philanthropyOz Blog

Conference update 3

The atmosphere at the Conference is vibrant, with challenging speakers and a highly engaged audience.  While the sessions range from single issue/single speaker (and you can’t get better than Prof. Pat McGorry speaking about his philanthropy-funded work in mental health), to panel sessions across a range of timely issues - there is a coherence to the event, with several themes emerging: need for long term commitments to achieve generational change around social issues; the importance of foundations and donors allocating part of their grant portfolio to risk taking; the unparalled need  for foundations and philanthropists to work together and collaborate. Much food for thought.

Conference update 2

The impressive Plenary address by Professor Patrick McGorry offered an excellent example of Why Philanthropy? in its overview of funded mental health project results.  

Medicines for Malaria Venture makes IP freely available for neglected diseases research

New international Member MMV (Medicines for Malaria Venture) has become the first product development partnership (PDP) to contribute intellectual property to the Pool for Open Innovation Against Neglected Tropical Diseases.

The Pool was established in February 2009 by GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals and has since been joined by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). It seeks to stimulate innovative and efficient drug discovery and development by providing public access to intellectual property (IP) and scientific know-how for neglected tropical disease research. The Pool is administered by BIO Ventures for Global Health (BVGH). The geographic focus of the pool will be the world’s Least Developed Countries as identified by the United Nations and includes much of western and central Africa as well as several countries in Southeast Asia.

Medicines for Malaria Venture, a not-for-profit public-private partnership, was established as a foundation in Switzerland in 1999. Its mission is to bring public, private and philanthropic sector partners together to fund and manage the discovery, development and delivery of new medicines for the treatment and prevention of malaria in disease-endemic countries.

As contributor to the Pool, MMV will make available its IP, technology and expertise in the research and development (R&D) of antimalarial drugs to researchers developing medicines for neglected diseases.

For more information see the press release on MMV’s website.

Philanthropy Australia now Tweeting

Philanthropy Australia has a new Twitter account for our Members, colleagues and international counterparts to keep up to date with noteworthy philanthropic sector news and happenings at Philanthropy Australia.

You can follow us on Twitter here:
http://twitter.com/PhilanthropyAus

As another avenue of communication, we’re hoping this will be useful for those who are time-poor and prefer brief updates, and also satisfy those who like frequent updates as they happen; including the Philanthropy Australia conference proceedings.

We’re sure you’ve heard of Twitter, but if you’re not certain how it works take a look at the Twitter Basics guide here.

Community Council for Australia welcomes Labor announcement

The Community Council for Australia (CCA) has welcomed the Australian Labor Party’s announcement that it would establish an Office for the Not-For-Profit Sector and, if elected, would implement other recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s report which was released in February. CCA chair and CEO of World Vision, Reverend Tim Costello, said “This was a key recommendation of the Productivity Commission and will play an important role in having consistency across the nation and across government. This is the first time that the sector has had a single reference point within Government.”

For more information see the CCA media release on Philanthropy Australia’s website.

Change at Philanthropy Australia

After nearly five years as Chief Executive Officer of Philanthropy Australia, Gina Anderson has decided to step down from her role.

In thanking Gina for her contribution, the President of Philanthropy Australia, Mr Bruce Bonyhady AM, said “ I wish to place on record the appreciation of Council for the dedication and verve with which Gina has served Australian philanthropy while our Chief Executive.  Gina has ably overseen the development of Philanthropy Australia into an organisation with a truly national focus. She can be justifiably proud of the progress and achievements that have been made under her leadership and the Council wishes her well in her future endeavours.”

The effective date for Gina’s resignation is 30 September 2010, and the Council of Philanthropy Australia has appointed a search firm, Boardroom Partners, to handle the process for the recruitment of Gina’s successor, which is anticipated will take several months.

Download the media release on Gina Anderson’s resignation

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.

Greengrants Climate Fund

An alliance of companies, 1% for the Planet, and Global Greengrants Fund have joined forces to provide a small grants approach to combating climate change. 1% for the Planet, a worldwide coalition of 1,200 companies who donate 1 per cent of their sales to environmental organizations, is helping to launch the Greengrants Climate Fund. The Fund will pool contributions from individuals, foundations and companies, using them in the form of small grants to those most affected by climate change. The grants, which will range from $500 to $5,000, will be given to selected community groups to develop alternative energy sources, protect tropical forests, train farmers in resilient agricultural techniques, and generally address climate change and its impact around the globe.

For more information go to: www.greengrants.org/breakingnews.php?news_id=283

Asian Venture Philanthropy Network to launch

The following news appeared in the July Alliance e-bulletin:

Doug Miller and Rob John, two of the architects of the European Venture Philanthropy Association, are launching the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network. The network will be a pan-Asian organization, with headquarters in Singapore and local chapters covering India, Greater China, Japan and ASEAN countries. AVPN is currently recruiting for the post of executive director, to be based in Singapore with substantial regional travel. In addition to extensive Asian experience, candidates should have an entrepreneurial approach and be fluent in one or two Asian languages.

For more information go to: www.avpn.asia
For enquiries about the executive director post, contact doug@avpn.asia or rob@avpn.asia

Conference Site Visits open for bookings

A programme of site visits Showcasing Good Practice - to be held prior to the Philanthropy Australia Conference 2010: philanthropy at the tipping point? - is now open for bookings.

All who register to attend the Opening Dinner and/or the Conference are welcome to attend the site visits. These will all take place on the afternoon of Tuesday 31 August, before the Opening Dinner. They are an opportunity for those attending the Conference to see their peers’ grants in action, and hear from both partners together - funders and recipients.

You will need to quote your Conference Registration Number when you book, so make sure you register for the Conference and/or the Opening Dinner first. Bookings are taken on a first-come-first-served basis - so don’t delay!

• Westpac Foundation - STREAT for lunch
• FRRR & Community Enterprise Foundation - Circus Oz: Collaborative Philanthropic Response to the 2009 Victorian Bushfires
• ANZ Trustees - Collie Print Trust, Australian Print Workshop
• The Besen Family Foundation - Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces and Australian Centre for Contemporary Art
• The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund - Ross House Association, Travellers Aid, and others from the Celebrating our Partners project
• State Trustees - Asylum Seekers Resource Centre
• Colonial Foundation - Orygen Youth Health Research Centre
• Westpac Foundation - Social Studio
• ANZ Trustees - Wintringham

Go to the Conference website www.philanthropy.org.au/conference/site-visits.html and click on the Site Visits link – to download the full programme: www.philanthropy.org.au/conference/site-visits.html