philanthropyOz Blog

New Positions Vacant

Two of our Full Members have positions available this month:

• Grants and Awards Officer (Administrative Assistant), Victoria Law Foundation (Melbourne, Applications close 22 March)
• Online Communications and Publications Officer, Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (Sydney, Applications close 9 April)

For further details please see the Positions Vacant page.

PAF Governance Workshop Announced for Brisbane

We have announced a new date in Brisbane for the Private Ancillary Fund (PAF) Governance Workshops, run by Philanthropy Australia’s Treasurer, David Ward:

Brisbane: Thursday 22 April 2010, 9:30am - 12:30pm

For more information, booking forms and to register your interest, please visit the PAF Governance Workshops page.

Fellowships for disability sector CEOs

Applications are now open for the Harvard Club of Australia — Victoria Nonprofit Fellowships, which enable up to two CEOs of Victorian-based disability sector organizations to attend the week-long Harvard Business School program ‘Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management’, which runs in mid-July each year.

Application materials can be accessed online, at http://www.hcag.org.au/NPFs.htm

PAF Governance Workshop Announced for Adelaide

We have announced a new date in Adelaide for the Private Ancillary Fund (PAF) Governance Workshops, run by Philanthropy Australia’s Treasurer, David Ward:

Adelaide: Tuesday 23 March 2010, 9:30am - 12:30pm

For more information, booking forms and to register your interest, please visit the PAF Governance Workshops page.

New Position Vacant

Victoria Law Foundation are seeking an energetic individual for a varied role supporting their education program:

• Education Administration and Media Officer, Victoria Law Foundation (Melbourne, Applications close 1 March)

For more information please see the Positions Vacant page.

Necessitous circumstances funds update

The Australian Taxation Office has updated its information page on Necessitous circumstances funds. Necessitous circumstances funds are tax deductible public funds maintained to provide relief for persons in Australia who are in necessitous circumstances. “Necessitous circumstances” refers specifically to financial necessity rather than being in need generally.

The updated webpage includes a description of the requirements to be endorsed as a necessitous circumstances fund, a checklist and information on deductible gifts.

More information: Necessitous circumstances funds.

Final Productivity Commission Report Available

The Productivity Commission’s final report into the Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector has been released and is now available for viewing or download from the Productivity Commission’s website.

The report recommends wide-ranging reforms to remove unncessary burdens and costs faced by the not-for-profit sector as well as to improve its accountability. The recommendations include:

• Establishment of a Registrar for Community and Charitable Purpose Organisations to act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for Commonwealth-based regulation
• Establishment of an Office for Sector Engagement to drive reform and policy development at the Commonwealth level
• Creation of a national measurement framework and a Centre for Community Service Effectiveness to act as a clearinghouse to promote best practice evaluation
• a more coherent endorsement process for tax status, to be administered by the proposed Registrar, and a new definition of charity
• broadening the scope of gift deductibility, promoting planned giving and national harmonisation of fundraising regulation

For more information see the Productivity Commission’s website.

Final PAF Trust Deed Available

The final version of the Model Trust Deed for Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) is now available for download from the ATO’s PAF webpage at http://www.ato.gov.au/nonprofit/content.asp?doc=/content/00215720.htm&page=4&H4

New Events

We’re seeing bumper issues for most of our publications so far this year, and the calendar for 2010 is no exception.

Social enterprise is a big focus, and along with our new Philanthropy Workers Network and Education Affinity Group, we’ve also announced new dates for most of our existing Member Affinity Groups and Networks:

• Philanthropy Workers Network Meeting: ‘Tweet While You Eat’ (18 February, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Navigating Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Victoria (18 February, Melbourne)
• Social Enterprise Study Tour (23 February, Melbourne)
• Public Session of the Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) Conference: Unpacking Copenhagen (24 February, Sydney)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (25 February, Sydney)
• Morning Tea with Peter Goldmark - On the role of philanthropy in environment & climate change (26 February, Melbourne)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (2 March, Perth)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (3 March, Adelaide)
• Addressing Homelessness Affinity Group Meeting (4 March, Sydney, Members Only)
• How Government Works (4 March, Melbourne)
• A Taste of Harmony Week (15-21 March, National)
• Education Affinity Group - Initial Meeting (18 March, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Philanthropy Australia Corporate Foundations Network Meeting (18 March, Sydney, Members Only)
• Philanthropy Workers Network Meeting: ‘Harmony Week’ (18 March, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (18 March, Melbourne)
• Working Communities International Congress: Uniting to Improve Social and Economic Participation (24-26 March, Melbourne)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (25 March, Brisbane)
• Social Enterprise Summit + World Forum (28-30 April, San Francisco, USA)
• RIAA’s 7th International Responsible Investment Conference (14-15 September, Sydney)

The following events in our calendar have been updated:

• Ageing Futures Affinity Group Meeting (17 February, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Indigenous Affinity Group Meeting (3 March, Melbourne, Members Only)

For more information please see our Events Calendar.

New Positions Vacant

We have two new positions vacant posted on the website today:

• Grants and Awards Manager, Victoria Law Foundation (Melbourne, Applications close 8 February)
• Chief Operating Officer, The Hunger Project Australia (Sydney, Applications close 5 March)

For more information please see the Positions Vacant page.