philanthropyOz Blog

Using New Technology to Enhance Grantmaker Practices

Grantmaking 2.0: Using New Technology to Enhance Grantmaker Practices is an article by Amy Luckey (of Blueprint Research & Design in the USA) published by Grantmakers for Effective Organisations.

The piece, as Amy describes, “is meant as a quick introduction to inspire as well as provide constructive cautions for foundations just beginning to explore ways to integrate the use of Web 2.0 into their grantmaking practices.” It seems to come at a time when the discussion on how grantmaking organisations can use technology is increasing.

The piece outlines four instances to “illustrate a handful of the myriad ways grantmakers can use new technologies productively to help accomplish four common goals”. The goals Amy has outlined are:

1. Facilitate communication among grantees
2. Connect grantees with external experts
3. Serve as information resources to the wider community – not only grantees
4. Improve communication with grantees and increase transparency

This article is valuable reading for staff of grantmaking organisations in Australia who are considering (or want to start considering) the ways their organisation could benefit from better use of technology and the internet.

Here at Philanthropy Australia we are already working on utilising social media to fulfil a number of the goals listed above. Watch this space to learn more about our KnowledgeBank and PhilanthropyWiki projects in coming weeks.

New Members of Philanthropy Australia

Philanthropy Australia would like to warmly welcome the following new Members who have joined us in the past quarter:

Full Members

• Annemarie & Arturo Gandioli Fumagalli Foundation
• The Cardinia Foundation
• W. Daniels
• Inner North Community Foundation
• Jack & Ethel Goldin Foundation
• Ruffin Falkiner Foundation
• R. Rutnam
• The Snow Foundation
• Tasmanian Early Years Foundation
• Trust Foundation

Associate Members

• Australian Museum
• Enrich Australia
• Medibank Private
• Melbourne Recital Centre
• Pilgrim Private
• The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation

You can find a list of all our Members on our Website.

Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Grants Bulletin

The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust have released a new Grants Bulletin on their recent activities, featuring a brand new look and logo for the Trust.

You can download the July 2007 HMS Trust Grants Bulletin here (PDF).

New Presentation on Youth Philanthropy

• ‘Key Success Factors for Youth-Driven Youth-focused Organisations: Lessons from Australian organisations’

  Identifying organisations that are likely to be effective and are likely to be sustainable beyond the life of a grant or a partnership are key concerns for philanthropic and corporate funders. A Philanthropy Australia Member Forum explored the key success factors for Australian youth-led youth-focused (YLYF) organisations based on an organisational evaluation undertaken for Shepparton-based YLYF organisation, Word and Mouth, and funded by their key philanthropic funder, the Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation.

Go to the Papers & Reports page to download this presentation.

Louise Burton, Philanthropy Australia’s Membership Manager in Sydney, is aiming to run a session on this topic for Members later in 2007.

Future Summit Report Available

Future Summit 2007 was initiated by ADC (Australian Davos Connection) and was held on 14 & 15 May in Melbourne. Participants at the Summit included established and emerging leaders from the government, academic, business and community sectors with many international and national speakers. The Summit is a premier leadership event, providing a forum for established and emerging leaders to share ideas, exchange views and set goals for improving Australia’s future. Participants come from the academic sector, think-tanks, and from the public, private and non-profit sectors.

The Report from Future Summit 2007 is now available for download from the Future Summit website. The Report includes highlights of the Summit, summaries of all Summit sessions, and details of the Summit program and speakers, participants, Leadership Awards, Special Project Awards, research survey and media coverage.

Download the report in PDF format (5.8 MB)

Position Vacant at Trust Company

• Philanthropy Trust Administrator - Contract Position 6 Months - Melbourne
  This full time contract position requires an experienced member of the philanthropy sector who has exceptional hands-on knowledge management, analytical and problem solving skills. The successful candidate will be expected to apply these skills to the review and maintenance of over 200 charitable trusts during this busy growth period.
  Go to the Positions Vacant page for more information.

ShareGift Australia

ShareGift Australia was established to provide Australian shareholders with the opportunity to sell their shares and donate the proceeds to charity, without having to pay brokerage fees. Selling and donating through ShareGift Australia ensures that the proceeds from the sale of your shares benefit the Australian community.

ShareGift Australia Limited was established on 16 June 2004 as a not-for-profit organisation. It has been granted DGR (deductible gift recipient) and TCC (Tax Concession Charity) status by the Australian Tax Office.

ShareGift Australia is part of an international alliance of organisations based on the successful UK charity ShareGift and has received considerable support from them in its establishment. The founder of ShareGift Claire Mackintosh, Viscountess Mackintosh of Halifax addressed the Philanthropy Australia International conference and explained how ShareGift had been established and grown to be an important and useful vehicle fro donors in the UK to dispose of small and unwanted parcels of shares.

Lady Mackintosh has had 16 years’ experience in the City of London before establishing ShareGift in the UK. She specialized in UK Equities as an investment manager of pension funds, and then set up an East European private equity fund and worked in the Korean stock market for institutional fund management clients before founding the highly successful share donation charity, ShareGift, in 1996 and becoming its Chief executive.

Working with individual donors, charities and listed companies, ShareGift Australia provides a neutral, independent and transparent mechanism to convert investments in listed securities in to cash for the benefit of Australian Charitable groups. ShareGift Australia aims to facilitate the most cost, tax and community efficient option for selling and donating shares for the community benefit.

Having recently launched a pilot with National Australia Bank, ShareGiftAustralia is looking to work with other listed companies and their shareholders to support the community.

For more information on ShareGift please call 1300 731 632 or at www.sharegiftaustralia.org.au

New edition of ‘Australian Philanthropy’ Journal

We’re delighted to announce our latest issue of Australian Philanthropy is out now!

Ages and Stages: Past, Present and Future Family Philanthropy brings you insightful and personal stories from Australians who have founded or inherited family foundations, and from those who manage or contribute to their family’s philanthropic endeavours.

It features articles by Nelson Meers and Karen Mahlab, an interview with Tim Fairfax and daughter Prue, Carrillo Ganter on why early engagement is not always best, and tips for succession planning. Read about the changes we can expect in philanthropy as Generation Y make their mark, and consider the Cargengie Conundrum: how much should one give?

Members and subscribers should have recieved their copies in the mail this week. If you would like to subscribe to Australian Philanthropy visit our Website, subscribe online and we will put a copy of Issue 65 in the mail to you asap!

Celebrating 30 Years: Issue 10

The Collectors

While Alfred Felton (profiled in Issue 5) is arguably the best-known benefactor of an arts organisation in Australia, there have been others who left their donations in the form of cultural items, rather than money, who have been equally significant. In this edition we profile two of them, and the institutions which were created as a result of their benefactions.

Continue reading Celebrating 30 Years: Issue 10…

Guide to Ethical Investing

Ethical Investor magazine has produced an introductory guide to ethical investing. According to EI, it is “Ideal for new readers just being introduced to this concept”.

Find a link to download this guide on our Topical Issues: Responsible Investment page.