opened a Gumnut Account of her own with the intention of growing it over time to a Named Fund.

“My hope is to engage my three teens in structured giving, so they can come to understand the strength of this kind of philanthropy and of compounding interest!” she says.

“I think that having a fund is such a great focus for our family to talk about our values, how we show up in the world and about managing money.

“I’d also like to use it as a way to begin conversations with my broader family and friends, many of whom are very generous and feel grateful for the opportunities they have had, but don’t see themselves as philanthropists or potential philanthropists.

“A Named Fund is a way to give like a billionaire with the wealth of an everyday Australian. I’m passionate about good philanthropy and how best to use limited funds to have real impact.”

Image: Carly Severino.