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Celebrating 30 Years: Issue 11

History of Community Foundations

Continue reading Celebrating 30 Years: Issue 11…

Extreme Philanthropy

Financial Planning magazine (US based) has a current story on Extreme Philanthropy - those individuals who are giving at a 50% level, rather than the 2% level at which most Americans give. The article profiles the concept of the 50% League - people who commit to giving away half of their financial assets, or half of their income or business profits for at least three years.

(By comparison, the average Australian gives away 0.4% of their pre-tax income, although Australians earning over $1 million do give at approximately the 2% level).

The website associated with the 50% League, Bolder Giving, makes for some challenging and inspiring reading - in particular, the profiles of individuals at different wealth levels who describe with refreshing honesty the sources of their wealth and their motivations and reasons for giving at the higher level.

Thanks to Sean Stannard-Stockton at Tactical Philanthropy for the link.

Managing Government & Philanthropic Grants

Government, individual and corporate Philanthropic grants have become a vital part of the not-for-profit landscape, allowing community organisations to undertake initiatives that would otherwise be impossible to fund.

However, the achievement of community goals through grants depends on a well informed sector, with grant makers and grant seekers implementing and practicing effective grant management. This conference is packed with information and practical tips for managing grants for best results.

Sydney: 6 December, 2007
Melbourne: 11 December, 2007

Download the brochure (PDF)

Go to the Events Calendar.

Who Profits from the Arts: Taking the Measure of Australian Culture

Who Profits fom the Arts:Taking the Measure of Australian Culture is a Platform Paper from Currency House by Kay Ferres and David Adair.

Australia’s four great arts centres are major cultural destinations in our capital cities. In Brisbane, the authors write, Expo 88 signalled a transformation from a country town to a vibrant, liveable city that draws immigration from the southern states. Local government has emerged as a major supporter of culture and the arts, enthusiastically adopting ‘creativity’ as a cipher for economic development. But what does this say to a wider community about the benefits of cultural participation? Performing arts centres are at the forefront of new developments, actively seeking to create public value. The old lines between producer and consumer are being broken down and new lines of active interaction are being built via the internet. These centres have come a long way, say Ferres and Adair, but the demands on our new cultural leadership need a fresh and subtle understanding of the nature of demand in this new world of connectivity.

Kay Ferres and David Adair are researchers in Sustaining Culture, a government-funded research collaboration between Griffith University and the Sydney Opera House, the Adelaide Festival Centre, the Arts Centre, Melbourne, and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Kay Ferres and David Adair speak at The Sydney Institute

Tuesday 23 October 5.30 for 6pm
The Sydney Institute
Go to http://www.currencyhouse.org.au/ for more info.

Youth Mentoring Network

The Youth Mentoring Network is the result of a rare partnership in which four national organisations - The Smith Family, Job Futures, Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia, Dusseldorp Skills Forum - developed the initial proposal and having committed their own funds, invited the Australian Government to join the initiative as the fifth member of the group.

The National Youth Mentoring Benchmarks are a set of minimum standards that all mentoring programs are encouraged to follow. The benchmarks were reviewed by a team of experienced practitioners and researchers and submitted to a public consultation process. Over 500 people from the youth and mentoring fields participated in this process. The benchmarks are evidence that the Australian mentoring sector is maturing and consolidating its place within an established international community. They will continue to evolve with our collective knowledge and experience and are offered by the Youth Mentoring Network as a further contribution to the development of a collaborative youth mentoring community in Australia.

The Youth Mentoring Network, through the sharing of resources, professional development and collegial networking, encourages all mentoring programs to achieve these standards

For more information about the Network please visit www.youthmentoring.org.au

Green Philanthropy

Green philanthropy - Funding charitable solutions to environment problems, a guide for donors and funders

It is clear that the world’s environment faces serious problems. Less clear is how donors can help to solve these problems and create positive change. Green philanthropy provides some answers.

The report is the first of its kind. It is a high-level ‘how to’ guide for donors that explains:

• The problems: Although climate change is grabbing headlines, there are other pressing issues: from deforestation to biodiversity to collapsing fish stocks. These issues demand our attention too.

• Charities’ solutions: Solutions are not only in the gift of government. Charities play a vital role in tackling environment problems-as pioneers, leaders, managers and guardians they have achieved remarkable successes. Charities are uniquely placed to make a difference, but they are hampered by limited funding.

• Practical steps for donors: From providing long-term funding for effective charities to sharing experience of what works, Green philanthropy outlines the main priorities for donors.

Green philanthropy equips donors with the information they need to make a difference. It is relevant both to experienced philanthropists in this area and those who have not considered supporting environment charities before.

Download the report here. You must sign up for access, but subscription is free.

This report is from New Philanthropy Capital.