Advisory Services for the Philanthropic Community

drdavekennedy.com Pty Ltd is an Australian-based boutique consultancy that provides advisory services to all sectors of the philanthropic community, including grantors (i.e., philanthropic donors, families and foundations) and grantees (i.e., not-for-profits and charitable organisations).


Dr. Dave Kennedy (Ph.D.)

Dr. Dave Kennedy is the Managing Director of drdavekennedy.com Pty Ltd. As the former Executive Director of The Atlantic Philanthropies Australia Pty Ltd, Dr. Kennedy is one of Australia’s most experienced “Big Grant” grantmakers. In addition to being responsible for multi-million dollar annual grantmaking activities in Australia and Oceania with an average annual grantmaking budget of $A50m, he has worked at the highest levels of philanthropic wealth, government and higher education to help build cross-sector coalitions necessary to complete multi-million dollar capital campaigns (with a total aggregate value in excess of $A1b), particularly in the higher education (university) and medical research institute space.

Dr. Kennedy utilises his grantmaking skills to advise high-net-worth individuals and families that wish to make philanthropic gifts in a strategic, leveraged and outcome-focussed manner.

As a longstanding fundraiser in both Australia and the USA, Dr. Kennedy is also well-placed to provide strategic fundraising advice, as well as direct fundraising services, for organisations, particularly universities and medical research institutes, seeking Major Gifts (from philanthropists or philanthropic foundations) or Major Grants (from the federal or state governments) .

In his capacity as a fundraising consultant and strategist, the largest single gift that Dr Kennedy has assisted with was a $A50,000,000 pledge to the QIMR Berghofer in Brisbane. The largest recent successful capital campaign that Dr Kennedy has assisted with was a $A70,000,000 building program for Orygen - The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, in Melbourne.

Recent fundraising clients have included The Australian National University (ANU), the Centenary Institute (CI), Orygen - The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), and the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Berghofer (QIMRB).

Dr. Dave Kennedy is also the Founder of igiveonepercent.org, a not-for-profit initiative that promotes personal and corporate giving, which was inspired by the Giving While Living philosophy of Chuck Feeney.

Prior to his current roles, Dr. Dave Kennedy has had a number of high-profile positions, all in the service industries, including:

  • Executive Director of The Atlantic Philanthropies Australia Pty Ltd.;

  • Educator, with university teaching experience on three continents (i.e., North America, Australia, Asia) including the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales and Griffith University;

  • Researcher, Competitive Research Grant Recipient, Author and Public Speaker;

  • Gerontologist (with a specialization in seniors housing);

  • Management scientist and management consultant; and

  • CEO of an executive search firm

Dr. Dave Kennedy lives in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He can be contacted via email at drdave@drdavekennedy.com Additional background information is available on the pages following.

"Life is service - the one who progresses is the one who gives his fellow men a little more - a little better service."
--E. M. Statler