philanthropyOz Blog

New Events

As well as a new date for our Sydney Corporate Network, we are launching the new Projects Pool next month - well worth coming along!

• Closing The Gap Lecture: Are we overcoming Indigenous disadvantage? (7 July, Canberra)
• Philanthropy Australia Corporate Network (21 July, Sydney, Members Only)
• Philanthropy Australia Mid-Year Update & Launch of the Projects Pool (29 July, Sydney, Members Only)
• Participatory Project Management Workshop (15-17 September, Brisbane)
• Future Forum (22 October, Melbourne)
• Future Forum (23 October, Sydney)

For more information please see the Events Calendar.

New PPF guidelines released

Philanthropy Australia welcomes today’s release of new draft guidelines for Private Ancillary Funds, formerly known as Prescribed Private Funds (PPFs). It is pleasing that Treasury has adopted the recommendation of Philanthropy Australia, its members and the wider philanthropic sector to set a minimum distribution rate of 5%. This will ensure the continuing growth of a vibrant and healthy culture of giving and philanthropy.

Gina Anderson, CEO of Philanthropy Australia, said “This is a significant benefit for the entire community. Philanthropy Australia and the philanthropic sector have worked closely with Government on clarifying and revising the rules under which PPFs operate. For the first time support for the philanthropic sector is truly bipartisan. The PPF structure was introduced by the Howard government in 2001. It has now been refined and updated by the Rudd government following wide consultation. We welcome the opportunity to respond to these draft guidelines and look forward to working with the Government to improve the integrity of Private Ancillary Funds”.

The PPF structure was introduced in 2001 and since that time approximately 800 PPFs have been created with a collective value of over $1.2 billion. Over $120 million was distributed from PPFs to the community in the 06/07 financial year. The new guidelines ensure that existing PPFs and new PAFs can operate with renewed confidence, ensuring maximum community benefit and continuing to build an Australian culture of giving.

For further information: http://www.treasury.gov.au/contentitem.asp?NavId=002&ContentID=1568 for new guidelines and instructions on how to respond
http://www.philanthropy.org.au/representation/submissions.html for Philanthropy Australia’s previous submissions.

New Events & Positions Vacant

 This week sees some new opportunities for knowledge sharing throughout the next half of 2009:

• Is Philanthropy Dead? Conversations with the Archbishop (24 June, Melbourne)
• Postgraduate Programs: Philanthropy and Social Investment Information Session (1 July, Melbourne)
• Business Breakfast - “Stepping up to the Plate” (17 July, Melbourne)
• Australian Community Foundations Forum 2009 (12 - 14 August, South Australia)
• International Unity in Diversity Conference (12 - 14 August, North Queensland)
• AEGN 2009 Annual Conference & Annual General Meeting (26 August, Melbourne)
• AEGN 2009 Annual Field Trip (6 - 10 September, NSW and Victoria)
• LIME Connection III 2009 (2 - 4 December, Melbourne)

And under Positions Vacant we’ve posted two exciting opportunities:

• Senior International Fellows Program (New York, USA - Applications close 30 June)
• Grants Manager (Planet Wheeler Foundation, Victoria)

For more information please see the Events Calendar or Positions Vacant page.

Small Grants for Small Regional Communities announced

Twenty-six community groups have shared Small Grants funding totalling more than $100,000 from the Gardiner Foundation in its Working in Dairying Communities small grants program administered by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.

The Gardiner Foundation and FRRR have collaborated to deliver the Small Grants Program over the past seven years. The program offers grants of up to $5,000 for individual local projects to improve existing infrastructure and strengthen small rural communities.

The projects funded in this round are diverse and include:

• a calf-rearing program at a primary school to educate children about farm animals and increase awareness of dairying as a potential career. Calves donated by local dairy farmers would be cared for at the school, and generate an income stream to sustain the program
• improvements to infrastructure and equipment for community facilities such as halls and kindergartens
• training for young people with a disability
• improving women’s finance and budgeting skills
• promoting health and fitness through walking tracks and exercise facilities
• establishment of a kitchen garden to raise children’s awareness of the source of food, and promoting health eating
• computers for improved functioning in community organisations and development of capability through targeted computer training

More information from the Geoffrey Gardiner Dairy Foundation.

Is philanthropy dead? Conversations with the Archbishop, Wednesday 24 June

Where would we be without academic scholarships, arts patrons, endowment funds and charities? Our forebears had a generous vision for our future. Is that vision still relevant?

Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier, will discuss this question with two mainstays of Melbourne’s philanthropic sector, Lady Southey AC and Jill Reichstein OAM, on Wednesday 24 June, 7:30 - 8:45 AM, at BMW Edge, Federation Square. Admission is free.

Launch of new Addressing Homelessness Affinity Group

Today marked the launch of Philanthropy Australia’s Addressing Homelessness Affinity Group at the Melbourne Town Hall. Special guest was Associate Professor David Mackenzie who shared his insights and some history around working with and researching homelessness in Australia. Over 20 Members of Philanthropy Australia have joined this group which will also be launched in Sydney in August.  It will have a national focus and will feature collaboration, sharing research and best practice models for effective grantmaking and liaison with government. Philanthropy Australia is very supportive of this new initiative and looks forward to working with the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation who are hosting this group.

Podcast: The Bad Samaritan

A recent BBC World Service podcast, The Bad Samaritan, looks at the Bernard Madoff fraud from the perspective of the charities and foundations involved, some of which are now facing the prospect of lengthy court action to “claw back” the money they received.

To listen, visit the BBC World Service Documentary Archive and scroll down to 21 May 2009, The Bad Samaritan. You can listen online or download as an MP3 file.

State memorial service for Richard Pratt

A State Memorial Service will be held for philanthropist Richard Pratt on Sunday 21 June, commencing at 11 AM, at the Arts Centre - Hamer Hall, 100 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne. Doors to Hamer Hall will be opened at 10:30 AM.

Relatives, friends, representatives of organisations and members of the public are welcome to attend. The Department of Premier and Cabinet have requested that persons wishing to attend contact them on (03) 9651 0820 or (03) 9651 5026 before 5 PM tomorrow, Wednesday 17 June.

New Events

New events this week covers some interesting movements in social enterprise and research:

• Looking Beyond Grants to Enhance Impact (25 June, Melbourne)
• Launch of Social Traders - A Force for Social Enterprise (30 June, Sydney)
• Research Australia Members & Supporters Briefing (1 July, Melbourne)
• Looking Beyond Grants to Enhance Impact (2 July, Sydney)
• The Maimonides Society Winter 2009 Gathering (6 July, Melbourne)
• 2009 Research Partnerships Forum: Advancing 0–18 Learning and Development (21 July, Melbourne)

For more information please see the Events Calendar.

Invitation to the Heloise Waislitz Fellow 2009 lecture: Kylie Charlton

Kylie Charlton, the Heloise Waislitz Fellow for 2009 at Swinburne’s Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment, is conducting a public presentation and discussion entitled: ‘Looking Beyond Grants to Enhance Impact’.

This is a great opportunity for members of the philanthropic community to hear about the work Kylie has been doing in the US over the past 5 years and looking at how utilizing a combination of philanthropic and investment capital can enhance impact. Kylie is a founding team member of Unitus Capital, a financial advisory firm specialising in arranging capital for microfinance institutions and other social enterprises benefiting those at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

Melbourne event:

Date: Thursday 25th June 2009

Time: 3pm for 3.15 start, to conclude by 4.30pm (tea/coffee included)

Chair: Helen Imber, Asia Pacific Centre for Philanthropy and Social Investment

Venue: To Be Confirmed (CBD Melbourne)

Cost: Free

RSVP: RSVP essential. Contact Joanna Fulton, Philanthropy Australia, on (03) 9620 0200 (03) 9662 9299 (new phone number as of Sept 2009) or email: j.fulton@philanthropy.org.au by Friday 19 June to register.

Kylie will also present to the philanthropic community in Sydney on July 2, and in Brisbane (date to be confirmed). For enquiries regarding these events please contact Louise Burton at l.burton@philanthropy.org.au or (02) 9223 0155