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/

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.

Trustee Handbook launch & workshops

We are pleased to announce the upcoming release of the Trustee Handbook: Roles and Duties of Trustees of Charitable Trusts and Foundations in Australia, published by Philanthropy Australia and supported by the Westpac Foundation.

The Trustee Handbook provides an easy-to-understand, plain language guide to what trustees should do and also what they must do, without offering legal advice. It is an ideal base for new trustees and foundation staff; useful to those providing advice on setting up foundations and trusts; and an excellent reference document and aide memoire to those already familiar with its subject. Created in consultation with our Members, this Trustee Handbook is an essential document for PPFs, Community Foundations, Family Foundations, Charitable Trusts and Ancillary Funds.

The Trustee Handbook will be launched in Sydney and Brisbane in July. Philanthropy Australia will also be running workshops for trustees to attend in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Dates, cost and further information can be found on the Trustee Workshops page on our website.

The Handbook will be available for free electronic download following its launch.

Smorgons donate $15m to NGV

Loti and Victor Smorgon have donated $15 million to the National Gallery of Victoria - the largest ever cash donation from an individual to an Australian art museum. The donation is part of the NGV’s Masterpieces for Melbourne campaign.

You can find links to more information on the Topical Issues » Major Donations page.

The Nation and Beyond: The New Philanthropy

Thursday 12th June, 6.00pm - BMW Edge, Federation Square, Melbourne

This public lecture is part of the Alfred Deakin Lectures 2008 series, and will feature Rupert Myer AM, Sir Gustav Nossal and Associate Professor John Armstrong talking about “the new philanthropy”. Questions will be invited from the audience at the conclusion of the lecture. This session is presented in association with The Myer Foundation. This is a free public lecture; no bookings are required.

Find out more on the Alfred Deakin Lectures website, or go to Philanthropy Australia’s Events Calendar.

Media Release: Improving the Integrity of Prescribed Private Funds

The following media release is from the Federal Treasurer, The Hon Wayne Swan MP. You can also find it on the Treasurer’s website.

The Government will introduce legislation to improve the integrity of prescribed private funds (PPFs), with effect from 1 July 2009.

A PPF is a trust to which businesses, families and individuals can make tax deductible donations, for the purposes of disbursing funds to a range of deductible gift recipients.

The Government will improve transparency and provide the trustees of PPFs with greater certainty of their philanthropic obligations by amending and legislating the PPF guidelines. The changes will, among other things, ensure regular valuation of assets at market rates, increase the size of compulsory distributions, and give the Australian Taxation Office greater regulatory powers.

The details of the changes will be finalised following consultation with relevant stakeholders.

This change will not impact on the ability of taxpayers to give tax deductible donations directly to a deductible gift recipient.

You can find more information both for and about PPFs on the PhilanthropyWiki and the Philanthropy Australia website.

End of financial year - donation options

With the end of financial year approaching, we have received many enquiries from people wishing to make a tax deductible donation before the end of June. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions.

Q: Where can I find some tax-deductible charities to donate to?
A: Associate Members of Philanthropy Australia who may be suitable donees are listed on our Getting Involved » Giving to Charity page. OurCommunity, Pro Bono Australia, and OzCharity all also have listings of organisations which are seeking donations, some with online donation facilities.

Q: Where do I start if I want to set up a foundation before the end of financial year?
A: If you’re looking to establish a Prescribed Private Fund, it’s probably already too late to get Treasury and ATO approval in time to make a tax deductible donation before the end of this financial year. However, it is not too late to establish a managed account (also known as sub-fund) with your local Community Foundation or with an ‘umbrella’ foundation managed by a Trustee Company or wealth manager.

For more information on the different options see A Guide to Giving for Australians. See also our list of Service Providers at for professional advisors who assist with establishing foundations.

Q: How much of a deduction can I get?
A: See the ATO’s page on tax deductible donations for more information.

Q: Can I donate property or goods?
A: See the ATO’s page on tax deductible donations for more information.

Q: Does a PPF need to have a separate trust deed? Who can the trustees be?
A: See the PPF section of the ATO’s website for PPF guidelines, and also see PhilanthropyWiki’s PPF section.

New edition of ‘Australian Philanthropy’ Journal - Climate Change

Climate Change: Environmental and Social Impacts and What Philanthropy Can Do to Help is the theme of our latest issue of Australian Philanthropy, issue 68 Autumn 2008.

The threat presented by climate change to the world as we know it has more dimensions than simply the environmental. This issue of Australian Philanthropy seeks to understand why, to date, the philanthropic sector has been reluctant to commit much funding to addressing climate change and how that tide may be turning. We showcase outstanding Australian projects which seek to identify and minimise the environmental and social impacts of climate change, and explore what the philanthropic sector is undertaking on a global scale to address the issue. Our feature interviewee is Mark Wootton from Poola Foundation who funded the establishment of The Climate Institute.

• Read selected articles online or browse the full contents list on the PhilanthropyWiki; or
• Find out more about Australian Philanthropy on the Philanthropy Australia Website.

Australia’s Homeless Youth report

A new report released today by the National Youth Commission Inquiry into Youth Homelessness has found that homelessness for young Australians aged 12-18 has doubled in the past 20 years. The report, ‘Australia’s Homeless Youth’, is the result of an independent enquiry funded and supported by The Caledonia Foundation over a period of two years, making it possible for the National Youth Commission to draw together hundreds of oral and written submission from community organizations, individuals and government departments during a national community inquiry process conducted in 2007.

The report also found that at least 36,000 people under 25 are homeless on any given night.

‘Australia’s Homeless Youth’ is part of a two-pronged project to raise awareness about and combat youth homelessness, which also includes the funding of a confronting documentary, “The Oasis”, based on the work of the Oasis Youth Support Network, was screened on ABC1, Thursday 10 April at 8.30pm. The Caledonia Foundation will also donate a copy of “The Oasis” DVD to every secondary school in Australia, packaged with a comprehensive study guide and website.

The report provides a Roadmap for Youth Homelessness which highlights ten strategic action areas. Find out more, and download the report, on the PhilanthropyWiki.

$35m collection given to Art Gallery of NSW by John Kaldor

Announced today in the Sydney Morning Herald:

A stunning collection of contemporary art valued at $35 million is to be donated to the Art Gallery of NSW. The collection, which has been built up by the prominent Australian art patron John Kaldor over 50 years, contains 260 works by a who’s who of contemporary artists.

Find out more at the Topical Issues: Major Donations page.