 News Archives
The Australian ExperienceJuly 2009
Australia has so far avoided recession, has helped minimised rising unemployment (5.7%) with cash stimulus ‘giveaways’ to taxpayers, and kept its housing sales and construction market ticking over through generous ‘first home buyer subsidies.’
The national newspaper The Australian, quoting the Paris based OECD reported on June 25: ‘Australia is escaping the global recession more lightly than any other advanced country…’
But CAF Australia is aware that certain sectors of the giving market are being affected and there are concerns that Foundations will take some years to recover to the pre Global Financial Crisis levels.
At a recent lunch hosted by the Macquarie (bank) Group Foundation, CAF joined 18 invited charities to discuss the economic environment and the levels of giving to their not-for-profit organisation. Attendees included cancer support, street kids protection, diabetes research, dramatic arts, etc.
This group represented a range of perhaps better managed, promoted and community accepted agencies, and overall noted little decline in their traditional funding and fundraising. The consensus was that NGO’s with higher profiles were retaining contributions a little more consistently than lesser known and less efficient organisations.
This aligned with CAF Australia’s relatively consistent flow throughs from Grant Management, Workplace Payroll Giving and employer Matched Giving.
However, CAF presented the group with information relating to Foundations under its management which indicated that many individuals were reducing or holding off contributing funds into their accounts through 2009/10 - and possibly quite longer.
Reduced cash contributions to their endowments, accompanied with low bank interest returns on the corpus will reduce the ability of these philanthropists to maintain disbursements. But this may not impact on receiving charities until 2010 and for some (several?) years following until interest rates, dividends, stocks and business profits return to more traditional levels.
The reduced donations may affect not-for-profits accustomed to recurring grants for the running of their agencies
In a June media release, Duncan Power, CEO of CAF Australia, stated: “As a leader in the establishment and management of private Foundations and PPF’s (Prescribed Private Funds) in Australia, we are recording a substantial reduction in philanthropic funding – noticeably from high net worth individuals.”
“CAF is aware that many Foundations are heavily funded by returns from investments and company shares – two areas particularly hit hard in this existing market.
In the immediate future it appears that Australian unemployment will continue to rise but various surveys of employers indicate widespread confidence.
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Westpac (bank) survey of industrial trends, released June 18: ‘There has been a massive jump in Australian business confidence despite actual conditions staying around levels not seen since the 1991 / 92 recession.’
World trade heavily influences the Australian economy and with China - near neighbour and major importer of Australian iron ore and gas - showing the way for global economic recovery, there is a possibility that the impact on giving and grants to charities may only be a subtle down turn for Australian not-for-profits.
But Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s mantra must be the proviso on that hope…’we are not yet out of the woods.’
CAF streamlines emergency giving - Myanmar and China AppealsJune 2008
CAF International has launched an online giving program for one-off credit card donations, for both the Myanmar Cyclone and the China Earthquake.
CAF's commitment to Donor Preference allows donors to nominate via a wide range of Agencies for both Appeals.
CAF's alliance partner DORS in Sichuan (China) is currently working from a tent with 70% of buildings either destroyed or badly damaged. As the situation stabilises, with more than 50,000 dead it will take many years to rebuild people's lives, homes and hearts.
In Myanmar, as well as supporting many of the larger Aid Organisations through our Appeal, CAF is making donations to our Thai alliance partner Diverse Ethics (Child's Dream).
Child's Dream has provided immediate funds for 'on the ground' assistance including food, blankets and medical supplies for 14 in-country emergency relief Myanmar teams to by-pass any government visa problems being encountered by many foreign teams.
Reinvestment Fund for community organisations
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Feb 2006
Charities Aid Foundation is delighted to announce the establishment of the Investors in Community (IIC) Community Reinvestment Fund.
The purpose of the Fund is to provide specialist banking services and financial capability to assist with reinvesting in parts of the community sector that do not always have direct access to traditional bank finance.
read more>> Effective Grantmaking Seminar Series |
Sep 2005
CAF and Merrill Lynch joined forces to present the first seminar in our 2005 series dedicated to "Effective Grantmaking". We were privileged to have Daniel Petre keynote the event. His presentation titled "Philanthropy and the Wealthy" was constructively provocative and stirred considerable interest and comment from the assembled audience. read more>> StrataPay working with CAF and the community
Aug 2005
Queensland based Company, StrataPay, has been working with Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) to provide an automated "Payroll Giving" system to process payroll giving donations in Australia . The solution will "go live" this week and will further reduce CAF's administration costs enabling them to provide even greater benefits to the charitable sector. read more>> Timehelp program in partnership with Alcoa
June 2005
With funding from the Alcoa Foundation in America, CAF Australia and SEAL Force have worked in partnership to develop the Timehelp project. The project was born in early 2003 out of a desire to better utilise people resources in building stronger and more vibrant communities. The focus has been on retirees in the Geelong area, many of whom were employees of Alcoa. Retirees typically have more time available, bringing a regular and more sustainable edge to the concept of volunteering. read more>> Cavill + Co PASSIONPEOPLE
July 2004
CAF welcomes Cavill + Co's latest consumer research that supports the Corporate Community Engagement model.
The new employee study confirms that Australian companies wanting to attract and retain good staff in an aging, shrinking workforce can gain a competitive edge by supporting community or charitable causes that give their staff opportunities for involvement. read more>> Greater Sydney Community Foundation
April 2004
The proposal to establish a Greater Sydney Community Foundation has been nurtured through the private, public and voluntary sectors, led by Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Australia, Philanthropy Australia and NSW Premiers Department. read more>> Qantas Aims for Charity Acclaim
March 2004
QANTAS has never been shy about supporting the community, but on Monday it will launch a program ramping up that effort and making sure it gets recognition for its good deeds. read more>> Macquarie Bank Volunteer of the Year Award Winners 2002
January 2003
It is with great pleasure that the Macquarie Bank Foundation Board announce the Volunteer of the Year awards for 2002. Many nominations were received from many outstanding Macquarie Bank staff who work tirelessly for charitable organisations within their communities. read more>> Prime Minister Announces New Initiatives to Encourage Giving
December 2002
The occasion of the Prime Minister's National Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships 2002 saw an added bonus for the Third Sector with the announcement of new tax incentives for donors. read more>> National Winners of the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships (2002)
December 2002
The PM recently honoured seven community business partnerships. The winners of these awards have demonstrated how shared energy, creativity and commitment can build stronger communities. Three partnerships were chosen as the leaders in their respective business category. read more>> |
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