Study of Philanthropic Foundations to Map ‘Where the Money Goes’
15 July 2011 at 12:57 pm
A new research project that will map grantmaking by Australia’s philanthropic foundations is to be led by the former Chief Executive of Philanthropy Australia, Gina Anderson, the Centre for Social Impact has announced.
The Centre for Social Impact (CSI) has appointed Gina Anderson as its new Philanthropy Fellow.
Anderson will lead ‘Where the Money Goes’, a research project on the activities of philanthropic foundations which will utilise existing information published by foundations on their grantmaking activities.
CSI says the primary output of the Where the Money Goes project will be a public website which will host a simple but highly effective searchable database that presents and analyses the distributions and grants made by the largest 15 reporting foundations in Australia over the past three years.
The project aims to better understand and profile the role being played by philanthropy, and will map philanthropic activity by issues and funding area. This pilot project will develop the raw data from foundations to examine ‘where the money goes’.
Anderson is to be based at UNSW in Sydney but will work extensively with CSI’s partners in Melbourne and Perth.
CSI Director of Research Les Hems says Philanthropic Foundations play a fundamental role not only in the Not for Profit sector but in society as a whole.
Hems says many foundations have recognised the importance of transparency and accountability which now makes this research possible. The database and website will also provide CSI with a platform to undertake a longer term program of practitioner and policy defined research focused on philanthropy.
Macquarie Group Foundation Professor and Head of CSI, Peter Shergold, says Anderson brings a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives to CSI. The breadth of her knowledge and leadership of the philanthropic sector will increase CSI’s ability to provide an independent voice and thought to this increasingly important sector.
Gina Anderson was until recently the Chief Executive of the nation’s peak body for philanthropy, Philanthropy Australia.
The Where the Money Goes research project is due to be completed by December 2011.
