philanthropyOz Blog

New Events

• ‘The difficulties of giving away large (or small) amounts of money in an intelligent way’ (Melbourne, August 5)
• Indigenous Affinity Group Meeting (Sydney, Members only, August 21)
• Philanthropy Australia Sydney: Great Minds Review (Members only, August 26)
• Early Intervention Affinity Group Meeting (Sydney, Members only, August 28)
• 6th International Responsible Investment Conference (Melbourne, 24-25 September)

Go to the Events Calendar for more information.

Community Foundations Forum Registration open

The 2008 Community Foundations Forum Program is now available.

Registration is also now open for this event.

To view the Program or Register to attend the 2008 Community Foundations Forum in Canberra, go to the Forum 2008 page on the Community Foundations Gateway.

2007 - SME Community Business Partnerships

In 2006 Western Australian Community Foundation and Western Australian Council for Social Service commissioned Synovate to undertake both focus group and quantitative survey research with small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to explore their understanding of, and interest in, the concept of community business partnerships. The research, funded by Lotterywest, explored how SMEs in WA currently engage in partnerships with community organisations, and identified barriers and opportunities to foster further relationships between the community sector and small business.

The research has found that community support by small to medium enterprises in WA is high, with 74% of businessses claiming to currently support community-based organisations in some form. The level of support is higher in regional centres than in the metropolitan area, where there appears to be a strong focus on contributing to the local community.

The social areas that currently attract the highest levels of support in WA from SMEs include the areas of children or youth, disability and education causes, where businesses feel that they are contributing to “socially healthy” communities. Support that SMEs provide in these areas usually comes in the form of a financial donation, with a typical donation being approximately 1% of annual turnover.

Further information can be found via the press release of the findings, or you can download the entire document on WACF’s website.

» 2007 - SME Community Business Partnerships on the PhilanthropyWiki

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

• Alice O’Brien Trusts
• Clitheroe Foundations

Associates

• Australian Cancer Research Foundation
• FirstUnity Wealth Management
• Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority
• Kids Plus Foundation
• McClelland Gallery & Sculpture Park
• Starlight Children’s Foundation
• St Mary’s Cathedral Hobart Restoration Commission
• Sydney Institute of Marine Science

Position Vacant

Mission Australia (Sydney) - Relationship Manager – Corporate & Community Partnerships.

Report on Philanthropy in the ACT available

A review of philanthropy in the Australian Capital Territory is now available online. The report, commissioned by the ACT Department of Disability, Housing & Community Services, details the nature and extent of philanthropic giving in the ACT, with the aim of identifying its adequacy, trends, impediments and opportunities for growth. Philanthropy Australia was consulted as part of the research of this report, as were several of our Members. The ACT Government’s response to the report is also available.

This review of ACT philanthropy is one of very few state and territory based studies in Australia - as far as we can ascertain, the only other is the Queensland Community Foundation’s 2005 review Philanthropy’s Future in the Smart State.

Download A Review of Philanthropy in the Australian Capital Territory directly from the DHCS website here.

Wagerup Sustainability Fund Launched in WA

The Wagerup Sustainability Fund, that will support initiatives to make a positive contribution to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the region surrounding the Wagerup refinery, was launched on July 4.

The Fund, established with an initial donation of $400,000 from Alcoa of Australia (cornerstone partner of Western Australian Community Foundation since its inception in 2004), will be administered by the WA Community Foundation as Trustee. Further, Alcoa has made a multi million dollar commitment to the Fund, which will be linked to production at the Wagerup refinery and could be up to $15 million over the next 20 years.

The Wagerup Sustainability Fund will focus on supporting local projects and initiatives that:
- Produce long term sustainable outcomes for communities in and around Harvey and Waroona;
- Enhance leadership, knowledge, enterprise and innovation;
- Further preserve and protect the local environment; and
- Contribute to creating stronger communities.

Two local advisory committees, representing communities within the Shire of Harvey and Shire of Waroona have been established to work closely with the Foundation by seeking and recommending local initiatives to effectively distribute funds to the respective community.

For further information please contact the Foundation on (08) 9224 6000 or visit www.wacf.org.au.

Test case - definition of charity

Today’s Australian Financial Review reports that the Australian Taxation Office has lost a test case on the definition of charity, a decision which has the potential to significantly widen the range of organisations which might qualify for endorsement as a tax concession charity. The Victorian Women Lawyers’ Association has succeeded in being classified as a tax exempt charity despite its being a membership organisation and engaging in some advocacy activities, both of which are often barriers to endorsement as a charity.

Federal Court judge Robert French stated that “The political purposes limitation is not well defined and is more difficult of application today having regard to the change in social conditions since 1917 and the involvement of legislatures in areas unthought of at that time”.

You can read the full judgement in Victorian Women Lawyers’ Association Inc v. Commissioner of Taxation [2008] FCA 983 (27 June 2008) online at the Austlii website.

New program to encourage philanthropy to the arts in WA

The Western Australian Department of Culture and the Arts, with input from ArtSupport Australia, have launched Australia’s first Philanthropy Incentive Program.

The Philanthropy Incentive Program will encourage individuals, groups and businesses to establish charitable trusts and boost philanthropy to the arts, by encouraging the establishment of philanthropic funds of $500,000 or more.

New philanthropic funds or foundations can participate in the Program which contributes up to 7.5 per cent of the initial capital start-up funds in a new fund or foundation to a Western Australian arts organisation. The benefit of this is that it allows newly established funds to leverage their contributions with an additional contribution by the Western Australian State Government.

Eligibility guidelines and further information on the Program is available via the Department of Culture and the Art’s website, or by calling (08) 9224 7300.

Inquiry into the Disclosure regimes for charities and not-for-profit organisations

A Senate inquiry is now underway into the disclosure regimes and models of regulation for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

On 18 June 2008, the Senate referred the Disclosure regimes for Charities and not-for-profit organisations to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics for report by the last sitting day of November 2008. The inquiry will examine:

1. the relevance and appropriateness of current disclosure regimes for charities and all other not-for-profit organisations;

2. models of regulation and legal forms that would improve governance and management of charities and not-for-profit organisations and cater for emerging social enterprises, and;

3. other measures that can be taken by government and the not-for-profit sector to assist the sector to improve governance, standards, accountability and transparency in its use of public and government funds.

Submissions that reflect the issues and solutions that best meet the needs of the sector are encouraged. Submissions will close on 29 August 2008.

To find out more about the Inquiry into the Disclosure regimes for Charities and not-for-profit organisations, and how you can make a submission, visit the Parliament of Australia Senate website.