philanthropyOz Blog

WA Community Foundation Calls for Leadership

Registrations are now open for Western Australian Community Foundation’s 2008 Summit “Today’s Choice for Tomorrow: Lead, follow or get out of the way!” held on Friday, 19 September at the Government House Ballroom in Perth.

The Summit will offer fertile ground for learning, sharing and understanding by:

- Exposing participants to a variety of experiences and perspectives on community leadership today;
- Connecting participants, enhancing partnerships across a range of sectors in our State;
- Engaging participants in thought provoking discussion on the challenges and rewards leadership entails; and
- Providing participants with information and skills to lead the way.

In order to support participation from communities across the state, the Foundation is able to provide limited travel assistance for regional delegates. Skywest is providing support for eligible community representatives to apply for air travel assistance from a number of regional centres. The 2008 Summit is also supported by Summit Partners Rio Tinto and Lotterywest; and Summit Sponsors St John of God Health Care, iiNet and 2020 Global.

For further information visit www.wacf.org.au or contact Western Australian Community Foundation on (08) 9224 6000.

Gardiner Innovation and Biotechnology 2008 funding recipients announced

Seventeen new projects share project funding of over $3.15 million from the Gardiner Foundation Innovation and Biotechnology Programs in decisions announced yesterday. Matching funding provided by the project organisations and other funding bodies will create total new investment for the dairy industry of almost $5.6 million, with the new projects including a good balance between on-farm and post-farm gate technologies.

Case studies describing the projects are available on www.gardinerfoundation.com.au.

» Download the entire press release (PDF)

Philanthropy Australia Conference - registration open

Registration is now open for Philanthropy: Passion and Purpose, Philanthropy Australia’s 2008 Conference.

Ignited by passion for a cause and a desire to make a difference, we all know that it’s easy to give - but many of us have discovered it’s considerably more difficult to give effectively. Philanthropy’s role is unique - it can operate where markets and government don’t, won’t, can’t or shouldn’t. This conference is a special opportunity to balance the passion with the purpose, to get inspired, informed and networked in the philanthropic community.

Who should attend?

• Trustees and staff of family, private, community, Prescribed Private Fund, and corporate foundations
• Professional advisers who advise clients on their philanthropy
• Families and individuals who want to make a difference through their own philanthropy or to inspire others to give

Join us for this exciting two-day programme that explores the many complex and compelling issues that surround philanthropy, through a series of practical and engaging conference sessions.

To register for the conference please go to the conference page on our website:

http://www.philanthropy.org.au/conference/

Report on Philanthropy in the ACT available

A review of philanthropy in the Australian Capital Territory is now available online. The report, commissioned by the ACT Department of Disability, Housing & Community Services, details the nature and extent of philanthropic giving in the ACT, with the aim of identifying its adequacy, trends, impediments and opportunities for growth. Philanthropy Australia was consulted as part of the research of this report, as were several of our Members. The ACT Government’s response to the report is also available.

This review of ACT philanthropy is one of very few state and territory based studies in Australia - as far as we can ascertain, the only other is the Queensland Community Foundation’s 2005 review Philanthropy’s Future in the Smart State.

Download A Review of Philanthropy in the Australian Capital Territory directly from the DHCS website here.

Wagerup Sustainability Fund Launched in WA

The Wagerup Sustainability Fund, that will support initiatives to make a positive contribution to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the region surrounding the Wagerup refinery, was launched on July 4.

The Fund, established with an initial donation of $400,000 from Alcoa of Australia (cornerstone partner of Western Australian Community Foundation since its inception in 2004), will be administered by the WA Community Foundation as Trustee. Further, Alcoa has made a multi million dollar commitment to the Fund, which will be linked to production at the Wagerup refinery and could be up to $15 million over the next 20 years.

The Wagerup Sustainability Fund will focus on supporting local projects and initiatives that:
- Produce long term sustainable outcomes for communities in and around Harvey and Waroona;
- Enhance leadership, knowledge, enterprise and innovation;
- Further preserve and protect the local environment; and
- Contribute to creating stronger communities.

Two local advisory committees, representing communities within the Shire of Harvey and Shire of Waroona have been established to work closely with the Foundation by seeking and recommending local initiatives to effectively distribute funds to the respective community.

For further information please contact the Foundation on (08) 9224 6000 or visit www.wacf.org.au.

New program to encourage philanthropy to the arts in WA

The Western Australian Department of Culture and the Arts, with input from ArtSupport Australia, have launched Australia’s first Philanthropy Incentive Program.

The Philanthropy Incentive Program will encourage individuals, groups and businesses to establish charitable trusts and boost philanthropy to the arts, by encouraging the establishment of philanthropic funds of $500,000 or more.

New philanthropic funds or foundations can participate in the Program which contributes up to 7.5 per cent of the initial capital start-up funds in a new fund or foundation to a Western Australian arts organisation. The benefit of this is that it allows newly established funds to leverage their contributions with an additional contribution by the Western Australian State Government.

Eligibility guidelines and further information on the Program is available via the Department of Culture and the Art’s website, or by calling (08) 9224 7300.

Inquiry into the Disclosure regimes for charities and not-for-profit organisations

A Senate inquiry is now underway into the disclosure regimes and models of regulation for charities and not-for-profit organisations.

On 18 June 2008, the Senate referred the Disclosure regimes for Charities and not-for-profit organisations to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics for report by the last sitting day of November 2008. The inquiry will examine:

1. the relevance and appropriateness of current disclosure regimes for charities and all other not-for-profit organisations;

2. models of regulation and legal forms that would improve governance and management of charities and not-for-profit organisations and cater for emerging social enterprises, and;

3. other measures that can be taken by government and the not-for-profit sector to assist the sector to improve governance, standards, accountability and transparency in its use of public and government funds.

Submissions that reflect the issues and solutions that best meet the needs of the sector are encouraged. Submissions will close on 29 August 2008.

To find out more about the Inquiry into the Disclosure regimes for Charities and not-for-profit organisations, and how you can make a submission, visit the Parliament of Australia Senate website.

News, Position Vacant

New on the Website - Position Vacant: Program & Communications Coordinator - AMP Foundation (Sydney)

‘World Poverty for Dummies’ Book Launch

Tim Costello of World Vision Australia will launch this new book that aims to make poverty a little more understandable to all of us.
Those attending will hear about the book and Tim’s recent trip to Myanmar. Author Sarah Marland from Amnesty International will also speak.

All are welcome to the Carilllo Gantner Theatre at the Sidney Myer Asia Centre (corner of Swanston st. and Monash rd) on Friday the 20th June from 5.30 - 7.30 pm.

Please contact dominic.keyzer@worldvision.com.au for more details

Queen’s Birthday Honours

Philanthropy Australia would like to warmly congratulate the following Members who have been honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List:

Paul Clitheroe (Clitheroe Foundation, and Philanthropy Australia Council Member)
Member of the Order of Australia for service to the financial sector through the promotion of financial literacy, and to the community.

Martyn Myer (The Myer Foundation and Telematics Trust)
Officer of the Order of Australia for service to business and the community, particularly through contributions to medical research and the establishment of the Florey Neurosciences Institute and through executive and philanthropic roles with a range of organisations.

We offer congratulations to Paul and Martyn.

Find the complete Honours List on the Governor General’s website.

We would be pleased to hear from any other Members not acknowledged here who have received Honours.

Indigenous Governance Awards - Celebrating Indigenous Governance

Reconciliation Australia have published Celebrating Indigenous Governance, a publication based on the applications from the 2005 Indigenous Government Awards.

The Indigenous Governance Awards were created by Reconciliation Australia in partnership with BHP Billiton to identify, celebrate and promote effective Indigenous governance. The national awards highlight success in Indigenous Australia - strong leadership, good management, effective partnerships and brave, creative thinking.

The first two years of the awards (2005 and 2006) drew 104 applications, with a total of $50,000 awarded to organisations to continue building and developing good governance. The achievements of the applicants, finalists and winners in previous years were widely reported in the Indigenous and mainstream media.

The publication, Celebrating Indigenous Governance - Success stories of the Indigenous Governance Awards is available for free download from the IGA website.

Click here to find out more about the Awards.