Our Impact

Year after year, Kilfinan delivers critical support to social purpose leaders so that they can be at their best.

When social purpose leaders thrive, their organisations and communities thrive, too

donated mentor hours in FY23
0
in free services contributed in FY23
$ 0
in free services contributed over 9 years​
$ 0

Through my Kilfinan mentor, I was able to take a step back and develop our organisation’s capability and capacity.

By the end of my first year with Kilfinan, I was able to double the funding and number of staff of the organisation, which of course meant we were able to support double the amount of people who reached out to our service. This would not have been possible without the help and support of my mentor and the outstanding Kilfinan team.

Elisa Buggy
CEO, WestCASA

long-term mentorships created over 9 years
0
charities supported across Australia
0
new leaders supported in FY23
0
trusted volunteer mentors in FY23
0
mentorships supported in FY23
0

Our Impact

Year after year, Kilfinan delivers critical support to social purpose leaders so that they can be at their best.

When social purpose leaders thrive, their organisations and communities thrive, too

donated mentor hours in FY23
0
in free services contributed in FY23
$ 0
in free services contributed over 9 years​
$ 0

Through my Kilfinan mentor, I was able to take a step back and develop our organisation’s capability and capacity.

By the end of my first year with Kilfinan, I was able to double the funding and number of staff of the organisation, which of course meant we were able to support double the amount of people who reached out to our service. This would not have been possible without the help and support of my mentor and the outstanding Kilfinan team.

Elisa Buggy
CEO, WestCASA

long-term mentorships created over 9 years
0
charities supported across Australia
0
new leaders supported in FY23
0
trusted volunteer mentors in FY23
0
mentorships supported in FY23
0

The Ripple Effect

Our annual evaluation demonstrates how the benefits of mentoring ripples out to charities and communities. Read more to see how it works.

1. The Ripple Begins:

The connection

Transforming a ripple into a swell begins with the right connection.
2. Gaining Momentum:

Accelerated learning and increased proficiency

With the help of a trusted advisor, leaders are shaping their future by focusing on what matters most.
3. Furthering Success:
Enhanced leadership capacity and confidence
With their mentor’s encouragement, mentees’ belief in themselves is changing.
4. Sustained Energy:
Improved productivity and outcomes
Building leaders’ capacity and capability through mentoring improves productivity and outcomes.
5. The Swell
Benefits to organisations and communities
The ripple effect of each mentorship works as one to create a swell.

The Ripple Effect

Our annual evaluation demonstrates how the benefits of mentoring ripples out to charities and communities. Read more to see how it works.

1. The Ripple Begins:

The connection

Transforming a ripple into a swell begins with the right connection.
2. Gaining Momentum:

Accelerated learning and increased proficiency

With the help of a trusted advisor, leaders are shaping their future by focusing on what matters most.
3. Furthering Success:
Enhanced leadership capacity and confidence
With their mentor’s encouragement, mentees’ belief in themselves is changing.
4. Sustained Energy:
Improved productivity and outcomes
Building leaders’ capacity and capability through mentoring improves productivity and outcomes.
5. The Swell
Benefits to organisations and communities
The ripple effect of each mentorship works as one to create a swell.

1. The Ripple Begins

Transforming a ripple into a swell begins with the right connection.

My mentor is clear and kind. She doesn’t shy away from giving feedback in an honest but respectful way. She challenged me to be uncomfortable and step into challenge. She helped me become a more structured leader, navigate a lot of very tricky situations, become more assertive, and have better boundaries than I did in the past. She helped me find my voice and believe in myself and my intuition.

It’s an amazing program and I am so privileged to have been a part of it. My mentor was an excellent and considered match for me. She went over and above to make herself available and I learnt so much from her experience and expertise.

Annabelle Chauncy
CEO, School for Life Foundation

Insight:

Great matches matter

Central to a great connection is trust. Mentees overwhelmingly report that their mentors are available, trusted, understanding, insightful, and challenge them.

Building on trust is expertise. Nearly all mentees state that their mentor not only understands their issues and goals but critically engages with them.

0%

94% of mentees tell us their mentor prioritises their mentorship.

0%

100% of mentees report having developed rapport and trust with their mentor.

0%

99% of mentees and mentors communicate with each other well.

0%

97% of mentees say their mentor understands and critically engages with their issues, challenges and goals..

1. The Ripple Begins

Transforming a ripple into a swell begins with the right connection.

My mentor is clear and kind. She doesn’t shy away from giving feedback in an honest but respectful way. She challenged me to be uncomfortable and step into challenge. She helped me become a more structured leader, navigate a lot of very tricky situations, become more assertive, and have better boundaries than I did in the past. She helped me find my voice and believe in myself and my intuition.

It’s an amazing program and I am so privileged to have been a part of it. My mentor was an excellent and considered match for me. She went over and above to make herself available and I learnt so much from her experience and expertise.

Annabelle Chauncy
CEO, School for Life Foundation

Insight:

Great matches matter

Central to a great connection is trust. Mentees overwhelmingly report that their mentors are available, trusted, understanding, insightful, and challenge them.

Building on trust is expertise. Nearly all mentees state that their mentor not only understands their issues and goals but critically engages with them.

0%

94% of mentees tell us their mentor prioritises their mentorship.

0%

100% of mentees report having developed rapport and trust with their mentor.

0%

99% of mentees and mentors communicate with each other well.

0%

97% of mentees say their mentor understands and critically engages with their issues, challenges and goals..

2. Gaining Momentum

With the help of a trusted advisor, leaders are shaping their future by focusing on what matters most.

My mentor didn’t come from my world. He had completely fresh eyes and ears to what I was thinking and saying, and he was invested in my success. It gave me a whole other lens I could put across my thinking and challenge a whole range of assumptions that I held. This ultimately gave me more confidence that I had actually interrogated my way of thinking. 

It’s a huge privilege having somebody outside your world who is interested in helping you. You always need to learn. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, you always need someone who can bring a  sharpness and freshness to your thinking

Sarah Davies
CEO, Alannah and Madeline Foundation

Insight:

Each leader is unique and working on what matters

Prior to commencing their mentorship, mentees rate their proficiency across nominated focus areas as a baseline for development. Without exception, mentees improve across all focus areas after only one year of mentoring.

Proficiency levels across nominated focus areas prior to commencing mentoring.

No Data Found

Proficiency levels across nominated focus areas after at least one year of mentoring.

No Data Found

2. Gaining Momentum

With the help of a trusted advisor, leaders are shaping their future by focusing on what matters most.

Insight:

Each leader is unique and working on what matters

Prior to commencing their mentorship, mentees rate their proficiency across nominated focus areas as a baseline for development. Without exception, mentees improve across all focus areas after only one year of mentoring.

My mentor didn’t come from my world. He had completely fresh eyes and ears to what I was thinking and saying, and he was invested in my success. It gave me a whole other lens I could put across my thinking and challenge a whole range of assumptions that I held. This ultimately gave me more confidence that I had actually interrogated my way of thinking. 

It’s a huge privilege having somebody outside your world who is interested in helping you. You always need to learn. It doesn’t matter how experienced you are, you always need someone who can bring a  sharpness and freshness to your thinking

Sarah Davies
CEO, Alannah and Madeline Foundation

Proficiency levels across nominated focus areas prior to commencing mentoring.

No Data Found

Proficiency levels across nominated focus areas after at least one year of mentoring.

No Data Found

3. Furthering Success

With their mentor’s encouragement, mentees’ belief in themselves is changing. They are confident, displaying the openness, humility, and capability to guide their organisations through waves of change.

I worked closely with my mentor to unpack leadership challenges that I was facing as our organisation went through a very fast growth period. The opportunity to turn to my mentor with complex problems was essential to getting through that period.

I have worked more recently with my mentor on establishing a Board of directors that has greatly strengthened the governance structure of our organisation. This has led me being able to get the most out of the skills and experience of our Board members, and ensure that we are all guiding For Change Co to being its most effective in addressing our mission.

Tenille Gilbert
CEO, For Change Co

Insight:

Each leader is growing

The outcomes were undeniable when mentees were asked to rate their leadership capacity across our unique indicators. Accelerated learning and skill development ripple out to enhance capacity and confidence.

0%

97% of mentees feel more confident making decisions, trusting their intuition, and backing themselves.

0%

90% of mentees report having increased capacity for strategic thinking and vision.

0%

91% of mentees are more capable of managing stakeholder and Board relationships.

0%

83% of mentees feel more confident and capable leading their team and influencing culture.

0%

93% of mentees have increased knowledge of their direction and values as a leader.

Role confidence

Prior to commencing their mentorship, only three out of ten mentees rate their role confidence as “considerable” or higher. After at least one year of mentoring, that number grows to eight out of ten.

No Data Found

* values displayed as percentages

3. Furthering Success

With their mentor’s encouragement, mentees’ belief in themselves is changing. They are confident, displaying the openness, humility, and capability to guide their organisations through waves of change.

I worked closely with my mentor to unpack leadership challenges that I was facing as our organisation went through a very fast growth period. The opportunity to turn to my mentor with complex problems was essential to getting through that period.

I have worked more recently with my mentor on establishing a Board of directors that has greatly strengthened the governance structure of our organisation. This has led me being able to get the most out of the skills and experience of our Board members, and ensure that we are all guiding For Change Co to being its most effective in addressing our mission.

Tenille Gilbert
CEO, For Change Co

Insight:

Each leader is growing

The outcomes were undeniable when mentees were asked to rate their leadership capacity across our unique indicators. Accelerated learning and skill development ripple out to enhance capacity and confidence.

0%

97% of mentees feel more confident making decisions, trusting their intuition, and backing themselves.

0%

90% of mentees report having increased capacity for strategic thinking and vision.

0%

91% of mentees are more capable of managing stakeholder and Board relationships.

0%

83% of mentees feel more confident and capable leading their team and influencing culture.

0%

93% of mentees have increased knowledge of their direction and values as a leader.

Role confidence

Prior to commencing their mentorship, only three out of ten mentees rate their role confidence as “considerable” or higher. After at least one year of mentoring, that number grows to eight out of ten.

No Data Found

* values displayed as percentages

4. Sustained Energy

Building leaders’ capacity and capability through mentoring improves productivity and outcomes. Their organisations better navigate risk, are more financially sustainable, and operate to a higher standard.

My mentor is providing me with knowledge and coaching in an area I know little about – Australian politics. His advice has been instrumental in aiding me to lead twenty charities to advocate and lobby the NSW government to extend state care from 18 years old to 21 years for youth in foster and residential care. When we secure this reform, it will have a profound impact with 300 fewer youth becoming homeless each year in NSW and a further 300 avoiding teenage pregnancies, unemployment and incarcerations.

Jason Juretic
CEO, Stepping Stone House

Insight:

Mentoring works

As the head of their organisations, leaders are learning quickly, growing their capacity, and deepening their confidence. 

By engaging with trusted advisors, they tap into seasoned counsel and have their thinking usefully challenged for the good of their organisations.

Their collective efforts amplify and ripple outward.

0%

97% of mentees are more proficient in leading their organisation.

0%

97% of mentees have a deepened confidence in their abilities and skills.

0%

93% of mentees believe they are better positioned to achieve their professional goals.

0%

100% of mentees report that their organisation has benefited as a result of their mentorship.

0%

93% of mentees report that their organisation's community has benefited as a result of their mentorship.

She’s worked on the things that matter, that make her successful. She has created change in the organisation without creating disruption, and her strategic thinking is coming to the fore now. I think the organisation has changed and is in a better place because she’s in a better place and she’s the leader.

Watching people do fabulous things and knowing you were some small part of it. This is all why I’m doing this. It’s been incredibly rewarding for me – far more than I anticipated.

Dr. Vanessa Guthrie AO
Kilfinan Mentor

Insight:

Mentors are judicious and inquiring advisors

Mentors delve deep, understand the interplay of challenges, and become a sounding board that gives perspective.

Tapping into years of experience, the issues discussed in mentorships are substantive. Mentors add unique value to the thinking and practice of their mentees while appreciating their talent, skill, and resourcefulness.

What's more, almost all mentors grow and learn from mentoring. And, they tell us that they genuinely enjoy it. Perhaps it is for these reasons that 91% of mentors continue to volunteer with Kilfinan, year after year.

0%

97% of mentors have supported their mentee to solve problems and address challenges.

0%

94% of mentors tell us they enjoy mentoring and a further 78% say it improves their quality of life.

0%

94% of mentors report having grown and learned from the experience of mentoring.

0%

84% of mentors have increased their knowledge and appreciation of not-for-profit strengths and challenges.

0%

98% of mentors believe they are adding value to their mentee’s thinking and practice.

4. Sustained Energy

Building leaders’ capacity and capability through mentoring improves productivity and outcomes. Their organisations better navigate risk, are more financially sustainable, and operate to a higher standard.

Insight:

Mentoring works

As the head of their organisations, leaders are learning quickly, growing their capacity, and deepening their confidence. 

By engaging with trusted advisors, they tap into seasoned counsel and have their thinking usefully challenged for the good of their organisations.

Their collective efforts amplify and ripple outward.

My mentor is providing me with knowledge and coaching in an area I know little about – Australian politics. His advice has been instrumental in aiding me to lead twenty charities to advocate and lobby the NSW government to extend state care from 18 years old to 21 years for youth in foster and residential care. When we secure this reform, it will have a profound impact with 300 fewer youth becoming homeless each year in NSW and a further 300 avoiding teenage pregnancies, unemployment and incarcerations.

Jason Juretic
CEO, Stepping Stone House

0%

97% of mentees are more proficient in leading their organisation.

0%

97% of mentees have a deepened confidence in their abilities and skills.

0%

93% of mentees believe they are better positioned to achieve their professional goals.

0%

100% of mentees report that their organisation has benefited as a result of their mentorship.

0%

93% of mentees report that their organisation's community has benefited as a result of their mentorship.

Insight:

Mentors are judicious and inquiring advisors

Mentors delve deep, understand the interplay of challenges, and become a sounding board that gives perspective.

Tapping into years of experience, the issues discussed in mentorships are substantive. Mentors add unique value to the thinking and practice of their mentees while appreciating their talent, skill, and resourcefulness.

What's more, almost all mentors grow and learn from mentoring. And, they tell us that they genuinely enjoy it. Perhaps it is for these reasons that 91% of mentors continue to volunteer with Kilfinan, year after year.

She’s worked on the things that matter, that make her successful. She has created change in the organisation without creating disruption, and her strategic thinking is coming to the fore now. I think the organisation has changed and is in a better place because she’s in a better place and she’s the leader.

Watching people do fabulous things and knowing you were some small part of it. This is all why I’m doing this. It’s been incredibly rewarding for me – far more than I anticipated.

Dr. Vanessa Guthrie AO
Kilfinan Mentor

0%

97% of mentors have supported their mentee to solve problems and address challenges.

0%

94% of mentors tell us they enjoy mentoring and a further 78% say it improves their quality of life.

0%

94% of mentors report having grown and learned from the experience of mentoring.

0%

84% of mentors have increased their knowledge and appreciation of not-for-profit strengths and challenges.

0%

98% of mentors believe they are adding value to their mentee’s thinking and practice.

5. The Swell

The ripple effect of each mentorship works as one to create a swell.

My mentorship helped me to enhance my skills in Board engagement, governance, leadership, and change management during a time of monumental change and existential risk for our organisation.

Through support from my mentor, my team and I were able to develop a strategic plan that doubled the size and income of our organisation to help more than 450 people with disability live their good life.

Justin O’Meara Smith
CEO, Interchange WA

Insight:

As leaders grow, so do their organisations

Each mentorship is unique and valuable. Mentees and mentors create their own energy, and the ripple effect of each connection works as one to create a swell. Swells are often slower to develop, but they have the energy to travel vast distances when they do.

The collective, self-sustaining energy of this force creates positive change for the sector. We are proud to play a role in driving this change.

Effective teams

95% of mentees were able to positively influence their team and work culture.​

More services

Two-thirds have increased their service delivery capacity or introduced new services.​

Improved governance

Three-quarters of mentees report that their Board has increased engagement and/or investment.​

Long-term viability

Three-quarters of mentees report that their Board has increased engagement and/or investment.​

Efficient execution

Over half have been able to streamline their systems and processes, increasing efficiency.​

Enhanced outcomes

70% of mentees report improved outcomes from their organisation’s programs/services.​

Reduced risk

Two-thirds of mentees report avoiding costly mistakes.​

Better together

60% of organisations have established new strategic partnerships or collaborations.​

5. The Swell

The ripple effect of each mentorship works as one to create a swell.

My mentorship helped me to enhance my skills in Board engagement, governance, leadership, and change management during a time of monumental change and existential risk for our organisation.

Through support from my mentor, my team and I were able to develop a strategic plan that doubled the size and income of our organisation to help more than 450 people with disability live their good life.

Justin O’Meara Smith
CEO, Interchange WA

Insight:

As leaders grow, so do their organisations

Each mentorship is unique and valuable. Mentees and mentors create their own energy, and the ripple effect of each connection works as one to create a swell. Swells are often slower to develop, but they have the energy to travel vast distances when they do.

The collective, self-sustaining energy of this force creates positive change for the sector. We are proud to play a role in driving this change.

Effective teams

95% of mentees were able to positively influence their team and work culture.​

More services

Two-thirds have increased their service delivery capacity or introduced new services.​

Improved governance

Three-quarters of mentees report that their Board has increased engagement and/or investment.​

Long-term viability

Three-quarters of mentees report that their Board has increased engagement and/or investment.​

Efficient execution

Over half have been able to streamline their systems and processes, increasing efficiency.​

Enhanced outcomes

70% of mentees report improved outcomes from their organisation’s programs/services.​

Reduced risk

Two-thirds of mentees report avoiding costly mistakes.​

Better together

60% of organisations have established new strategic partnerships or collaborations.​

Reports

All of our annual reports are available for download below.

Reports

All of our annual reports are available for download below.

Learn more about us.