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

Towards a Manifesto for a Thriving Not for Profit Sector

“Just as Governments depend on a thriving Not for Profit Sector for community well-being, so the Sector depends on Government for policy, regulation and funding support.”

Pro Bono Australia are urging the not-for-profit sector to take advantage of this election period to send a clear message to Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott and Bob Brown about how the Australian Government can improve and strengthen its support for the not-for-profit sector. To this end they have developed a short survey for you to express your opinion.

The survey, developed in collaboration with the Centre for Social Impact, is based on the recent Productivity Commission report on the Contribution of the Not for Profit Sector. It asks which Productivity Commission recommendations you would like the next Government to implement and, for some, how you would like them implemented. It includes questions about sector wages, funding, and regulatory burdens.

The deadline for completing the survey is 3 August 2010. Find and fill out the survey on the Pro Bono Australia website.

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

Philanthropy Australia AGM & 2009 Annual Report

Philanthropy Australia’s Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday April 28. Philanthropy Australia’s President, Bruce Bonyhady, presented Members with the President’s Report for 2009 and then provided some thoughtful comments on the factors which make Australian philanthropy distinctive and on how the sector might grow in the future. Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes of the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at QUT then launched the study ‘Australian Foundations and the Downturn’ by Dr Diana Leat, examining the response of Australian foundations to the global financial crisis.

For more information please visit the Annual Report page.

Download Bruce Bonyhady’s speech
Download Myles McGregor-Lowndes’ presentation

Download Philanthropy Australia’s 2009 Annual Report

2007-08 Taxation Statistics released: new figures on giving

The ATO has released Taxation Statistics 2007-08. The chapter on Charities and Deductible Gifts reveals some interesting growth figures in the sector:

• Individuals claimed $2,346 million in deductible gifts in the 07/08 financial year, an increase of 24.5% on the previous year
• Private Ancillary Funds (then Prescribed Private Funds) had $1.8 billion under management at the end of 2008 financial year
• At end October 2009 there were 52,775 tax concession charities and 26,549 active deductible gift recipients in Australia

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!

Not-for-profit statistics released

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released data from the Non-Profit Institutions Satellite Account which reveals the economic and employment contribution that the not-for-profit sector makes to the Australian community.

Among the points in the report:

• There were 58,779 not-for-profit organisations registered with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in Australia at June 2007.
• Not-for-profit organisations contributed almost $43 billion to Australia’s economy in 2006-07, or 4.1%.
• In 2006-07, volunteers contributed 623 million hours to not-for-profit organisations, or the equivalent of 317,200 full-time jobs. The economic value of these hours is estimated at $14.6 billion.
• In 2006-07, the not-for-profit sector employed almost 890,000 people.

The full report is downloadable from the ABS.

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.

New Projects Pool launched for Members

Philanthropy Australia is delighted to announced that our Projects Pool is now live!

Designed as a tool for our Full Members to share information about projects, the Project Pool is a reservoir of recommended projects for which non-profits are currently seeking funding. Each project listed has been recommended by a Philanthropy Australia Full Member - usually one which a Member has received an application for, and assessed as outstanding, but cannot themselves fund.

Using the Projects Pool Members can:

• Recommend projects for funding
• Seek out projects which come recommended by other funders, having had initial due diligence undertaken.

The Projects Pool offers a convenient, discreet and secure way for our Members to share project recommendations.

To access the Projects Pool go to our homepage and click on the link under Membership, or go direct to www.philanthropy.org.au/projects.

We are looking forward to filling the Pool with great projects, furthering collaboration and growing philanthropy.