philanthropyOz Blog

New Trustee Workshop dates

Tuesday 11th November (Sydney CBD)
Thursday 13th November (Melbourne CBD)

Also being held as a pre-conference seminar in Sydney on Wednesday October 15. Click here for more information on the Philanthropy Australia Conference.

This workshop is an exploration of issues and considerations for trustees of charitable trusts and foundations in Australia. Topics to be covered include the structure of charitable trusts, governance and the role trustees play; what trustees must do and what trustees should consider doing; and governance failure.

This workshop is an ideal base for new trustees and foundation staff; useful to those providing advice on setting up foundations and trusts; and an excellent reference document and aide memoire to those already familiar with its subject. This workshop also provides an opportunity for those with significant interaction with foundations and trusts to understand the responsibilities and issues considered by Trustees.

A new trustee handbook on the “Roles and Duties of Trustees of Charitable Trusts and Foundations in Australia” will provide the materials for the workshop. Created in consultation with Philanthropy Australia’s Members, this Trustee Handbook is an essential document for PPFs, Community Foundations, Family Foundations, Charitable Trusts and Ancillary Funds.

The Trustee Handbook is available for free download from the PhilanthropyWiki.

Go to the Trustee Workshops page for more information and bookings.

Community Foundations Forum - an outstanding event

‘Community Foundations 2020′ was the theme of the 2008 Community Foundations Forum which was held in Canberra last week, and the buzz it created is still being heard.

In the largest Forum yet, 73 people gathered in the Senate room at Parliament House for the opening address by Senator Ursula Stephens - Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector. This was a fantastic opportunity for Members of Parliament to drop by to hear about the Community Foundation movement and meet some of the movers and shakers face to face.

One of the highlights was hearing David Bussau AM tell the story of how, following an earthquake in Bali, he pioneered a microcredit loans scheme in the third world, which has grown into Opportunity International.

As always, meeting colleagues in person and networking on shared issues was invaluable, and a key outcome of the event. Standby for the next opportunity at the Philanthropy: Passion & Purpose in Sydney in 3 weeks time!

Conference Speakers Update

Speakers have now been announced for all sessions at the Philanthropy Australia 2008 Conference - Philanthropy: Passion & Purpose. The conference will be held in Sydney on October 16-17.

Click here to view the programme & register for the conference.

New Events & Position Vacant

Positions Vacant:

Foundation Administrator (for a developing PPF, Brisbane)
Adviser, Senator Ursula Stephens (Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, Canberra)

More information on the Positions Vacant page…

Events:

Disability Affinity Group Meeting (Members Only, Melbourne, 11 November)
Ageing Futures Affinity Group Meeting (Members Only, Melbourne, 12 November)

More information on the Events Calendar…

Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment - 2009 Program

The graduate program at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment (Swinburne University) in Philanthropy and Social Investment has been re-accredited, and will be offered in 2009 as a Master of Business (Philanthropy and Social Investment). As before it will be a three year, part-time course of study, with students progressing through Certificate and Diploma stages.

The Program’s main aim is to introduce students to a range of grant making and fundraising perspectives and to assist them in a critical analysis of the social enterprises within which these activities are practiced. In addition the Program aims to explore the ethical and political contexts within which social enterprises operate. The new program is a continuing response to the powerful forces which are leading to a global renaissance in philanthropy and social investment.

While substantially the same as the previous course, the new Masters will be broader in scope, taking in fundraising and social entrepreneurship, and will allow students more choice of units in accordance with their interests and career paths.

For more information, go to The Centre for Philanthropy & Social Investment’s website.

National Strategy for Volunteering

More than 500 people attended the three day Volunteering Australia Conference from 3-5 September, which had the theme ‘Catching the new Wave’.

Senator Ursula Stephens addressed the conference, outlining the Federal Government’s priorities in enabling new waves of social innovation in Australia, through a National Strategy for Volunteering. Dr Stephens also announced $64,000 in new funding for GoVolunteer, Australia’s website for the placement of volunteers. The Rudd Government’s support for volunteering includes the three-year $64 million Volunteer Grants Program, which allows community organisations to reimburse their fuel costs and helps them pay for equipment.

The Government has also commissioned the Productivity Commission to construct a new tool to measure the contribution of the non-profit sector to communities and the economy, and is working with the States and Territories to address regulatory burdens on the sector.

New homelessness initiative in Sydney

Representatives from government, business, philanthropy and the NGO sector launched the ‘Common Ground’ homelessness initiative in Sydney. Its supporters include Housing NSW, the City of Sydney, the Mercy Foundation and KPMG.

Common Ground is an innovative way of housing rough sleepers. The ‘street-to-home’ initiative means homeless people are provided with their own apartments, enter into rental agreements and pay rent. It is combined with individualised health, support and training employment services and has been running in the United States since 1990. The Common Ground model is now recognised internationally and has won numerous international awards in the field of homelessness.

To find out more, contact Felicity Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Foundation at executive@mercyfoundation.com.au or on 02 9699 8726.

Conference Program Update

A number of speakers have been announced for sessions at Philanthropy Australia’s 2008 Conference, Philanthropy: Passion & Purpose, which is being held October 16-17 in Sydney.

You can find out more about the speakers via the conference programme.

PhilanthropyWiki Training (Members only, Melbourne)

Members of Philanthropy Australia are invited to this free training session which aims to make participants proficient and confident users of the PhilanthropyWiki.

If you ever come across useful or inspiring resources on philanthropy that you want to share with colleagues - articles, reports, organisations, websites, blogs - here is your opportunity to learn how to add them to the PhilanthropyWiki where others can find them.

The session will cover three key topics - searching the PhilanthropyWiki, editing existing Wiki entries and creating new pages. You don’t need any technical expertise to participate – it’s easy, and rewarding, to contribute to the Wiki.

The session will be hands-on and informal, providing an opportunity to discuss any IT issues – websites, web 2.0, blogs - with Philanthropy Australia staff and other Members.

Date: Thursday 2nd October 2008
Time: 10.00am – 12.00pm (morning tea included)
Location: Melbourne CBD
RSVP: Please contact Emily on e.turner@philanthropy.org.au or 03 9620 0200 by Friday 26th September.

This event will be generously hosted by the Education Foundation.

A Sydney training session will be held at a later date in 2008. Expressions of interest are welcome.

For more information please contact Emily (e.turner@philanthropy.org.au) or Louise (l.arkles@philanthropy.org.au).

Upcoming Members’ Affinity Group & Network Meetings

- Corporate Foundations Network Meeting (Members only, Sydney, 29th September)
- Arts Affinity Group Meeting (Members only, Sydney, 22nd October)
- Arts Affinity Group Meeting (Members only, Melbourne, 23rd October)
- Early Intervention Affinity Group (Members only, Melbourne, 27th November)

Go to the Events Calendar for more information.