philanthropyOz Blog

New: Philanthropy 101 Seminars

We’re pleased to announce a new ongoing seminar series - Philanthropy 101 - for those new to the philanthropic sector or seeking to learn more about it.

Attendees may be trustees, grants administrators or private givers, or just those wondering what it’s all about.

In this seminar Philanthropy Australia staff Rikki Andrews and Vanessa Meachen will:

• give you a social and historical overview of philanthropy;
• highlight what is unique about Australian grantmaking;
• provide insight into giving structures, statistics and trends;
• and indicate key resources.

This is a great opportunity for those new to the sector to understand where they fit in, to envisage their own organisation in the context of the wider sector, and to meet fellow philanthrocrats.

Anyone is welcome, including those who are not Members of Philanthropy Australia. Fees are $180 for Members and $220 for Non-Members per attendee, including GST.

The first seminar will be held in Melbourne on 30 August, with dates for other cities to be announced soon.

» Find out more about the Philanthropy 101 Seminars

» Register online now for Melbourne, 30 August

» Register your interest in attending in other cities

Registrations Now Open - Australian Community Foundation Forum 2011

Registrations are now open for the Australian Community Foundation Forum 2011, co-hosted by Philanthropy Australia and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), to be held in Kingscliff NSW from Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 August.

» Click here for more information on the Forum

Download the registration form (PDF)

Download the Programme Outline (PDF)

The Forum, conducted each year in locations around Australia, is the annual event for Community Foundation practitioners, Board members, staff and volunteers to come together to discuss, learn and expand the capacity of Community Foundations in Australia. It’s also the perfect venue for those people from communities seeking to learn about the movement and what it can achieve for their community. We also invite those in Government and public service to attend to find out what Community Foundations can do, are achieving and hope to achieve for the Australian community in the years ahead.

All CF delegates are requested to bring along a poster to represent and provide a talking point on your projects, achievements and future plans.

Feedback is invited on major topics of interest to be included in the Programme - please email Andrew Lawson, Philanthropy Australia’s Community Foundation Development Officer, at ajlawson@bigpond.com with your suggestions.

Positions Vacant & Event Calendar Update

New Positions Vacant

The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research have two positions open:

Trusts and Foundations Manager, responsible for developing relationships and maximising income from Trusts and Foundations by engaging with relevant contacts, researching and writing strategies and submitting applications. Working collaboratively with the Community Relations and Development Manager as well as a wide range of scientific and support staff, the successful candidate will be a keen team player with strong experience in managing and developing the trust and foundations function. A science background is essential.

Development Officer, engaging with the community across a number of sectors including the legal and financial sectors, to raise the profile of the institute. Experience in engagement and relationship building is necessary to ultimately increase supporters and prospects. Working closely with the Community Relations Manager and Donor Relations Manager, the appointee will also need to research opportunities to profile the institute in the community both face to face and online. A background in community relations will be highly regarded.

»Visit the Positions Vacant page for further details

Events Calendar Update

New additions to our Events Calendar:

• Australian Social Policy Conference (6-8 July; NSW)
• TED Global 2011 - The Stuff of Life (11-15 July; Scotland & online)
• Maimonides Winter Gathering: Christine Edwards, Myer Family Company and Sidney Myer Fund (25 July; Melbourne)
• UPDATED: 4th Making Cities Liveable Conference (28-29 July; QLD)
• International Unity in Diversity Conference (18-19 August; QLD)
• UPDATED: Philanthropy Australia Oration (1 September; Sydney / 8 September; Melbourne)
• Grantseeker Workshop (16 September; Sydney / 11 October; Melbourne)

Members Only*

^{* Full Members of Philanthropy Australia only, unless otherwise specified.}

• UPDATED: Philanthropy Professional Development Workshop: Social Media (5 July; Melbourne)
• UPDATED: South Australia Network (5 July; Adelaide; non-Member grantmakers also welcome to attend)
• UPDATED: Affinity Group & Network Chairs Lunch (12 July; Melbourne)
• UPDATED: CEO Network Lunch (19 July; Melbourne)
• Education Affinity Group (20 July; Melbourne)
• CANCELLED: Circle of Learning (21 July; Sydney; Associate Members invited)
• UPDATED: Corporate Network (28 July; Melbourne)
• UPDATED: Arts Affinity Group - Combined Melbourne & Sydney AAGs (30 August; Canberra)
• UPDATED: CEO Network Lunch (18 October; Melbourne)
• UPDATED: Corporate Network (20 October; Melbourne)
• UPDATED: Affinity Group & Network Chairs Lunch (29 November; Melbourne)
• UPDATED: Philanthropy Australia’s All Members End of Year Celebration (7 December; Melbourne; Associate Members invited)

» Further details on these events are available on the Events Calendar.

Positions Vacant: Melbourne Citymission, University of Melbourne and Room to Read

Melbourne Citymission are seeking an energetic Corporate Partnerships Manager with strong communication and writing skills to influence and engage individuals in a rewarding philanthropic experience with the corporate sector.

Applications close 30 June 2011

» Visit the Positions Vacant page for further details

The University of Melbourne have two positions open within their fundraising teams:

Development Manager (Melbourne School of Engineering), working closely with the Dean of the School and other senior staff to develop major gifts strategy and to build and manage donor relationships, with an appreciation for the significance of engineering education and research.

Development Manager (VCAM), working across both the Victorian College of the Arts and the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music developing and delivering ambitious fundraising targets, major gifts strategy and donor relationships.

Applications for both positions close 10 July 2011

» Visit the Positions Vacant page for further details

Room to Read are seeking a Development Director, Australasia, to develop and manage donor relationships within the Australia and New Zealand region. Reporting directly to the Deputy Chief Development Officer located in San Francisco, you will also work closely with the local network of volunteers and board members.

Applications are open until the position is filled

» Visit the Positions Vacant page for further details

If you’d like to submit a job listing for the philanthropic sector or senior fundraising positions, please see our submissions page here.

Survey on Philanthropy for Indigenous Causes: responses sought

The research team at the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies is undertaking a survey to deepen the understanding of philanthropy for Indigenous causes. This is the fourth phase of research into Indigenous cause philanthropy and builds on in-depth interviews with grantmakers, grantseekers, and government.

The purpose of this research is to map the investment in Indigenous causes by philanthropy and to measure the leverage philanthropic investment has in procuring government funding. Uncovering the extent of financial leverage in a democracy more driven by budgetary considerations than at any time in history will provide powerful insight into the distribution of political power and the existing financial capacity of philanthropy to effect change in Indigenous wellbeing.

The research team is looking for representatives of philanthropic trusts, foundations, private and public ancillary funds and corporate foundations and trusts ( whether they fund Indigenous causes or not) who are best placed to report on their organisation’s financial support.

Responses are kept confidential: for further information see the Participant Information Sheet.

To access the survey, click here.

Survey - philanthropic investment in women and girls

The inaugural survey into the current level of philanthropic investment in women and girls conducted by the Australian Women Donors Network closes on 30 June.

Even if your organisaton does not specifically invest in women and girls, or does not categorise or record your grants that way, you are encouraged to fill out the survey as its purpose is to ascertain the extent to which gender is recognised in mainstream grant-making in Australia, as well as to map the current level of Australian philanthropic investment in women and girls.

The survey, consisting of 10 questions, should take about 10-15 minutes to complete and all responses will be treated confidentially; it can also be completed anonymously.

Full information on the project is available at: http://www.bus.qut.edu.au/research/cpns/documents/ParticipantInformationSheet.pdf

The survey can be accessed at: http://survey.qut.edu.au/survey/171858/1d53/.

Positions Vacant: Bjarne K Dahl Trust, State Trustees Limited

The Bjarne K Dahl Trust are seeking a self-motivated and highly organised Executive Officer to oversee and initiate the Trust’s projects, and to establish and build on its structures. The position requires a sympathetic understanding of natural resource management and community development as the Trust’s mission is to make a tangible contribution to environmental conservation.

Applications close 22 June 2011

» Visit the Positions Vacant page for further details

State Trustees Limited have an opening for a Charitable Trust Consultant with excellent communication and financial literacy skills to carry out trustee responsibilities and manage a portfolio of charitable trusts. Candidates should have a focus on customer service and experience in the philanthropic or community sector, to be part of this Charitable Trusts team encouraging community philanthropy.

Applications close 23 June 2011

» Visit the Positions Vacant page for further details

End of Financial Year Giving

As June 30 is approaching fast, we’d like to let grantmakers know that we have provided a simple guide on our website for end of financial year donations:
http://www.philanthropy.org.au/involved/end-of-financial-year.html

Our Giving to a Charity page is also helpful for direct giving, listing Associate Members of Philanthropy Australia who are able to receive donations, including a key for those that are other than Item 1 DGR.

If you are looking to disperse funds within your local community, our Members include many Community Foundations whose sub-funds invest directly into their geographic area.

Go to the Giving to a Charity page: http://www.philanthropy.org.au/involved/charities.html

Guest Post - The Connection Between Environmental & Indigenous Philanthropy

(The following guest post is by the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network.)

Did you know that Indigenous people formally own 1.7 million square kilometers of land in Australia or nearly 23% of the continent and are responsible for sea management across parts of the Australian coast including 85% of the Northern Territory coastline? Indigenous people have a connection with Australian country that has existed for thousands of years.

Cultivating this connection not only brings about conservation outcomes but cultural, economic, health and education benefits. However, reliable information about the work of indigenous groups and individuals and those supporting them can be hard to find. What is the nature of this land and sea ownership, which institutions facilitate this relationship and what is the role of philanthropy in this sector? Are there good philanthropic examples we can learn from?

The Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN) is holding its annual Conference on the 29th of June 2011 at the Melbourne Museum. This year the conference theme is Indigenous and environmental and funding.

International guest speaker, Diane Christensen of the U.S. based Christensen Fund, will speak about her journey in philanthropy and why the Fund focuses on Indigenous and environmental funding. Did you know that The Christensen Fund has had a long history with Australia? Its founder, Allen Christensen, visited regularly since the 1950s, and his company, Utah International, did much business here in the mining sector until its merger with BHP in Australia and General Electric in the USA in 1971 (the latter then the largest private merger on record). Subsequently Allen developed Southern Cross Mines, a joint venture evaporate salt project in Western Australia.

Other wonderful speakers will talk on issues including the relationship of Indigenous people to country, the institutions that are facilitating this relationship and the many benefits to Indigenous cultural, economic, health and education outcomes that come from helping this relationship to flourish. Together we will explore what funding has worked and why and what the role of philanthropy is and could be. We would love you to join us for this interesting and informative conference.

» For further details please click here to go to the AEGN website and download the Conference Invitation