philanthropyOz Blog

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.

Test case - definition of charity

Today’s Australian Financial Review reports that the Australian Taxation Office has lost a test case on the definition of charity, a decision which has the potential to significantly widen the range of organisations which might qualify for endorsement as a tax concession charity. The Victorian Women Lawyers’ Association has succeeded in being classified as a tax exempt charity despite its being a membership organisation and engaging in some advocacy activities, both of which are often barriers to endorsement as a charity.

Federal Court judge Robert French stated that “The political purposes limitation is not well defined and is more difficult of application today having regard to the change in social conditions since 1917 and the involvement of legislatures in areas unthought of at that time”.

You can read the full judgement in Victorian Women Lawyers’ Association Inc v. Commissioner of Taxation [2008] FCA 983 (27 June 2008) online at the Austlii website.

Fringe benefits protection for charitable sector employees

The Rudd Government will move urgent amendments in the Senate this week to protect employees in the charitable and not-for-profit sectors from losing up to $100 a fortnight because of the previous government’s changes to fringe benefit tax arrangements due to come into effect on 1 July 2008.

The Government’s amendments will restore the use of the net reportable fringe benefit in income definitions for Family Assistance, ensuring that staff in not-for-profit organisations will not suffer a loss of family tax or child care benefits after 1 July 2008 if their circumstances have not otherwise changed. The measures had enormous potential impact on the not-for-profit sector as many not-for-profit organisations compensate for lower wages by providing salary packages boosted by fringe benefits.

Further information available from the Press Release on Treasurer Wayne Swan’s website.

New reports on the PhilanthropyWiki

‘Our Children, Our Future - Achieving Improved Primary and Secondary Education Outcomes for Indigenous Students’

A new report was launched recently, published by the AMP Foundation, Effective Philanthropy and Social Ventures Australia, offering an overview of philanthropic investment opportunities and approaches to improving outcomes for Indigenous students.

The report ‘Our Children, Our Future - Achieving Improved Primary and Secondary Education Outcomes for Indigenous Students’ provides an overview of current Indigenous education challenges and outcomes, and the impact these have on Indigenous students’ opportunities to access post-secondary qualifications and employment. It identifies the key underlying factors that contribute to this state of affairs, including the social, community and home contexts in which students participate, and their own personal life experience.

The authors, Louise Doyle and Regina Hill, provide a framework for making philanthropic investments that will produce sustainable outcomes, identifying 8 interventions. Case studies for each intervention category are provided, along with key success factors to assist philanthropic investors to assess the effectiveness of individual intervention programs.

Acting wikily: how networks are changing social change

For those wanting to understand how new technologies are contributing to social change efforts, ‘Acting wikily: how networks are changing social change’ is a great place to start. This article explores how new technologies are changing the way we communicate and connect, with particular emphasis on the what this might mean for not-for-profit organisations and philanthropic foundations.

Such fundamental practices as how groups get formed and work gets done are changing, as social media (also called Web 2.0) technologies offer “new networked ways of behaving - ways of acting wikily - that are characterized by principles of openness, transparency, decentralized decision-making, and distributed action.”

The authors question what impact this might have on social change movements and philanthropy, now that organisations are no longer the only way to organise effort; effectiveness is no longer equated with longevity but with mobilization; and the power balance between experts and amateurs is shifting.

On a reassuring note, human elements still matter, with trust and authentic relationships being essential elements of successful online networking.

Vale Patricia Feilman AM

Philanthropy Australia is deeply saddened at the passing away of Pat Feilman on 28 May 2008.

Patricia Feilman AM will be well-known to a great many of our members and friends from her 36 years as Executive Secretary of The Ian Potter Foundation, a position she held from the Foundation’s establishment in 1964 until her retirement in December 2000. She was closely involved in the initial negotiations to set up The Ian Potter Foundation and was the Foundation’s sole staff member until 1991, while also remaining involved in Sir Ian Potter’s business affairs and running her own plant nursery. Sir Ian had great faith in her judgement, and according to his biographer Peter Yule, Pat’s abilities in networking and negotiation “rivalled those of Ian Potter himself.”

Pat’s contribution over many years, particularly in the field of conservation and the environment, made her a recognised leader in the Australian philanthropic sector. She was instrumental in contributing to the development of the Potter Farmland Plan and other environmental projects backed by The Ian Potter Foundation. In 1990 she was awarded an Order of Australia for her contribution to philanthropy.

Pat was a Governor of the Feilman Foundation and Trustee of The Norman Wettenhall Foundation, and her other contributions to public and community life were extensive. Her previous appointments include Chairman of the Little Desert Flora and Fauna Foundation, Chairman of the Council of the State Film Centre of Victoria, Chairman of the Zoological Board of Victoria, Executive Director of the Australian Landscape Trust, member of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO, Trustee of the Trust for Nature, and member of the Council of the Nurserymen’s Association of Victoria. She was a keen gardener and collector of art.

Along with Meriel Wilmot, then Executive Secretary of The Myer Foundation, Pat Feilman was one of the “godmothers” of Philanthropy Australia, instrumental in the organisation’s establishment and in fostering bonds between philanthropic trusts. She continued to be a great friend to Philanthropy Australia, serving as Council Member and Secretary for several periods of time, and helping to host Philanthropy Australia in rent-free office accommodation with The Ian Potter Foundation. Her contribution was recognised with the awarding of Life Membership of Philanthropy Australia on her retirement in 2000.

Pat Feilman was in her 83rd year and is survived by her elder sister Margaret. For her strength of character, her sharp mind, her passion for conservation and her concern for the disadvantaged, she will be remembered, missed, and celebrated.

A Celebration Tribute for Pat will be held at 11 AM, Tuesday June 17, at the Great Hall, National Gallery, St Kilda Road, Melbourne.

Grantseeker Workshop in Brisbane

There are still some places available in next week’s Philanthropy Australia grantseeker workshop in Brisbane. The workshop will be held on 15 May from 9:30-12:30 in Brisbane’s CBD - I don’t get the chance to visit Queensland very often and am looking forward to seeing what questions and projects Brisbane’s not-for-profit and charitable organisations can come up with!

For more information and the booking form please visit the Workshops page on our website.

Upcoming media - JJJ

I will be interviewed for JJJ’s ‘Sunday Night Safran‘ program to air on Sunday 20 April at 9 PM. I’ve been asked to speak about philanthropy and religious issues. It should be interesting!

Members and friends who would like to hear the show can find the frequency for JJJ in their area onJJJ’s website. The program will also be available as a podcast at a later date.

New Books in the Philanthropy Australia Library

We have some wonderful new books in the Library, which our Members are welcome to borrow. You can request books online in the Catalogue at http://library.philanthropy.org.au or email Louise Arkles l.arkles@philanthropy.org.au and I will post the book to you.

Keeping a trust : South Australia’s Wyatt Benevolent Institution and its founder
By Carol Fort
Kent Town, South Australia : Wakefield Press : 2008
Call No. 509 FOR

This beautiful coffee table book tells the story of the life of William Wyatt and how, when he approached the end of his life without an heir, he created a philanthropic trust to benefit the people of South Australia. The first known philanthropic foundation in Australia, The Wyatt Benevolent Institution has been providing assistance to individuals in need for over 120 years.

The billionaire who wasn’t : how Chuck Feeney secretly made and gave away a fortune
By Conor O’Clery
New York : Public Affairs : 2007
Call No. 509 OCL

This biography tells the story of Chuck Feeney, how he made his fortune in duty free shopping and created Atlantic Philanthropies, one of the most generous and secretive philanthropic foundations in the world. Now a public name, Chuck Feeney espouses the ‘give while you live’ philosophy, and Atlantic Philanthropies is committed to giving away all its assets, over US$4 Billion, during the next decade.

Singing the land : the power of performance in Aboriginal life
By Jill Stubington
Strawberry Hills, NSW : Currency House : 2007
Call No. 360 STU

For the Indigenous people of Australia, songs and dances, have encoded their history and religion, their social organisation, and their connectedness to the land for 60,000 years. As research assistant to the eminent musicologist Alice Moyle, and later on her own behalf, Jill Stubington spent many years between 1960 and 1980 in remote regions of Australia learning to listen to this music, to understand its complexity, its central role in identity, social cohesion, celebration and the resolution of family conflict. From 1960 new sound and film equipment widened the opportunities for recording; and soon the guitar and recorded popular music began to intermingle with the traditional styles. It became a matter of urgency to use the new technology to preserve the old culture. In three sections the book details the diverse culture, its musical instruments and practice; and provides listening guides.

Trusts law in Australia
By Denis Ong
Annandale, NSW : The Federation Press : 2007
Call No. 054 ONG

‘Trusts Law in Australia’, now in its third edition, provides a comprehensive and scholarly analysis of modern trusts law. The 12 chapters cover the following aspects of the law of trusts; express trusts, charitable trusts, voluntary trusts, resulting trusts, constructive trusts, writing and related requirements, the rules against perpetuities and accumulations, life tenants, and the duties, liabilities, powers, rights, appointments, retirement and removal of trustees.

Beyond humbug : transforming government engagement with Indigenous Australia
By Michael C. Dillon and Neil D. Westbury
West Lakes, South Australia : Seaview Press : 2007
Call No. 360 DIL

Australia confronts a quandary in dealing with Indigenous issues. After 30 years of bipartisan support for policies based on self-determination and self-management, the [previous] Australian Government embarked on policies involving direct intervention in the lives of Indigenous citizens. ‘Beyond Humbug’ analyses the failure of government policy, extending from the demography of remote Australia, land tenure and native title, to program implementation challenges and the institutional underpinnings of Indigenous disadvantage.

Great philanthropists on trial : the art of the bequest
Edited by Andrew Grimwade & Gerard Vaughan
Melbourne : Miegunyah Press & National Gallery of Victoria : 2006
Call No. 305 GRI

Despite the rather misleading title, ‘Great philanthropists on trial’ is a celebration of philanthropy to the visual arts in Australia. A selection of essays by eminent contributors, including Sir Andrew Grimwade, Gerard Vaughan, Edmund Capon, Alison Inglis and John Poynton, explores major art bequests to Australian public art collections.

Private Sector Support for Australian Universities

Global Philanthropic has released a new report, Revenue from Private Sources for Australian Universities, authored by Dr Daniel McDiarmid. The report examines the extent of private support for Australia’s 41 universities, and provides a table and chart which detail the level of support in the form of donations and bequests, scholarships and prizes, non-government grants and sponsorships. The table and chart average results over three years to smooth out the year-to-year variations.

The report also suggests some ways in which the Commonwealth government might improve the financial reporting of university revenue by providing clearer guidelines for reporting of private revenue, with the hope of focusing institutions on the value of private revenue and leading to increased accuracy, transparency and donor confidence.

Download the report as a PDF from Global Philanthropic’s website.