The Future2 Foundation leverages the financial services sector’s unique ability to build stronger financial futures for Australians. Trilogy Funds is proud to support the Future2 Foundation in carrying out their mission, with National Manager – Dealer Groups & Platforms, Nicole Ott, sitting on the Grants Committee in 2024 and 2025, as well as 2026.

In this edition of ‘In conversation’, Nicole sits down with Future2’s General Manager, Maddie Catlin, to discuss the origins of the Foundation, its goals and what success looks like.

What initially drew you to the Foundation and what excites you most about its mission?

I’m passionate about working with for-purpose organisations, especially those that support vulnerable communities. When I joined Future2, the focus was on supporting young Australians under 25 but it has since expanded to reach people of all ages facing disadvantage. Working alongside the financial services sector, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact of financial literacy.

What excites me most is Future2’s ability to reach people from all walks of life, offering critical support where it’s needed most.

The Future2 Foundation has evolved significantly since its inception in 2007. How do you see its role in the financial services community today?

Future2 represents the heart of the financial services profession – it unites the industry around a shared commitment to creating positive social impact.

Financial services professionals have a unique platform through Future2 to support Australians in need, particularly through our grants program. No one understands the power of financial literacy better than this sector, and Future2 is a powerful vehicle for turning that knowledge into meaningful, collective action.

The Make the Difference! Grants program has supported 193 causes and distributed $1.9 million in funding to date. What kind of impact have you seen these grants make on the ground?

The impact has been incredible. In my four years with Future2, we’ve supported 55 programs and I’ve had the privilege of engaging directly with every one of them. Reading their reports, hearing their stories, and seeing the impact firsthand is the most rewarding part of my role. I’m now heading into my fifth grants round and still find it incredibly meaningful.

One of the strengths of the program is that it funds specific, time-bound initiatives over 12 months, meaning we get a clear view of the full program cycle and its outcomes. It’s powerful to see photos of young people whose lives have been transformed, or to read feedback from communities in rural Australia gaining access to foundational financial literacy concepts for the first time.

Is there a recent grant recipient that really illustrates the Foundation’s impact?

So many programs have had a lasting impact, but a few really stand out. Projects like Financial Superwomen and the EmpowHer Financial Coaching Program, which was supported by AIA Australia in 2025, support women escaping domestic violence by helping them access vital financial resources, and these programs are incredibly powerful. Having done pro bono work with women’s shelters myself, these initiatives are close to my heart and have helped hundreds of women during a critical time in their lives.

I also want to highlight programs focused on empowering the next generation. The Tiny Foxes Life Skills Academy program is a 2025 grant recipient dedicated to helping young Australians build financial confidence and establish strong money habits early. Similarly, 2025 grant recipient, Pluton, delivers financial education to over 500 young adults in regional and rural communities in Queensland, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.

Future2 recently broadened its grant criteria to support Australians of all ages. What prompted this change and how has it influenced the types of programs you support?

Historically, the grants program focused primarily on younger Australians facing financial hardship. However, the scope has been broadened to support more Australians.

The change was driven by demand from within the financial services community. We were regularly contacted by professionals asking whether programs supporting disadvantaged women, families, or people facing hardship could qualify. Expanding the criteria felt like a necessary and inclusive shift, one that enables more people to engage with the Foundation and nominate causes that matter to them.

I’ve been really pleased with the diversity of programs we’ve been able to support since broadening the scope. For example, last year we funded Migrant Money Matters (MMM) financial literacy program for culturally and linguistically diverse women that is specifically designed to tackle the gender gap in financial capability compounded by language, cultural norms and systemic barriers. The updated criteria have allowed us to reach new groups while still maintaining our focus on young Australians as a core pillar.

What initiatives does the Future2 Foundation rely on to fundraise across the financial services community?

So many! Just as we rely on the financial services community to nominate grant recipients, we also rely on them to power our fundraising. This includes events, individual donations, and community-led initiatives. One of our highlights is our Steps Challenge, where workplaces form teams to compete – it’s a fun and engaging way to raise funds and bring the community together. This is kicking off in March 2026, so there’s still time to join in on the challenge!

What role do financial advisers play in nominating and supporting grant recipients and how can more professionals get involved?

Future2 was founded by financial advisers in 2007 as a way for the profession to give back. To this day, only financial services professionals can nominate causes – charities cannot apply directly.

If you’re a professional in the sector and know of a local initiative that’s changing lives, nominating them could help unlock funding that makes a lasting difference.

We’ve now supported 193 initiatives, and every single one was nominated by someone passionate about using their platform for good.

How do you measure success – not simply in terms of funds raised, but in lives changed?

We collect a range of impact data through end-of-project acquittal reports, things like the number of participants reached, economic impact, and broader community benefit.

But there’s also a layer of success that goes beyond numbers. The personal stories and qualitative feedback we receive about lives transformed, barriers overcome, and futures reshaped are truly invaluable. Those human outcomes are often the most powerful indicators of impact.

You have worked across several not-for-profits. What is one lesson you have learned from working in the charitable sector that you think applies broadly to business and leadership?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the power of purpose. In the not-for-profit sector, every decision and dollar must align with the mission and that level of clarity drives innovation, trust and long-term impact.

Another critical lesson is the importance of stakeholder engagement. Whether you’re working with beneficiaries, donors or volunteers, strong relationships and authentic collaboration are what drive lasting success. This is something that is equally essential in business.

The Make the Difference! Grants program for 2025 was one of your most successful to date. Could you please provide more information about some of the nominees?

In 2025, we distributed $177,000 to 12 programs across Australia, marking our largest funding round since 2020. In addition, our corporate partners provided a further $15,000 in top-up funding, extending the reach and impact of several initiatives.

As a small charity, Future2 focuses on supporting grassroots organisations that are making a genuine difference in their communities. This kind of targeted financial support goes a long way, enabling practical, on-the-ground outcomes that meaningfully improve lives.

What fundraising events are on the horizon?

There are plenty of fundraising events on the horizon in 2026. In March, we have our Virtual Steps Challenge. Alongside this, we have the Future2 Hiking Challenge, which will be held along the Great Wall of China from 21 to 28 March 2026.

We’re continuously fundraising for Future2 via donations, in challenge events like the City2Surf and through other initiatives that we roll out on our website.

What do you get up to when you’re not at work?

For fun, I’m usually outdoors – in the ocean, hiking or cooking up something in the kitchen!

Nominations for the Make the Difference! Grants program open mid-2026. To learn more, visit future2foundation.org.au.