philanthropyOz Blog

$2 million salary to science

Mike Quigley, chief executive of the National Broadband Network, will donate his entire first-year pay cheque of $2 million to Neuroscience Research Australia. The funds will be used for an initiative to deliver remote rehabilitation therapy to stroke patients using the Nintendo Wii games console, as well as for various other projects which will aid research into brain diseases and stroke rehabilitation.

More information on The Australian.

The Telematics Trust - Funding opportunity open

Applications are now open for the Telematics Trust. The next closing date for applications is 13 August 2010

The Telematics Trust provides seed capital to support initiatives which are innovative, educationally driven and market oriented. Areas of interest to the Trust include the delivery of education or on-the-job training by means of electronic technology and distance learning. The Trust is a public charitable trust established by the Victorian Government in 1987.

The Trust generally provides grants of $30,000 or less; however, consideration will be given to larger grant requests where there are a number of funding partners involved and/or partnership funding is secured, or where the application forms a distinct part of a larger project. The trust can also provide equity and debt of up to $100,000.

Further information about the Telematics Trust and application forms can be obtained from www.telematics.org.au or the Secretariat, Level 18, 8 Exhibition Street, Melbourne or Telephone +61 3 9207 3035.

Macquarie Group Foundation announces $3.7 million funding

The Macquarie Group Foundation has announced funding commitments totalling $3.7 million. This first round of philanthropic funding for 2010 signifies an important milestone for the Foundation, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The four recipients are:

• Cure Cancer Australia (three years’ support for CAN TOO program)
• Mission Australia (five years’ support for the Research and Social Policy Unit)
• Australia Business Arts Foundation (three years’ support for administration of the Australia Cultural Fund)
• The Canberra Symphony Orchestra (three years’ support for Noteworthy schools-based music education program)

For more information see: http://www.macquarie.com/foundation/index.htm

$25 million gift to UTS

Chinese business leader, Dr Chau Chak Wing, has made a donation of $25 million to the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). $20 million will go to construction of a new building for the Faculty of Business, the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2013 at a total cost of $150 million. The remaining $5 million will go to creating an endowment fund for scholarships.

For more information see the UTS news item.

New Events

Social change and tax matters are the theme of this week’s event updates, as well as some new dates for our Affinity Groups and Forums. Of particular note is Philanthropy Australia’s International Aid Forum; a topic that is gathering new discussion.

• Understanding the basics of Deductable Gift Recipient (DGR) tax concession status (13 July, Melbourne)
• The Spirit of Social Enterprise Forum (15 July, Adelaide)
• Challenging Assumptions in Indigenous Funding (20 July, Sydney)
• SCOSS Conference 2010: Defining Strength, Delivering Innovation (5-6 August, Adelaide)
• Melbourne’s Road Home Forum III - What can we do to help? (26 August, Melbourne)

Members Only

• Members Mid-Year Update (28 July, Sydney)
• International Aid Forum (3 August, Sydney)
• Updated: Arts Affinity Group meeting (4 August, Melbourne)
• Addressing Homelessness Affinity Group meeting (4 August, Sydney)
• Health and Medical Research Forum (4 November, Sydney)

For further details please see our Events Calendar.

To submit a philanthropy-related event, see the news & events submission page.

Nominate for the 2010 Justice Awards (NSW)

Nominations are now open for the 2010 Justice Awards.

The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW holds the annual Awards acknowledging the efforts that individuals and organisations have made to improving access to Justice in NSW, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people.

Nominate for:

• The Justice Medal
• The Aboriginal Justice Award
• The Law and Justice Volunteer Award
• The Pro Bono Partnership Award

These Awards, along with The Law Society President’s Award, the Combined Community Legal Centres Group Award and the LIAC Centre of Excellence Award will be presented at a Dinner on 14 October 2010.

Nominations close on 23 July 2010. For further information, contact the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW on 02 8227 3200 or www.lawfoundation.net.au/justice_awards

New Position Vacant

The Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation are seeking an Assistant Program Officer to play a key role in grant making and management, and engaging in VFFF’s social investments.

Applications close 25 June.

For further details please see the Positions Vacant page.

The Giving Pledge: Buffett and Gates encourage wealthiest Americans to give

Warren Buffett has joined Bill and Melinda Gates in a new campaign urging billionaires to pledge the majority of their wealth to philanthropy, either during their lifetime or after death. The campaign follows meetings they have been holding across America to encourage other billionaire donors to commit at least 50% of their wealth to philanthropy.

Warren Buffett, who has committed to pledging 99% of his wealth to philanthropy either during his lifetime or at death, explains his reasons in his own Philanthropic Pledge:

Millions of people who regularly contribute to churches, schools, and other organizations thereby relinquish the use of funds that would otherwise benefit their own families. The dollars these people drop into a collection plate or give to United Way mean forgone movies, dinners out, or other personal pleasures. In contrast, my family and I will give up nothing we need or want by fulfilling this 99% pledge.

The reaction of my family and me to our extraordinary good fortune is not guilt, but rather gratitude. Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others.

More information is available at The Giving Pledge website: http://givingpledge.org/

New CEO for Australian Women Donors Network

The Women Donors Network has appointed its inaugural CEO. Julia Keady, who recently ran the media relations campaign for the Women Mobilising Millions visit, has been appointed CEO. Julia comes to the philanthropic sector with media, marketing and events experience. She is currently undertaking the Masters in Business (Social Investment and Philanthropy) at Swinburne University, and also has a degree in both public relations and journalism.

For more information on the Australian Women Donors Network and their campaign to promote investment in women and girls, see their website at http://www.womendonors.org.au/

Inquiry into Tax Laws Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010

Philanthropy Australia has submitted comments in response to the Inquiry into Tax Laws Amendment (Public Benefit Test) Bill 2010.

Excerpt:

We would direct the Committee’s attention to recommendation 7.1 of the Productivity Commission Report into the Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector as a more comprehensive and efficient way of ensuring clarity around the definition of charitable purposes.

RECOMMENDATION 7.1
The Australian Government should adopt a statutory definition of charitable purposes in accordance with the recommendations of the 2001 Inquiry into the Definition of Charities and Related Organisations.

» Download the letter to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee
» Available on the submissions page