The Better Tomorrow Fund: Turning everyday generosity into lasting change

Some couples bond over shared interests or a sense of humour. Pip Lane and Andrew Hunter realised they shared the belief that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference when they found themselves deep in conversation about microfinance on their second date.

Both grew up in households where generosity was woven into daily life, even when spare money was hard to come by.

“Growing up, there wasn’t a lot of extra money to be doing philanthropy type things,” Pip says, “but my parents are both very generous with their time. They’ve always volunteered through different community groups, and my mum still does lots of volunteering now that she’s retired. I was very much brought up in the spirit of: you give where you can, whether it’s time, money or effort.”

Andrew was raised with the same sense of empathy. “The environment I grew up in was very much couched around empathy and care for others, whether that meant volunteering time to help others in the community or, when possible, donating money.”

True to their values, when they married Pip and Andrew asked guests to forgo wedding gifts and instead contribute to a microfinance fund which was an early vehicle for their philanthropy journey.

Finding their focus

Deciding how to give and what issue areas to focus on can be daunting. For Pip and Andrew, the focus came through personal history and considering where they could do the most good locally. Inspired by Andrew’s late mother, who was the first woman to complete a Master of Laws degree at Adelaide University, the couple felt drawn to supporting educational opportunities for women.

“We both believe that if we educate women, we can change the world,” Pip says.

After exploring the needs of their local community, Pip and Andrew landed on educational opportunities for First Nations women as their key focus area. “We originally thought about creating some sort of bursary or scholarship,” Pip explains, “but after lots of discussion, we decided we wanted to have a broader impact, so that’s what we’ve focused on.”

“It’s not for us to say what should be done,” Pip says. “It has to be led by First Nations people and the programs they run to support the education of First Nations women.”

Starting small, thinking big

Pip and Andrew began their structured giving journey with a Gumnut Account. They added to their balance over time until it grew into their own named Sub-Fund, the Better Tomorrow Fund.

It’s a pathway Foundation SA CEO Sophie Doyle says is designed to make effective giving accessible to anyone.

“A Gumnut account can be opened with $2,000,” Sophie explains. “You can add to your balance, and when it reaches $20,000 it matures into a Sub-Fund, enabling you to make grants to the charitable organisations of your choice.”

Gumnut and Sub-Fund holders enjoy an immediate tax benefit on contributions, with the flexibility to decide where grants go when the time feels right.

For Pip and Andrew, one of the most reassuring aspects has been handing over the administrative complexity to a team of philanthropy professionals.

Andrew says that the behind-the-scenes support from the Foundation SA team has been invaluable.
“I can’t downplay the logistical benefits,” he says, “the support of the Foundation SA team is super helpful. For Pip and I, knowing that the administration and the due diligence and everything else is covered and running professionally in the background is so reassuring.”

“We also really appreciate that the investment side of things is professionally taken care of,” Pip adds. “Our fund grows from those returns as well as the donations we regularly make, so it’s almost like a set and forget — we don’t have that mental load of having to worry about how that money is going to grow.”

The couple says that being part of the Foundation SA giving community has also brought rewarding connections with other like-minded givers and giving opportunities they wouldn’t necessarily have encountered on their own.

“We’re just ordinary people who had no links at all to the philanthropy world,” Pip explains.

“The insight and knowledge that the Foundation SA team brings is a really important element for us,” Andrew adds. “It’s a wonderful thing to be part of a community of givers – there’s a lot of enjoyment in engaging with other people and learning about their journeys, what motivates and drives them.”

‘When someone’s life gets better so does mine’

Continuing the family legacy of generosity, Pip and Andrew talk openly with their young children about the Better Tomorrow Fund and why it exists.

“It’s really important to us as parents that we teach our kids about giving and thinking about people other than ourselves and how we can help make other people’s lives better,” Pip says. “As they get older our plan is to get them to help us make decisions about where the giving goes.”

Helping their children experience the joy of helping others is a key motivation, Andrew adds.

“The most valuable thing I’ve learned about giving so far is actually more of a confirmation – it’s just a wonderful thing to be a part of. It’s so rewarding to know that you’re part of positive change in the community.”

For Pip, who is a longtime supporter of Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders), her giving philosophy is summed up by a quote that appeared on a bookmark the charity sent her many years ago: ‘When someone’s life gets better, so does mine.’

“I believe that is 100 per cent true,” Pip says. “Being able to give is a way to make someone else’s life better. The world can feel quite fractured and divided, but I really believe we have to care about each other.”

Ready to start your giving journey?

Foundation SA offers many ways to give, no matter where you’re starting from.

A Gumnut Account is the perfect first step — open one with as little as $2,000 and add to it over time. Once your balance reaches $20,000, it automatically becomes your own named sub fund (also known as a donor-advised fund), giving you the ability to make grants to the causes you care about most, at a time that suits you. All contributions are fully tax-deductible, professionally invested, and backed by Foundation SA’s compliance and administration support.

Prefer to give more broadly? You can also donate directly to Foundation SA’s grant programs, such as Neighbourhood Grants, which pool funding to support grassroots community initiatives across South Australia. Or, if you’d like to leave a lasting legacy, Foundation SA can help you include a gift or bequest in your Will.

Contact us today to learn more.