New hub for grantmakers goes live

Name: SmartyGrants
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Posted on 02 Sep 2025

By Matthew Schulz, journalist, SmartyGrants

The refreshed Institute of Grants Management (IGM) branding. Learn more

The Institute of Grants Management (IGM), SmartyGrants’ thought leadership and education arm, has unveiled a refreshed identity and presence as it expands its mission to lift grantmaking standards across government, philanthropy and the community sector.

Part of the Our Community group, the Institute of Grants Management (previously the Australian Institute of Grants Management) has been an advocate for better grantmaking for two decades.

The IGM has established a new online hub and global branding to reflect Our Community’s growing efforts to support the grantmaking profession in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and other parts of the globe.

Supported by SmartyGrants, the IGM:

hosts best-practice grantmaking resources based on a nine-stage grantmaking process
generates research and insights– including white papers – on issues such as outcomes, social impact measurement, grants governance, grantmaking strategy, grantmaking trends and data science
publishes the grantmaker-focused newsletter Grants Management Intelligence
hosts grantmaker events, including “musters” and roundtables
helps emerging and experienced grantmakers with professional development.

"The IGM is where the thinking happens, and that focus will help us build on what we know works."

Kathy Richardson

“For more than two decades, we’ve worked alongside funders and grantees, building practical frameworks and embedding best practice into both our technology and our training,” Our Community’s executive director and resident “grant nerd”, Kathy Richardson, said.

“The IGM pools that knowledge in the one place to guide the future of grantmaking.”

Richardson said the IGM would drive the development of evidence-based frameworks, tools, events and education to help funders go beyond distributing money to making an impact.

“Grantmaking isn’t just a technical process, it’s a lever for social change,” she said.

“By reinforcing the IGM as a separate entity, we’re making it clear that while SmartyGrants provides the software, our DNA is in grants strategy, policy and practice.”

Outcomes white paper — Tap to read in full

“The IGM is where the thinking happens, and that focus will help us build on what we know works, interrogate what good grantmaking looks like, and push the sector further toward outcomes, integrity and learning.”

The IGM’s most recent publication, Shifting to Outcomes-Orientated Grantmaking, was launched in mid-2025 by the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, Dr Andrew Leigh, at the national Grant Impact Forum.

The white paper outlines practical steps for embedding impact into each stage of the grant lifecycle and represents a cornerstone of the IGM’s renewed agenda.