philanthropyOz Blog

New Events

Today’s event updates have a distinct learning and knowledge-sharing theme:

• Mapping Social Cohesion: 2009 Scanlon Foundation Report (1 June, Melbourne)
• Certificate of Foundations in Trustee Governance - Public Course (29 June, Melbourne / 27-29 July, Sydney)
• INITIATE The Future (9 July, New South Wales)
• The Fourth Annual Australian Women’s Leadership Symposium (22-23 July, Sydney / 26-27 July, Melbourne / 16-17 August, Canberra / 24-25 August, Brisbane)
• Management of Volunteers (17-18 August, Sydney)
• Collaborative Leadership in a Shared Power World (26-27 August, Sydney / 4-5 November, Sydney)

For further details please visit the Events Calendar.

Conference 2010: Registration fees, new speakers & attendance info

The registration fees for Philanthropy Australia’s Conference 2010: Philanthropy at the Tipping Point? have been released and are now available on the Conference website.

New confirmed speakers:

• Chris Wootton - Helen Macpherson Smith Trust; L. E. W. Carty Charitable Fund; WaterAid Australia
• Christa Momot - Reichstein Foundation; ATSI Community & Philanthropy Partnership
• Trudy Wyse - Melbourne Community Foundation; Mullum Trust; Leadership Plus; Changemakers Australia
• Kirsty Allen - The Myer Foundation; Sidney Myer Fund

We have also provided some initial information for those planning to attend, including; location, the no solicitation policy, dress code and transport.

For more details, and to subscribe to conference updates, visit the Philanthropy Australia Conference 2010 website:
www.philanthropy.org.au/conference 

What’s the right relationship between philanthropy and government?

In a recent survey, Grantcraft shared reflections from eight foundation leaders in the United states on this question - What is the right relationship between philanthropy and government? - and then asked its readers to weigh in. Over 1,500 people responded, including many stakeholders in philanthropy, nonprofits, and government. This brief and very accessible survey report makes fascinating reading - much of it applicable to Australia too.

GrantCraft’s guide Working with Government: Guidance for Grantmakers, will be published in July 2010.

Read the survey report at http://www.grantcraft.org/pdfs/survey_government.pdf

New Indigenous Fund Structure suggested

A new Treasury consultation paper has outlined three suggested approaches to tax reform in the area of native title, one of which is a proposed new kind of income tax exempt vehicle, referred to as an Indigenous Community Fund. The potential new vehicle would be established under legislation as a tax-exempt way of managing payments received under native title agreements. It is suggested that such a vehicle might be a suitable alternative to a charitable trust and could overcome some of the limitations of charitable trusts, enabling it to (for example) limit benefits to a specified group of native title holders, or to fund activities associated with establishing a business.

This consultation paper also discusses how existing deductible gift recipient (DGR) categories could be better adapted to reflect the needs of Indigenous communities, including whether a new general DGR category that includes organisations that carry out activities across multiple DGR categories should be created.

Treasury is inviting comment on the consultation paper. The closing date for submissions is Friday 2 July 2010.

Further information and the consultation paper itself available at: http://www.treasury.gov.au/contentitem.asp?NavId=037&ContentID=1809

Conference 2010: Draft Programme now available

The Draft Programme for Philanthropy Australia’s Conference 2010: Philanthropy at the Tipping Point? is now available to download:
www.philanthropy.org.au/conference/Philanthropy-Australia-Conference-2010-DRAFT.pdf

For confirmed speakers, news and further details visit the Philanthropy Australia Conference 2010 website:
www.philanthropy.org.au/conference/

New PAF Governance Workshops Announced

New dates for Philanthropy Australia’s Private Ancillary Fund (PAF) Governance Workshops are now open for bookings.

Run by Philanthropy Australia’s Treasurer, David Ward, this workshop is a must for both established and new PAFs, covering new governance rules as well as relevant legislation, responsibilities and transition arrangements.

With 30 June and end of financial year requirements fast approaching, this is the best time to attend and make sure everything’s covered.

Melbourne: Tuesday 15 June
Sydney: Wednesday 16 June

And there are still spaces available for the PAF Governance Workshop being held in Adelaide on 25 May.

To make a booking or find out more information, visit the PAF Governance Workshops page.

New Events

Quite a few subjects are covered in this round of  calendar updates, especially indigenous and environment.

• Lunch with Minister Gavin Jennings: Victorian Government Environmental Priorities and Dialogue with Environment Funders (18 May, Melbourne)
• Morning tea with Bruce Lourie and Rick Smith, authors of one of Australia’s latest best selling books Slow Death by Rubber Duck (20 May, Sydney)
• Reading, Writing and Contemporary Arab Life (23 May, Sydney)
• Lessons from Indigenous Land Management Projects in Canada and an Introduction to Indigenous Land Management in Australia, with Bruce Lourie (24 May, Melbourne)
• Future Summit 2010 (24-25 May, Melbourne)
• The Amsterdam Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency (26-28 May, Netherlands)
• The Maimonides Society Winter 2010 Gathering - Marketing & Media: For new & progressive philanthropic campaigns (7 June, Melbourne)
• Youth Mentoring in Victoria Briefing (8 June, Melbourne)
• Indigenous Policy Implementation (23-25 June, Queensland)

For further details visit the Events Calendar.

PwC Transparency Awards

The 2010 PwC Transparency Awards were announced last night, May 6, in Sydney. Congratulations to the winner World Vision and runner-up Mission Australia.

Gina Anderson, CEO of Philanthropy Australia and spokesperson for the Jury, presented the awards which are co-sponsored by PwC, the Centre for Social Impact and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. The Awards, now in their third year, raise the profile and the quality of transparent reporting across the not-for-profit sector.

The five finalists were: World Vision; Mission Australia; Surf Life Saving Australia; The Benevolent Society; and Vision Australia.

You can read more on the PwC Transparency Awards website

New Positions Vacant

Two positions have become available in the sector this week:

•  Trusts & Foundations Coordinator, Australian Red Cross (VIC, Applications close 14 May)
• Yarra Representative (Board position), Inner North Community Foundation (VIC, Applications close 21 May)

For further details please see the Positions Vacant page.

Conference 2010: New Confirmed Speakers & Facilitator

We’re very excited to confirm more speakers for this year’s Philanthropy Australia Conference:

• Neil Balnaves AO - The Balnaves Foundation
• Tanya Hosch - International Funders of Indigenous Peoples (North America); Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund; The Australian Centre for Social Innovation
• Roger Allen - Allen & Buckridge; John Button Foundation
• Jill Reichstein OAM - Reichstein Foundation; Pilotlight Australia; Trust for Young Australians; Melbourne Health Ethics Committee; Changemakers Australia; Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN)

And we have also confirmed Ray Martin AM as one of our facilitators.

For more details visit the Philanthropy Australia Conference 2010 website.