philanthropyOz Blog

New Position Vacant

Victoria Law Foundation are seeking an energetic individual for a varied role supporting their education program:

• Education Administration and Media Officer, Victoria Law Foundation (Melbourne, Applications close 1 March)

For more information please see the Positions Vacant page.

Necessitous circumstances funds update

The Australian Taxation Office has updated its information page on Necessitous circumstances funds. Necessitous circumstances funds are tax deductible public funds maintained to provide relief for persons in Australia who are in necessitous circumstances. “Necessitous circumstances” refers specifically to financial necessity rather than being in need generally.

The updated webpage includes a description of the requirements to be endorsed as a necessitous circumstances fund, a checklist and information on deductible gifts.

More information: Necessitous circumstances funds.

Final Productivity Commission Report Available

The Productivity Commission’s final report into the Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector has been released and is now available for viewing or download from the Productivity Commission’s website.

The report recommends wide-ranging reforms to remove unncessary burdens and costs faced by the not-for-profit sector as well as to improve its accountability. The recommendations include:

• Establishment of a Registrar for Community and Charitable Purpose Organisations to act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for Commonwealth-based regulation
• Establishment of an Office for Sector Engagement to drive reform and policy development at the Commonwealth level
• Creation of a national measurement framework and a Centre for Community Service Effectiveness to act as a clearinghouse to promote best practice evaluation
• a more coherent endorsement process for tax status, to be administered by the proposed Registrar, and a new definition of charity
• broadening the scope of gift deductibility, promoting planned giving and national harmonisation of fundraising regulation

For more information see the Productivity Commission’s website.

Final PAF Trust Deed Available

The final version of the Model Trust Deed for Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) is now available for download from the ATO’s PAF webpage at http://www.ato.gov.au/nonprofit/content.asp?doc=/content/00215720.htm&page=4&H4

New Events

We’re seeing bumper issues for most of our publications so far this year, and the calendar for 2010 is no exception.

Social enterprise is a big focus, and along with our new Philanthropy Workers Network and Education Affinity Group, we’ve also announced new dates for most of our existing Member Affinity Groups and Networks:

• Philanthropy Workers Network Meeting: ‘Tweet While You Eat’ (18 February, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Navigating Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Victoria (18 February, Melbourne)
• Social Enterprise Study Tour (23 February, Melbourne)
• Public Session of the Climate Action Network Australia (CANA) Conference: Unpacking Copenhagen (24 February, Sydney)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (25 February, Sydney)
• Morning Tea with Peter Goldmark - On the role of philanthropy in environment & climate change (26 February, Melbourne)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (2 March, Perth)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (3 March, Adelaide)
• Addressing Homelessness Affinity Group Meeting (4 March, Sydney, Members Only)
• How Government Works (4 March, Melbourne)
• A Taste of Harmony Week (15-21 March, National)
• Education Affinity Group - Initial Meeting (18 March, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Philanthropy Australia Corporate Foundations Network Meeting (18 March, Sydney, Members Only)
• Philanthropy Workers Network Meeting: ‘Harmony Week’ (18 March, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (18 March, Melbourne)
• Working Communities International Congress: Uniting to Improve Social and Economic Participation (24-26 March, Melbourne)
• Philanthropy and Private Ancillary Funds Seminar (25 March, Brisbane)
• Social Enterprise Summit + World Forum (28-30 April, San Francisco, USA)
• RIAA’s 7th International Responsible Investment Conference (14-15 September, Sydney)

The following events in our calendar have been updated:

• Ageing Futures Affinity Group Meeting (17 February, Melbourne, Members Only)
• Indigenous Affinity Group Meeting (3 March, Melbourne, Members Only)

For more information please see our Events Calendar.

New Positions Vacant

We have two new positions vacant posted on the website today:

• Grants and Awards Manager, Victoria Law Foundation (Melbourne, Applications close 8 February)
• Chief Operating Officer, The Hunger Project Australia (Sydney, Applications close 5 March)

For more information please see the Positions Vacant page.

Grants to pursue your philanthropic ambitions

Vodafone is calling on Australians to trade in their day-jobs and get paid to make a difference. The Vodafone Foundation want to give five passionate people a grant to dedicate an entire year to pursue their personal philanthropic ambitions complete with full salary and expense accounts, so are calling for entries in their 2010 World of Difference program.

Candidates are invited to submit their applications at www.vodafone.com.au/worldofdifference. Applicants should include a summary of their nominated charity or not-for-profit organisation, plus details of their own personal goals and aspirations for their chosen charity or cause in 2010.

Entries close on soon - on 7 February 2010.

Children’s Law Awards calling for nominations

Nominations have opened for the 2010 Children’s Law Awards. Organised by the National Children’s Youth and Law Centre and Mallesons Stephen Jaques, the Awards recognise the achievements and commitment of individuals and organisations who advance the legal rights and interests of children and young people in Australia.

The Awards also raise awareness of the legal issues affecting children and young people, for example:

• Are Australian children adequately protected by the justice and welfare systems?
• Why have the numbers of children found to be at risk of abuse or neglect, and children under care and protection orders, risen significantly?
• How can children best participate in legal proceedings and processes affecting their rights?

Nominations are sought in the following Award categories and are open to both individuals and organisations:

• The National Award for Outstanding Legal Representation of the Rights and Interests of Children and Young People;
• The National Award for Outstanding Advocacy in Policy or Law Reform to Advance the Legal Rights and Interests of Children and Young People; and
• The Media Award for Raising Awareness of Important Children’s Legal Rights Issues.

Nominations close on Friday 19th February. The Awards will be presented on Friday 16 April 2010, during National Youth Week. For more information on the awards, or to download a nomination form, visit http://www.ncylc.org.au/