philanthropyOz Blog

New charity statistics

The Australian Taxation Office has released Taxation Statistics 2006-2007, including (for only the second time) a chapter on charities. Among the more interesting statistics:

• In the 06-07 income year individuals claimed $1,885 million in deductible gifts - a 21% increase on the year before.
• In the 07-08 financial year charities claimed $373.3 million in refundable franking credits - an increase of 12% on the previous year.
• Number of TCCs is up 2% to 51,671 and of active DGRs is up 3.7% to 25,292

The stats are available at http://ato.gov.au/corporate/content.asp?doc=/content/00177078.htm&page=45&H45, including links to detailed tables listing individual gifts by state and amount claimed, franking credits claimed by charities, and individual gifts as a percentage of income.
It will be interesting to see what the corresponding figures are for the current financial year, with the effects of the global financial crisis.

New Positions Vacant

Development Manager, University of Melbourne (Melbourne)

Development Manager, Orchestra Victoria (Melbourne)

Go to the Positions Vacant page for more information.

Qld Trusts Act 1973 amended

Legislation has been passed to amend Queensland’s Trusts Act 1973. This will enable Queensland-based Prescribed Private Funds (PPFs) and Ancillary Funds to distribute to Deductible Gift Recipients (DGR) regardless of whether or not the DGR is charitable at law, provided that the PPF or Ancillary Fund applies to the ATO to become an Income Tax Exempt Fund (ITEF).

We emphasise that trustees should seek their own legal advice before acting.

This is similar to changes made to the Charitable Trusts Act 1993 in NSW and the Charities Act 1978 in Victoria enabling ITEFs to grant to a wider range of DGRs.

The amendment to the Queensland Trusts Act can be viewed at: http://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/LEGISLTN/ACTS/2009/09AC002.pdf

Social Ventures Australia - Catalyst Campaign

Social Ventures Australia (SVA) today has launched its Catalyst Campaign, a new national campaign to raise $10 million over three years to support the dramatic expansion of SVA’s non-profit venture partners over the next three years. The Catalyst Campaign is designed to support targeted and proven programs which take clear steps to address key areas of social need. The campaign will provide multi-year funding and support to a number of social ventures, helping them to implement their ambitious development plans.

SVA chief executive, Michael Traill, said: “In these uncertain financial times, the campaign’s funding will provide some security to the ventures we support, giving them a guaranteed source of funding to help them to grow, increase their impact and become more sustainable.”

For more information including profiles of SVA’s current portfolio of not-for-profit partners, see the SVA’s Catalyst Campaign page.

Report on Philanthropy New Zealand conference

I was fortunate to have the chance to attend Philanthropy New Zealand’s conference “Passion, Pragmatism, Possibilities” in Wellington last week, and found many of the presentations very thought-provoking. The global financial crisis was, of course, a primary topic with the first morning’s sessions entirely devoted to aspects of philanthropy in difficult times.

Each opening plenary speaker took a slightly different perspective but some themes and clear messages were common to all, particularly the need for foundations to have courage and commitment and to stand up and show that they spend their money well.

Continue reading Report on Philanthropy New Zealand conference…

Report on responding to the Victorian Bushfires

Effective Philanthropy have written an excellent paper, probono as part of their donation, entitled ‘Responding to the Victorian Bushfires - What Role for Philanthropy?’. It has been structured to help philanthropists get a better understanding of what support affected communities will need, and what role philanthropy can best play, to support the community recovery and renewal process. It draws on Australian and overseas experience to identify good grantmaking principles in a disaster recovery context, and provides an overview of the types of activities that philanthropy support.

The paper can be downloaded from the Victorian Bushfires page on our Website.

Harvard Club of Victoria: Nonprofit Fellowship Program

Each year, the Harvard Club of Australia – Victoria’s Nonprofit Fellowship (NPF) Program, supported by donations from members of the HCAV community, makes it possible for the CEOs of two nonprofit disability sector organizations to attend the week-long course Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management (SPNM) at Harvard Business School. The managerial and strategic decision-making skills whose development is the focus of this highly regarded program (see following page) are in increasing demand within the nonprofit sector in Australia. In 2009, the SPNM program will run from 12 to 18 July.

To be eligible to apply for an HCAV Nonprofit Fellowship, you must be the CEO, or equivalent, of a nonprofit organization whose primary mission is the delivery of services to people with disabilities. An HCAV Nonprofit Fellowship covers the recipient’s SPNM course fees (tuition and case materials, accommodation, and meals), as well as travel to and from Boston, including a side-trip to allow for visits to appropriate nonprofit organizations in North America. Fellows and/or their organizations must meet any costs over and above the Fellowship award (A$12,000 in 2008), and any out-of-pocket expenses.

For more information see the information briefing (RTF), or download the application form (MS Word).

Doing More with Less: Making Progress in a Time of Economic Downturn

Swinburne University’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment & DVA Navion are holding a workshop in Melbourne on 28 April.

Doing More with Less: Making Progress in a Time of Economic Downturn, organised in association with the City of Boroondara and the Centre for Social Impact will feature guest speakers:
• Professor Peter Shergold (Chief Executive, Centre for Social Impact);
• John McLeod (Director of Philanthropy, Goldman Sachs JBWere);
• Cath Smith (Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Council of Social Services);
• Vanessa Meachen (Research and Training Manager, Philanthropy Australia).

Keynote presentations and interactive panel discussions will equip not-for-profit Board members, CEOs and Senior Executives with skills to effectively deal with questions related to the impacts of the economic downturn on the not-for-profit sector, how organisations can formulate effective responses, the characteristics of organisations which flourish in times of hardship, and what types of activities are likely to be funded under such conditions.

For more information see the workshop program (PDF) or the registration portal.

Trustee Workshops in March

Our acclaimed Trustee Workshops will be held in Melbourne and Sydney this month:

SYDNEY
9:30 AM - 1 PM, Tuesday 17 March 2009

MELBOURNE
9:30 AM - 1 PM, Thursday 19 March 2009

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.

Only $385.00 for Members of Philanthropy Australia, and $605.00 per attendee for non-members, this workshop is presented by David Ward, Treasurer of Philanthropy Australia and author of the Trustee Handbook. David is a Director of ANZ Trustees and ShareGift Australia and is Trustee Representative on several charitable trusts including the Hugh DT Williamson Foundation, the Alexander Miller Estate and the Alexander Wright Wales Trust.

See our Trustee Workshop page for details and to book your place!