Fundraising & Philanthropy Australasia

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Australian Financial Review Philanthropy 50 is worth a read

Philanthropy 50The Australian Financial Review Philanthropy 50 was published on 28 April 2017. The feature story tells of the Paul Ramsay Foundation and highlights the top 50 Australian philanthropists of 2016.

The Philanthropy 50 list shows the amount given to end recipients, mainly charities, in the 2015/16 financial year, by Australian individuals, families and bequests. The list features gifts given directly and through foundations; however, it does not include donations into foundations, anonymous gifts, or corporate giving.

Sources used for the Philanthropy 50 included Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC), Fundraising Research & Consulting, Fundraising & Philanthropy Australasia and Pro Bono Australia.

The study features an interview with Simon Freeman, CEO, Paul Ramsay Foundation. Freeman tells the story about visiting America’s leading philanthropic foundations, including the Bill and Melina Gates Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. It was the visit to the Packard Foundation which really resonated with the Ramsay Foundation officials.

Freeman is quoted in the article as saying “If one day we’re not the biggest foundation in Australia anymore, then that would be a great measure of success”. Freeman and his colleagues will award about $15 million to $20 million this year. With a balance sheet in the billions, one can assume the Ramsay Foundation will be at the top of the list for years to come.

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Abundant professional development opportunities in Australia

Having just attended the Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) conference in Melbourne, I am reminded of the abundance of professional development opportunities we have available as fundraisers in this market. Here are a few upcoming conferences and learning opportunities available in Asia-Pacific.

National Conferences

FIA Conference

The FIA Conference happens annually in February or March and attracts more than 800 fundraisers, volunteers, and suppliers. Rich with content and networking opportunities, FIA Conference is the leading conference of its type in Asia Pacific. The 2016 conference offered 8 masterclasses, dozens of sessions across 6 tracks, and a wide range of networking over breakfast, lunch and cocktail receptions. FIA also hold the annual awards gala on the second night of conference. The 2017 Conference is scheduled for 22-24 Feb in the Gold Coast. Mark your schedule today.

Fundraising & Philanthropy Australasia Magazine (F&P)

In Sept or Oct of each year, F&P Magazine offer a conference, which is a two-day conference with rapid and sequential presentations. Rather than a track format, F&P offer everyone the same presenters with all participants gathered in one room. This format ensures you do not miss a single presentation. F&P also offer a host of other conference events throughout the year.

Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Focused on higher education, the CASE APAC is said to be the annual signature event in Asia-Pacific for advancement professionals from educational institutions working in alumni relations, fundraising, marketing and communications. This four-day conference is designed to equip delegates with knowledge, resources, best practices and to foster networking among like-minded professionals, exhibitors and sponsors in the educational industry. APAC is scheduled for 11-14 April in Hong Kong.

Fundraising Institute New Zealand (FINZ)

Quite similar to the FIA Conference, FINZ offer New Zealanders with opportunities to hear international and domestic speakers. The FINZ Conference is scheduled for 13-15 April in Auckland.

EducatePlus

There’s something for everyone who works in educational advancement in this Conference. Whether you work on our own, as part of a large team, or as a volunteer on a fundraising committee, this Conference is designed to open your eyes, inspire and guide you.

  • Fundraisers – School/Tertiary
  • Alumni Relations Professionals – School/Tertiary
  • Marketing & Communications Professionals – School/Tertiary
  • Enrolment/Admissions Officers – School
  • Community Engagement Professionals – School/Tertiary
  • Senior Leaders, Board Members and Foundation Committee members – School/Tertiary

The EducatePlus Conference will take place on 7-9 Sept in the Gold Coast.

Blackbaud Conference (BBCON)

Blackbaud have been holding conferences in Australia for a decade now. Many people believe BBCON is Blackbaud solely product focused. This is actually not the case. While one can certainly hear a lot about Blackbaud product at their conference, topics range from management, to fundraising, to data-focused. The Blackbaud Conference is scheduled for 1 and 2 August in Sydney.

Webinars

Webinars are a terrific and cost-effective means to gain knowledge on a topic without having to travel to another city or even leave your office or home. ConnectingUp and FIA offer regular webinars on a variety of topics and presented by international and Australian presenters.

State-based Professional Development

FIA

Each state FIA hold a plethora of professional development sessions. Most states have monthly events, which include breakfasts, lunches or evening networking events. These events are volunteer-driven and offer a wealth of content in 90 minutes.

Special Interest Groups

FIA and other organisations have special interest groups, which are fundraising area focused and offer an opportunity for fundraising specialists to gather to discuss successes and challenges in their area of the sector. Special interest groups focus on: Direct marketing, regular giving, major gifts, bequests, corporate partnerships, trusts and foundations, events, amongst other topic areas. You don’t see a special interest group focused on your focus area? Contact FIA and suggest one is started in your state.

Get out there! There are plenty of fundraising professional development opportunities to absorb and enjoy.

_MG_6056Stephen Mally, FundraisingForce, will be presenting in the following locations in 2016: