philanthropyOz Blog

ABS Not-for-profit Sector Draft Information Development Plan

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has the published a Draft Information Development Plan for the Not-for-Profit Sector. This publication outlines the ABS’ response to recommendation 5.1 of the 2010 Productivity Commission Report on the contribution of the non-profit sector to Australia’s economy and wellbeing.

The Productivity Commission made several recommendations to effect the collection and dissemination of data relevant to the non-profit sector, and also recommended that the ABS was best suited to draw up an information development plan that addressed statistical information needs for the non-profit sector, a measurement framework, the availability of statistical information, and avenues of future data development.

This Draft Information Development Plan is released to help guide discussion of the statistical needs and priorities for the sector and also to draw attention to the statistical potential of information held in government administrative systems.

Comments can be made on this publication, which should be addressed to Derick Cullen (d.cullen@abs.gov.au), Director, Macroeconomics Research Section Australian Bureau of Statistics.

» Download the Draft Information Development Plan for the Not-for-Profit Sector document here

Transatlantic Community Foundation Network’s focus on Australia

Recently the Transatlantic Community Foundation Network (TCFN) spoke with Philanthropy Australia’s Andrew Lawson, to discuss issues and developments affecting Australia’s community foundations.

Their July 2010 newsletter featured this discussion covering historical development and sustainability of community foundations, Victorian State Government initiatives, as well as outlining formative stages of the emerging Fremantle Foundation.

You can read the article on the Community Foundations Gateway, download the full newsletter here, or visit the TCFN website to download this and other recent issues of their newsletter.

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 PAFs Trustee Handbook launched

With the commencement of the new regulatory regime governing Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs) effective 1 October 2009, Philanthropy Australia has created a booklet which will serve as a handbook for all PAFs.

Announced by the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Nick Sherry, the Private Ancillary Funds Trustee Handbook was well received at its launch on 10 November in Melbourne.

• Download the Private Ancillary Funds Trustee Handbook (PDF)

• Download the official media release (PDF)

• Read the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Nick Sherry’s speech from the launch

• Download author David Ward’s speech from the launch (PDF)

• See details on the new PAF Governance Workshops coming up in November

• More details available on the PhilanthropyWiki

Launch of the Trustee Handbook for Private Ancillary Funds

With the commencement of the new regulatory regime governing Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs), formerly Prescribed Private Funds (PPFs) effective 1 October 2009, Philanthropy Australia has created a booklet which will serve as a handbook for all PAFs.

The PAF Handbook has been written by David Ward, the author of the very well received Trustee Handbook, and will be provided free on-line.

Members and Associates are invited to the launch of the Private Ancillary Fund Handbook by the Assistant Treasurer, Senator the Hon. Nick Sherry.

This event is being generously hosted by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation.

When:  10:00am - 11:00am, Tuesday 10 November 2009
Where: Condell Room, Level 1, Melbourne Town Hall, Corner Swanston and Collins Streets, Melbourne
RSVP: Bookings essential. Please contact Annie Scoufis: a.scoufis@philanthropy.org.au, (02) 9223 0155, by Thursday 05 November 2009

We hope to see you there!

Giving in the Recession: UK report

The UK-based Institute for Philanthropy has released a report entitled ‘Giving in the Recession’ which details ways in which donors can fund strategically during the Global Financial Crisis and the UK recession. The report includes six case studies on how a range of philanthropic individuals and organisations are responding to the economic crisis through strategies including collaborative funding, spending down, social investment, and leadership roles.

The report is available for download from: the Institute for Philanthropy website.

‘Background Briefing’ on the Third Sector

For those of you who might have missed the recent Background Briefing program on the not-for-profit sector on ABC Radio National, you can read the transcript, listen online or download the audio file from the RN website.

The program, titled ‘Inventing the Third Sector’, features many voices familiar to Philanthropy Australia Members and makes fascinating listening.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/

Cheryl Kernot’s quiet revolution

In a far-ranging article from Griffith Review titled ‘A Quiet Revolution’, Cheryl Kernot, director of teaching and learning at the Centre for Social Impact at the University of New South Wales, presents a compelling exploration of social change efforts in the UK and Australia.

Giving numerous examples of successful (and unsuccessful) grassroots-led social change initiatives, Kernot interweaves the story of her developing interest in the field of social inclusion. She argues that in Australia we have some way to go in improving our structures, language and understanding of the third sector and its true value, and that social entrepreneurship has great potential in improving the health and vitality of communities and ultimately people’s quality of life.

Griffith Review is a subscription-based journal. This article can be downloaded via the PhilanthropyWiki.

Philanthropy Australia news

Joanna Fulton
We briefly welcomed our newest staff member Joanna Fulton in the March Philanthropy Review. As Jo is often the voice on the end of our telephone, and will be contributing regularly to the philanthropyOz Blog, I thought I’d introduce her to you properly.

Jo is our Web and Communications Administrator - she manages our various websites and listservs, contributes to the Blog and the PhilanthropyWiki, responds to the ‘info@philanthropy.org.au’ email and assists with general office administration. Having worked in online communications and the web production industry for several years, Jo brings us a valuable depth of knowledge around the use of IT. She has also been involved over the years with a number of not-for-profit organisations including the Starlight Children’s Foundation and the Wilderness Society. Jo is gradually getting to know our Members, so please say ‘hello’ to her next time you have need to contact us.

Cheryl Van Der Hor
We also also delighted to welcome Cheryl Van Der Hor to our team. Cheryl has joined us for two days per week on a pro-bono basis to assist with various projects. Previously Cheryl was a Senior Manager working in a specialist tax role with a large accounting practice based in Melbourne. She has a particular interest, and over ten years of experience, in tax matters affecting the not-for-profit sector including income tax exemptions, GST concessions and FBT concessions. So far Cheryl has assisted us with projects including provision of FBT guidance to Philanthropy Australia members, preparation of information to the Corporate Network regarding salary sacrificing staff donations, and input to the Senate Review submissions - for which we are extremely appreciative.

If you have any tax queries relating to the status or operations of your organisation, please feel free to pass these along as Cheryl is very happy to provide guidance as appropriate. (Please note, however, that neither Cheryl nor Philanthropy Australia is able to provide binding advice on technical matters). Cheryl can be contacted via Vanessa’s email v.meachen@philanthropy.org.au

Hot off the press: Australian Philanthropy, April 2009 edition
Issue 72 ‘Giving in hard times: Philanthropists at work in an uncertain economy’ has just been published and will shortly arrive in Members’ and subscribers’ letter boxes.

In this issue we hear from philanthropy leaders about their experience of, and predictions for, grantmaking in times of recession: Teresa Zolnierkiewicz’s article on ‘Embracing Perpetuity’ is essential reading, and don’t miss our interview with Paul Clitheroe.

Our regular readers will notice that we have a dynamic new design for ‘Australian Philanthropy’ and have moved to print on 100% recycled paper. We would love to hear your opinion on our new look - email me on l.arkles@philanthropy.org.au

If you are not a Member of Philanthropy Australia you needn’t miss out - an annual subscription (3 issues) costs just $76. Click here to read more about the journal and subscribe.

Report on responding to the Victorian Bushfires

Effective Philanthropy have written an excellent paper, probono as part of their donation, entitled ‘Responding to the Victorian Bushfires - What Role for Philanthropy?’. It has been structured to help philanthropists get a better understanding of what support affected communities will need, and what role philanthropy can best play, to support the community recovery and renewal process. It draws on Australian and overseas experience to identify good grantmaking principles in a disaster recovery context, and provides an overview of the types of activities that philanthropy support.

The paper can be downloaded from the Victorian Bushfires page on our Website.