philanthropyOz Blog

Website Updates

New Events:

• Family Foundations and Prescribed Private Funds - 1 May, Canberra
  Recent legal and tax changes have made family and corporate philanthropic foundations more attractive through the framework offered by Prescribed Private Funds (PPFs). Goldman Sachs JBWere and Artsupport Australia invite you to a seminar that will introduce the processes associated with setting up a PPF or philanthropic foundation, and demonstrate the benefits that it can bring to you and the wider community.
  Go to the Events Calendar.
• Counting What Counts: Measuring the Heart of CSR Performance - 16th April, Melbourne
  A CSR performance measurement framework that puts stakeholder relationships at the heart of CSR measurement is the focus of this hands-on, one-day workshop for business leaders and managers, organised by the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility. For managers working in CSR, sustainability, corporate relations, compliance or organisational development.
  Go to the Events Calendar.
• The Global Business Summit for the Environment (B4E) - 19-20th April, Singapore
  Hosted by the UN Environment Programme and the UN Global Compact, B4E will be the first major international conference focusing on business and the environment in Asia . The summit aims to highlight the environmental challenges facing global business today and share strategies and best practices for corporate environmental responsibility. CEOs and senior executives from leading global companies will join leaders from government, international NGOs and other organizations to discuss the issues, forge partnerships and explore solutions for a greener future.
  Go to the Events Calendar (International).

New Position Vacant:

• Inner North Community Foundation - Development Officer (Part Time)
  To support the establishment and ongoing operations of this new Community Foundation. The Inner North Community Foundation will serve the communities of Darebin, Moreland and Yarra and is a community initiative of Apprenticeships Plus, in collaboration with the three Councils. The initial key focus of the Foundation’s activity is supporting transition to employment pathways and projects that address barriers for people experiencing disadvantage in access to employment within the region.
  Go to the Positions Vacant page.

New resource on the Topical Issues: Climate Change page

• Top ten ways to motivate employees on climate change (Paper, 19/03/07)
  The Climate Group has produced a briefing note outlining the top ten steps organisations can take to motivate employees on climate change. The tips are based on conversations with member companies taking a leadership position on engaging employees, such as Sky, British Telecom and Swiss Re.
  Go to the Climate Change page.

Philanthropy Australia’s Media Appearances, New Event Listing.

Philanthropy Australia in the Media:

• Corporate philanthropy on the up (ABC Radio National, The World Today, 16/03/07)
  Gina Anderson was interviewed inthis piece.
  For the transcript, go to the Media Centre.

• Charity Millionaires (A Current Affair, Channel 9, 14/03/07)
  Gina Anderson was interviewed for this piece.

• Sold on giving (Age, 12/03/06)
  Gina Anderson was interviewed and quoted in this piece.
  To read the article, go to the Media Centre.

• Business leaders give generously (ABC TV, Lateline, 06/03/07)
  Gina Anderson was interviewed in this piece.
  To read the transcript or watch the video, go to the Media Centre.

New Event:

• Communities in Control Conference 2007 - June 3-6, Melbourne
  Communities in Control is the largest gathering in Australia of those who work in and support the development of communities. This year’s conference also provides a special opportunity for young people to take part in a special post-conference half-day Youth in Control forum - a forum added to the program following feedback from delegates and one that is designed to help young leaders at the local level to contribute to building better communities. The conference also includes a Pre-conference Skills Day on Marketing. Participants will take home highly practical marketing lessons on how to use their story to unleash money, gain members and support – a terrific community development opportunity.
  Go to the Events Calendar for more information.

2 New Positions Vacant

• Sydney Theatre Company - Philanthropy Executive

• Australian Environment Grantmakers Network - Office Manager

Go to the Positions Vacant page for more information.

Celebrating 30 Years: Issue 6

Great Grants: The Potter Farmland Plan

In 1984, The Ian Potter Foundation initiated a three-year program aimed at demonstrating methods for ecologically and economically sustainable farming. This project was instrumental in the development of Landcare, as well as tremendously influential on public policy. It proved that farmers could address some of the main causes of land degradation and work within the bounds of sustainability, whilst still gaining maximum production from their properties. Continue reading Celebrating 30 Years: Issue 6…

Event: Convening and Collaborating for Community Change

Convening and Collaborating for Community Change
19th April, Melbourne

Collaborations and partnerships between philanthropic foundations and community organisations are increasingly being seen as an effective way of achieving long term change to some of the pressing community issues that are the focus of our work. Many foundations are keen to explore the role they can play as a facilitator and ‘connector’ in bringing sectors together to collaboratively examine ideas, issues and initiatives that can make a real difference and lead to systemic change.

Peter Hero has a wealth of experience in this field. He will deliver a short speech that provides insights gained through his work with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, outlining several initiatives that he feels have really made a difference in his community. This will be followed by an interactive conversation to share ideas about the opportunities and challenges of collaborative relationships from both a philanthropic and community sector perspective.

Go to the Events Calendar for more information.

A first for Sydney: The Sydney Women’s Fund

Sydney, 6 March 2007: Ahead of celebrations for International Women’s Day, the Sydney Women’s Fund has been introduced as part of the Sydney Community Foundation (SCF). The fund aims to raise $1 million over the next two years to reinvest in helping Sydney women.

The Sydney Women’s Fund will support programs for women in greater Sydney. The Fund will focus on four key areas: improved access to education; improved personal safety; preventive health-care; and participation in sport.

The SCF Chair, Wendy McCarthy AO, will introduce the Fund to leading women from the Sydney business community at a lunch at the Sydney Town Hall. Ms McCarthy said: “From Elizabeth Macquarie, Caroline Chisholm, Maybanke Anderson and Jessie Street, Sydney women have a strong heritage of helping Sydney women.

“The Sydney Women’s Fund provides Sydney with an opportunity to continue the work of the early pioneers and ensure the cycle of education, help, and reinvestment continues,” Ms McCarthy said.

In a modern world-class city like Sydney there are women who are not safe in their homes and communities; who do not have access to adequate health and dental care, and who are not receiving the level of education they deserve.

As part SCF, the Sydney Women’s Fund will support women to overcome these disadvantages. Typically the fund could support literacy programs, culturally appropriate community sporting initiatives, sexual health programs and work to keep women safe in their homes.

SCF will seek funding through donations, endowments, bequests, corporate sponsorship and partnerships. The Foundation will be encouraging Sydneysiders to also establish named funds to recognise important women in their own lives, such as grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, wives, partners or friends.

More information regarding the Sydney Women’s Fund can be obtained by contacting Ingrid Aitken on 02 9202 9132 or via email on enquiries@sydneycommunityfoundation.org.au.

‘The Practice of Effective Grantmaking’ subject at Swinburne Uni

The Asia Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment at Swinburne University (Melbourne) runs graduate courses and workshops in the field of philanthropy.

The next subject to be offered is ‘The Practice of Effective Grantmaking’ (HPI502). It will be held from Mon April 16 to Wed April 18, continuing on Monday May 14 and Tuesday May 15.

This subject focusses on the basic elements of managing a grantmaking program, and emphasises ‘hands-on’ management issues. It includes the exploration of such issues as the application process, guidelines, decision-making, and taxation. As with all our subjects, leading practicioners from the field will be guest presenters.

‘The Practice of Effective Grantmaking’ is particularly well-suited for participation on a single subject or workshop basis, as well as being part of our Graduate course.

For further information, or to enrol, please contact Ms Tiffany Milne, 9214 5687 or tmilne@.swin.edu.au.

Please feel free to contact the Course Director, Michael Liffman, if you wish to discuss this further: 03 9214 4405 or mliffman@swin.edu.au.

Consultations for the Review of Not-for-Profit Regulation

The Premier and the Treasurer have requested the State Services Authority (SSA) review the impact of Victorian Government regulation and other reporting requirements on the Not-for-Profit Sector (NFP). In addition, the Authority is to identify opportunities to improve these arrangements.

A final report with detailed findings and recommendations is due by 30 September 2007.

The SSA is conducting a series of roundtable consultations for the Review.

The consultations provide an opportunity for not-for-profit organisations to contribute directly to the Review. The consultation topics include financial reporting and standards, service agreements, grant application procedures and specific issues for small to medium sized not-for-profits.

Individuals and organisations are invited to register their interest in participating in one or more of the consultation sessions by emailing nfpreview@ssa.vic.gov.au or phoning (03) 9651-2021.

To find out the schedule, topics and venues for upcoming consultation sessions, visit the SSA website.

Gina Anderson on Lateline

Gina Anderson, Philanthropy Australia’s CEO, appeared on ABC TV’s Lateline on March 6th. Lateline’s summary for the article is:

The business of giving is back on the agenda, as the Qantas chief executive promises to donate tens of millions of dollars to medical research if the private equity bid succeeds.

You can read the transcript or view the video here.

Heavily Discounted Software & Hardware for Nonprofits

DonorTec aims to assist a wide range of charities and Income Tax Exempt nonprofit organisations by providing donated current software and hardware for a small administration fee, in conjunction with our donor partners, Microsoft and Cisco. The Donortec Program is delivered in Australia by CommunIT, a CISA project, in partnership with TechSoup in the US. Both CISA and Compumentor/TechSoup are nonprofit organisations.

Products such Microsoft Office 2007 Professional for $26, Vista operating system upgrade for $13, Digital Image Suite 2006 for $6.50 and many more (including server software) are now available through Donortec. Many organisations will also be eligible for Cisco hardware products, including wireless routers etc.

This is a great opportunity, especially for small and medium organisations, to upgrade their IT capacity for a limited cost and to free up savings for other priorities. Unfortunately religious, business and professional associations are excluded but there are many organisations in the cultural, health, training, youth, conservation, and community services sectors who will be able to take advantage of this service.