philanthropyOz Blog

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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.

Wagerup Sustainability Fund Launched in WA

The Wagerup Sustainability Fund, that will support initiatives to make a positive contribution to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the region surrounding the Wagerup refinery, was launched on July 4.

The Fund, established with an initial donation of $400,000 from Alcoa of Australia (cornerstone partner of Western Australian Community Foundation since its inception in 2004), will be administered by the WA Community Foundation as Trustee. Further, Alcoa has made a multi million dollar commitment to the Fund, which will be linked to production at the Wagerup refinery and could be up to $15 million over the next 20 years.

The Wagerup Sustainability Fund will focus on supporting local projects and initiatives that:
- Produce long term sustainable outcomes for communities in and around Harvey and Waroona;
- Enhance leadership, knowledge, enterprise and innovation;
- Further preserve and protect the local environment; and
- Contribute to creating stronger communities.

Two local advisory committees, representing communities within the Shire of Harvey and Shire of Waroona have been established to work closely with the Foundation by seeking and recommending local initiatives to effectively distribute funds to the respective community.

For further information please contact the Foundation on (08) 9224 6000 or visit www.wacf.org.au.

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.

New program to encourage philanthropy to the arts in WA

The Western Australian Department of Culture and the Arts, with input from ArtSupport Australia, have launched Australia’s first Philanthropy Incentive Program.

The Philanthropy Incentive Program will encourage individuals, groups and businesses to establish charitable trusts and boost philanthropy to the arts, by encouraging the establishment of philanthropic funds of $500,000 or more.

New philanthropic funds or foundations can participate in the Program which contributes up to 7.5 per cent of the initial capital start-up funds in a new fund or foundation to a Western Australian arts organisation. The benefit of this is that it allows newly established funds to leverage their contributions with an additional contribution by the Western Australian State Government.

Eligibility guidelines and further information on the Program is available via the Department of Culture and the Art’s website, or by calling (08) 9224 7300.

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.

The Nation & Beyond: The New Philanthropy - Alfred Deakin lectures 2008

On June 12 in Melbourne a crowd gathered to hear Rupert Myer AM and Sir Gus Nossal AC CBE, among others, speak on ‘The New Philanthropy’, as part of the Alfred Deakin Lectures. In an insightful and inspiring speech, Mr Myer challenged the audience to think carefully about the language of philanthropy - for him the term ‘giving back’ smacks of something taken or obligation, neither reflecting true philanthropy which derives from generosity of spirit.

You can read his paper on the PhilanthropyWiki.

New Events

Funding Social Change Workshop (Melbourne, July 17)
Philanthropy Australia Indigenous Affinity Group (Melbourne, July 30)

For more information, see the Events Calendar.

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.