Pro Bono Australia: a two decade legacy of impact, innovation and community building
(2000 - now)
For over 25 years, Pro Bono Australia has stood as a trusted, independent voice and hub for Australia’s not-for-profit and for-purpose sectors. Established in 2000 the organisation helped shape the landscape of Australia's social economy—connecting changemakers, informing leaders, and amplifying the voices that often go unheard.
What began with the Guide to Giving in 1990—a pioneering printed directory of charitable organisations—evolved into a purpose-driven online media and services platform that would go on to reach close to two million people annually. Built on early internet technologies, Pro Bono Australia was ahead of its time: a rare example of a social enterprise before the term had even entered mainstream dialogue.
Generations of people wanting to “do good” by working in cause related sectors were informed, educated and resourced by Pro Bono Australia.
In fact, that was Pro Bono Australia's tag line for many years “ Media, Jobs and Resources for the Common Good”
A Catalyst for Connection, Change and Sector Growth
Through a unique business model supported by Karen’s commercial venture, the Mahlab Group, Pro Bono Australia grew into the country’s preeminent source of news, jobs, resources, events, and sector insights for the not-for-profit, for- purpose and community sector.
Over two decades, it served as a trusted platform for executives, board members, volunteers, funders, and those simply wanting to make a difference.
It shaped and introduced national conversations on social change, and social change movements: impact investing, social enterprise, philanthropy, volunteering, collective impact, and more.
From 2001 to 2023, Pro Bono News became Australia’s leading media service dedicated to the social economy. Publishing over 18,000 articles, engaging 66,000 subscribers, and reaching close to 2 million users annually,
Its media approach was distinctive—constructive, solutions-based journalism, designed to inform decision-making and drive improved social outcomes.
Measurable Impact, Recognised Value
In 2016, EY conducted an Impact Evaluation of Pro Bono Australia. The findings were clear:
$6.5 million in social value was generated annually across just four core services.
The social return on investment (SROI) was estimated at 11:1—meaning every $1 invested returned $11 in social impact; an extraordinary result.
News and Sector Surveys were the highest value creators—demonstrating the enduring power of reliable information and sector-wide insight.
This independent validation affirmed what many in the sector already knew: Pro Bono Australia was a key platform for the development, knowledge base and emergence of Australia's social sector.
Audience Engagement and Industry Influence
Pro Bono Australia's primary audience consists of highly engaged senior professionals in the social economy, with 70% working for not-for-profit organisations, and the majority of the remaining audience in government roles or social enterprises. These individuals were typically very active in their communities and highly invested in the sector.
Key statistics:
A third of the audience are CEOs, and 45% are senior managers (e.g., Program Managers, Operations Managers, Marketing Managers, etc.).
82% of the audience were likely to recommend Pro Bono Australia News, with 81% not using any competing news sources.
More than 45% of the audience had been reading Pro Bono News for over five years, demonstrating the platform’s long-standing relevance and trustworthiness.
A Media Voice for Australia’s Social Sector
From 2001 to 2023, Pro Bono News became the preeminent independent media voice for the for-purpose sector in Australia. With 18,000+ articles, 66,000 subscribers, and a yearly audience of close to 2 million users, Pro Bono News connected and informed a generation of changemakers.
Its journalism was constructive and solutions-focused, helping readers navigate policy shifts, funding changes, regulatory reforms, and broader social trends. It was trusted by senior executives, board members, sector leaders, and grassroots organisers alike.
This credibility gave Pro Bono Australia a rare ability to survey the sector at scale—and its Sector Surveys became influential. So influential, in fact, that results were quoted in Federal Parliament and helped catalyse the creation of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). In one landmark survey, 82% of respondents supported the idea of a dedicated regulator to improve trust and transparency in the sector.This evidence base added to the strong voices which led to the ACNCs establishment in 2012.
Other standout media initiatives included:
Briefings with the Editor: curated sector commentary and high-level trend analysis.
The “Not for Podcast” series: 28 episodes exploring issues like homelessness, NDIS, gambling, and community power.
“How Can I Help?” and “Leading Generous Teams”: spotlighting leadership, generosity, and social resilience.
In 2013, we launched Good Business, a platform to celebrate social enterprise, corporate social responsibility, and businesses driving social change—not just profit. Our Good Business News Edition ceased publication in 2020
Collaboration and Partnerships were at the core of Pro Bono Australia's success.
Pro Bono Australia was and is known for being a generous and open collaborator believing strong collaborations lie at the success of every venture.
Over the decades there have been hundreds of mission aligned organisations who continuously built a “tribe” around Pro Bono Australia. This was most evident in 2023 when Pro Bono Australia downsized. (See the testimonial videos below)
Pro Bono Australia and Good Pitch 2014 - 2016 - As Community Partners for Good Pitch Pro Bono Australia was instrumental in publicising the documentaries and giving the issues they explored a broad audience. 3 years, 19 documentaries, 300+ coalitions, priceless pro bono support and $14m raised.
Good Pitch 2016 “A record $6.6 million in philanthropic funds were committed to six Australian documentary films and their social impact campaigns at the third and final Good Pitch Australia event in Sydney.”
Pro Bono India – Samarthan (2017–2018): Laying the Groundwork for Cross-Border Collaboration
In 2017, Pro Bono Australia was approached by a group of Indian partners with a shared vision: to bring a version of the Pro Bono model to India. In response, Samarthan was established as a pilot initiative, co-founded by Karen Mahlab AM and Indian collaborators, to explore the viability of a locally-adapted platform supporting India’s growing social economy.
Samarthan—meaning support in Hindi—was conceived as a digital hub for India’s civil society, connecting NGOs, social enterprises, civic organisations, and socially responsible businesses. It aimed to replicate the success of Pro Bono Australia by offering sector-specific tools such as curated news, a jobs board, organisational directories, and opportunities for professional connection and growth.
Over its two-year life span (2017–2018), Samarthan focused on:
Building relationships with key players in India’s social impact ecosystem
Understanding the technological and operational needs of civil society organisations
Testing appetite for Pro Bono-style services and platforms in a vastly different cultural and regulatory landscape
Exploring co-created models for capacity building and community engagement
While the platform became inactive after 2018, its impact endured. Samarthan offered essential insights that helped shape future thinking around Pro Bono Australia's international expansion. It underscored the importance of local leadership, contextual adaptation, and partnership-based development.
Though no longer active, Karen Mahlab remains in contact with her Samarthan co-founders, and the initiative is recognised as an important chapter in Pro Bono Australia’s evolution—a thoughtful experiment in translating successful models across borders, rooted in mutual respect, local knowledge, and a commitment to the social good.
Australia's Top 50 Philanthropic Gifts (Published 2013)
Representatives of the Myer Family Company, The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund, Pro Bono Australia, Swinburne University and Philanthropy Australia joined together to showcase Australia’s top philanthropic gifts following an exhaustive public nomination process. See Pro Bono News article Article.
The Australia’s Top 50 Philanthropic Gifts project was established to increase the awareness of Australia’s philanthropic achievements and to capture and promote Australia’s best philanthropic success stories.
The aims included:
Demonstrate the difference philanthropy can and has made in the Australian landscape;
Create a repository of the most influential grants in Australian history across all sectors;
Provide an opportunity for the philanthropic sector to reflect on the generosity of past and present organisations and individuals;
Inform others of impressive historical acts of philanthropy they may not be aware of;
Inspire potential donors to take action;
Show that giving is accessible to all;
Inspire existing donors to do more; and most importantly
Generate discussion about philanthropy.
The public could view the full list of the Top 50 and vote for their favourite gift at https://probonoaustralia.com.au/top50
More Than Media: A Full-Service Hub for the Social Economy
Beyond journalism, Pro Bono Australia became a go-to destination for tools, resources, and services that built capacity across the sector:
Job and Volunteer Matching
Our Jobs Board became the largest of its kind in Australia for purpose-driven careers.
The Volunteer Matching platform supported thousands of organisations—1,467 listings in 2016 alone—helping recruit skilled volunteers and board members at no cost.
Mentor the Treasurer (2015–2022)
In partnership with CPA Australia, this unique initiative matched small not-for-profits with experienced financial professionals to build financial literacy and confidence across the sector.
Webinars and Learning
From 2013 to 2025, we hosted hundreds of webinars, attracting thousands of attendees annually. In 2022 alone, 2,877 professionals joined our online learning sessions.
Salary Survey
Our annual Pro Bono Salary Survey remains the benchmark remuneration tool for the Australian NFP sector. Used by boards, HR teams, and consultants, it promotes transparency and fairness across organisations of all sizes.
The Source Guide and Grants Page
Practical resources like The Source Guide—a directory of consultants, funders, and services—plus a curated Grants Page, helped thousands of organisations find the right support at the right time. Initially published in hard copy the Source Guide moved online in later years
Celebrating Leaders and Building Community
At the heart of Pro Bono Australia’s mission was the desire to celebrate and elevate the people driving change. This commitment came to life through:
The Impact 25 Awards
From 2014–2021, the Impact 25 Awards recognised 150 of Australia’s most inspiring changemakers—uncovering 2,182 nominations and generating over 350,000 annual social media engagements. It celebrated grassroots heroes, sector leaders, and unsung champions—many of whom continue to influence Australia’s social fabric today.
Events That Connected and Inspired
Our Espresso Martinis + Impact series (launched in 2019 with Vollie) brought over 200 people from corporate, government, and community sectors together to have bold, ethical conversations about doing good—and doing it better.
A Difficult But Necessary Transition
By 2023, financial headwinds facing global media were felt here too. Despite a loyal audience and a committed team, the economic realities of sustaining a free news service became insurmountable. A major restructure was undertaken to ensure sustainability.
On April 4th 2023, we farewelled:
Pro Bono News and Good Business Editions
Our Podcasts
Mentor the Treasurer
Paid Subscriber Model
Source Guide and Grants Page
Impact 25 Awards
Some of our treasured staff
These decisions were made with care, reflection, and deep appreciation for what had been built—and who had helped build it.
Hear what sector leaders had to say about the changes at Pro Bono Australia.
Sue Woodward AM
Commissioner, ACNC
David Spriggs
CEO, Infoxchange
Armine Nalbandian
CEO, Centre for Social Impact
Andrew Leigh
Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury
JACK HEATH
CEO, Philanthropy Australia
David Crosbie
CEO, Community Council for Australia
Read these love letters from our readers…
“Thank you for the 22 years that you have invested to support the NGO sector. Your time, energy and finances have been enormous. Your decision leaves a big hole which I can only hope will be filled by others who understand the critical role that you played.”
“Your emails have provided scope and voice to many stories which I and others would not have otherwise known… The closure of your service continues the limitations of free media unfortunately these days and I will certainly feel the loss. Thank you for all the years of hard work and fantastic material.”
“Pro Bono has provided a comprehensive and invaluable service over all these years. It is a disgrace that it is not adequately funded to provide its services to the NFP sector but also to the avid readers drawn from the government and business sectors. Best wishes to all of you.”
“Pro Bono News has been such a great informative resource, I actually file every edition I’ve received since beginning in the NFP sector into an email folder. I’ve referenced this news countless times with colleagues and external stakeholders. It will be sadly missed.”
“I think I can speak for all of us who have gained wisdom and sourced vital information that’s supported our work, our heartfelt thanks to you all. Warmest wishes from a grateful but deeply saddened reader.”
“Your news service has been valued by our organisation greatly as it helped us keep up to date with the broader operating and strategic environment for NFPs.”
“I wanted to say a big thank you for this service that you’ve provided to the sector over many years. While I’ve been aware of your work to some extent over the past 17 years of being in the environment space, I only really discovered your news service and the benefits of this in the last year or two since starting a new NGO. The service you provided has enabled me to see our organisation as part of a much broader sector, to observe shared challenges and opportunities, and to learn from others in the NFP space who I would otherwise never connect with… I recognise this will have been a very challenging decision and time for you, but I hope you are incredibly proud of what you’ve achieved, and I am certainly very grateful to have found you and learnt so much from your stories and curation… Thank you again for all you’ve provided to us learners and leaders in the sectors. I really do appreciate it.”
“So very sorry to hear this news – I’ve relied on the Pro Bono News to report things I’d otherwise never hear about, both good and bad. I wish you all well, but do feel it’s a very big loss to the sector.”
“I was very sad to read about the decision to close the PB News service. I’ve been reading the emails for years and they have always helped me to feel connected to the broader community sector, particularly as a sole operator in a regional area. Thank you for this wonderful service.”
“I was really sad to read that Pro Bono will be saying goodbye to the news service. I’m a former journalist myself and know it’s such a tough time for the industry. We’ll definitely miss these updates – it’s been unparalleled in terms of the quality and relevance of news and information.”
Key Media Articles
A record-breaking 11,500 votes have been cast already for the 2016 Pro Bono Australia Impact 25 awards to decide the not-for-profit sector’s most influential people.