philanthropyOz Blog

Guidelines for ancillary funds wishing to distribute to government public hospitals in Victoria

The Department of Justice has released guidelines for trustees of ancillary funds and Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs, formerly Prescribed Private Funds) wishing to distribute to government public hospitals in Victoria. The guidelines apply only to charitable trusts which are subject to Victorian law.

This follows the 2006 amendment of the Victorian Charities Act 1978. The Act was amended to enable the trustees of certain charitable trusts to provide money, property or benefits to, or for the establishment of, “eligible entities” as defined in section 7k of the Act. This gives power in some circumstances for trustees who choose to “opt in” to make distributions to deductible gift recipients which would be charities but for a connection to government.

The guidelines include preliminary questions for trustees to consider, instructions for opting in and seeking endorsement as an Income tax Exempt Fund (ITEF), and a list of public hospitals to which trustees may make distributions.

Trustees should obtain their own professional advice as to the application of the Act to their particular circumstances.

The Guidelines can be downloaded from the Department of Justice website.

New Position Vacant

The Myer Family Office have an exciting position for a grant researcher/administrator within their Philanthropic Services Team:

• Program Coordinator, Myer Family Office (VIC)

For more information please see the Positions Vacant page.

Invitation: All Members and Associates End-Of-Year Celebrations

Dear Members, Associates and friends of Philanthropy Australia,Please join us for our annual end-of-year celebrations, wrapping up Philanthropy Australia’s activities for 2009.

The Sydney celebrations will be held on Tuesday 8 December, 5:30 - 7:30pm at AMP, Level 25 Board Dining Room, 33 Alfred Street, Circular Quay NSW. (All guests need to register with the concierge on the ground floor before proceeding to Level 25.)
Download the invitation for Sydney here

Melbourne staff and Council will be celebrating on Wednesday 9 December, 5:30 - 7:30pm at the new Philanthropy Australia office, Level 2, 55 Collins Street, Melbourne.
Download the invitation for Melbourne here

Drinks, nibbles and good cheer will be provided.

Bookings are essential; please RSVP to Annie Scoufis at a.scoufis@philanthropy.org.au or phone (02) 9223 0155 by Friday 27 November, 2009.

We hope you can join us!

New Events & Position Vacant

The events are coming thick and fast this month and it looks like it’s a busy new year ahead!

Our Members and Associates are warmly welcomed to our End-of-year Celebrations in Sydney and Melbourne at the start of December. We’ve also announced the dates for the 2010 Philanthropy Australia Conference, more details on this to come soon.

• JB Reid Nonprofit Governance Colloquium (30 November, Sydney)
• Melbourne Community Foundation Launch of the MacroMelbourne Report (1 December, Melbourne)
• Fabian First Wednesday Forum: Innovation in the Third Sector (2 December, Melbourne)
• Philanthropy Australia All Members End-of-year Celebration (8 December, Sydney / 9 December, Melbourne, Members and Associates Only)
• Innovative Projects Showcase (9 December, Melbourne)
• Ageing Futures Affinity Group Meeting (17 February 2010, Melbourne, Members Only)
• ACCSR’s 4th Annual Conference ‘Meeting the Standard: the Post-GFC World of Responsible Business Practice’ (19 February 2010, Melbourne)
• Arts Affinity Group Meeting (24 February 2010, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Best Practice in Grants Management Conference 2010 (26 February 2010, Melbourne)
• Indigenous Affinity Group Meeting (3 March 2010, Melbourne, Members Only)
• 2010 Philanthropy Australia Conference (19-21 October 2010, Melbourne)

The Sydney Theatre Company are seeking someone experienced in donor management:

• Foundation Coordinator, Sydney Theatre Company (Sydney, Applications close 4 December)

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

New PAFs Trustee Handbook launched

With the commencement of the new regulatory regime governing Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) effective 1 October 2009, Philanthropy Australia has created a booklet which will serve as a handbook for all PAFs.

Announced by the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Nick Sherry, the Private Ancillary Funds Trustee Handbook was well received at its launch on 10 November in Melbourne.

• Download the Private Ancillary Funds Trustee Handbook (PDF)

• Download the official media release (PDF)

• Read the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Nick Sherry’s speech from the launch

• Download author David Ward’s speech from the launch (PDF)

• See details on the new PAF Governance Workshops coming up in November

• More details available on the PhilanthropyWiki

Major health grants EOI announced

The MBF Foundation is seeking applications from research institutes, universities and other organisations for innovative health project proposals. In the 2009/10 EOI round, the Foundation will once again be looking to partner with some of Australia’s world-class researchers to support initiatives in their three key focus areas:
• Keeping healthcare affordable
• Wellness and obesity
• Healthy ageing

Applicants will be selected following assessment against the criteria outlined in the EOI project application document, which can be downloaded at www.mbf.com.au/foundation

The closing date for applications is 23 December 2009. Applications should be submitted via email to: foundation@mbf.com.au

Vale Mark Lyons

Philanthropy Australia is saddened to report that Mark Lyons, Director of Research at the Centre for Social Impact and author of the pioneering book Third Sector, died on Wednesday 4 November 2009.

Mark was well-known in the philanthropic sector as the prime mover behind a number of studies of the not-for-profit sector in Australia, including Third Sector: The contribution of nonprofit and co-operative enterprises in Australia. He was also the Australian associate for the global Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector project and the author of many studies and papers on the not-for-profit sector in Australia. Mark was foundation director of the Centre for Australian Community Organisations and Management (CACOM) at the University of Technology, Sydney

The clarity and consistency of Mark’s work was instrumental in providing a view of the size and scope of the not-for-profit sector. Philanthropy Australia extends sympathies to his family, colleagues and friends.

Launch of the Trustee Handbook for Private Ancillary Funds

With the commencement of the new regulatory regime governing Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs), formerly Prescribed Private Funds (PPFs) effective 1 October 2009, Philanthropy Australia has created a booklet which will serve as a handbook for all PAFs.

The PAF Handbook has been written by David Ward, the author of the very well received Trustee Handbook, and will be provided free on-line.

Members and Associates are invited to the launch of the Private Ancillary Fund Handbook by the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Nick Sherry.

This event is being generously hosted by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.

When:  10:00am - 11:00am, Tuesday 10 November 2009
Where: Condell Room, Level 1, Melbourne Town Hall, Corner Swanston and Collins Streets, Melbourne
RSVP: Bookings essential. Please contact Annie Scoufis: a.scoufis@philanthropy.org.au, (02) 9223 0155, by Thursday 05 November 2009

We hope to see you there!