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Delegates at the 2018 SEED summit in Brisbane.

Opinion: Is the Health and Human Services Sector a House of Cards?

The ‘Hidden Gem’ of Philanthropy

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 19th March 2019 - Sub-funds are being hailed as “Australia’s best kept secret”, in light of a new snapshot providing the first data on sub-funds in Australia.

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What Does $87M of Giving Look Like?

Jodi Kennedy, Tuesday, 19th March 2019 - This week Equity Trustees released its inaugural Annual Giving Review. Jodi Kennedy, general manager charitable trusts and philanthropy, explains how it marks the beginning of their journey towards measuring impact.

Claims UK Religious Charities are Fracturing Society Prompts Australian Discussion

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 18th March 2019 - A UK report calling into question religious charities that promote beliefs that don’t align with British values and opinion, has sparked discussion among Australian charity experts over the role and position of such organisations.

Calls For Stricter Charity Approval Process

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 18th March 2019 - Fundraisers are calling for a deceleration on new charity approvals, saying the hundreds of new organisations being registered each month is resulting in more competition for funding, and causing confusion among funders on where best to spend money.

Opinion

Inclusive Education High in the NSW Election Agenda, But Future of Students with Disabilities Still Unclear

Cecile Sullivan Elder, Monday, 18th March 2019 - We need systemic reform to move from the parallel systems we have now to an education system that is inclusive of all children, writes Cecile Sullivan Elder, executive officer of Family Advocacy.

Changemaker

Figuring Out the Protein Problem

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 18th March 2019 - Thomas King is the CEO of Food Frontier, a not for profit that helps food manufacturers and entrepreneurs get into the business of making plant-based and cell-based meat alternatives. He’s this week’s Changemaker.

Opinion

Landmark High Court Decision Guides How Compensation for Native Title Losses Will be Determined

Contributor, Friday, 15th March 2019 - William Isdale and Jonathan Fulcher, from the University of Queensland, examine the significance of the High Court’s decision about native title compensation claims, in this article which first appeared in The Conversation.

Aussie Students Strike for Climate Change Action

Luke Michael, Friday, 15th March 2019 - Thousands of students across Australia are protesting to demand action on climate change as part of a global day of youth activism.

A Lighter Note

Therapy Chickens Bring Joy to Aged Care Home

Maggie Coggan, Friday, 15th March 2019 - A pet chicken might sound like an unusual choice of a therapy pet, but staff at a Brisbane aged care home are hopeful some new clucky arrivals will help fight off loneliness and depression in their residents.

Around the World

US Foundation Pledges $150 Million to Fix Gaps in Impact Investing

Luke Michael, Friday, 15th March 2019 - A leading US foundation is launching a new initiative to help fund impact investments deemed too risky for conventional financing.

Opinion

Loneliness and Villages

David Crosbie, Thursday, 14th March 2019 - Being a part of the It Takes A Village campaign has highlighted how important it is that we think about the village around not just our students, but each member of our community, writes Community Council for Australia CEO David Crosbie, as he reflects on our increasing levels of loneliness or disconnectedness.

Gen Y Emerge as Australia’s Most Generous Givers

Luke Michael, Thursday, 14th March 2019 - Millennials are the most giving generation in Australia and are nearly twice as likely to volunteer for a cause than baby boomers, according to new research.

‘A Crisis is Coming’: Buy-Now-Pay-Later Services Target Vulnerable Young Women

Luke Michael, Thursday, 14th March 2019 - Buy-now-pay-later schemes like Afterpay have revolutionised the way Australians shop. But as Luke Michael reports, these services are also sending vulnerable young women into vicious cycles of debt that follow them long after they stop spending.

Opinion

Is the Health and Human Services Sector a House of Cards?

Joe Short, Wednesday, 13th March 2019 - Government agencies are increasingly procuring services from the same providers and this is creating risk across sectors. The health and human services sector is now delicately balanced. What would you do if tomorrow your providers ceased delivery, questions Joe Short, partner at PwC.

Opinion

India’s Grand Experiment in Corporate Social Responsibility is Heading for Trouble

Contributor, Wednesday, 13th March 2019 - The CSR law implemented in India seems to be another utopian ideal hijacked by political interference, write Monika Kansal, Ameeta Jain, Mahesh Joshi and Pawan Kumar Taneja, in this article which first appeared in The Conversation.

Budget Boost Promised for Avoidable Blindness in Pacific

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 13th March 2019 - Foreign aid groups have welcomed a $32 million commitment by Labor for an avoidable blindness fund, which they hope will restore foreign aid cuts by the federal government over the past four years.

Disability Royal Commission a Step Closer

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 13th March 2019 - Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed the federal government to fully funding the disability royal commission, as the draft terms of reference for the inquiry are released.

Retirees Go Back to Nature With Their Savings

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 13th March 2019 - While many retired Australians show their appreciation for the bush by travelling through it in a caravan, Terry and Caroline Bellair decided to take a different path, gifting $1 million to a charity to help conserve it.

Hot Topic

VIDEO: State of the DoNation 2019

Contributor, Wednesday, 13th March 2019 - Pareto Fundraising presents its State of the DoNation, in this video which brings together key fundraising trends in a quick five-minute snapshot.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night… And Still Isn’t Safe in 2019

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 13th March 2019 - Tiana’s house is a five-minute walk from the train station, but when she’s walking home from work alone at night, that five minutes seems like a lifetime.

An Angelic Troublemaker

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 12th March 2019 - Bisi Alimi speaks with Wendy Williams about becoming an advocate for LGBT rights in Nigeria and why we should all become “angelic troublemakers”.

Impact 25 Winners Revealed

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 12th March 2019 - What do the world's first supermodel with Down Syndrome, two human rights lawyers, the director of a breast cancer support charity and a leader transforming how the world sees waste, all have in common? They have been crowned winners in Pro Bono Australia’s Impact 25.

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Energise, Enhance and Connect at Volunteering Victoria’s 2019 State Conference

Contributor, Tuesday, 12th March 2019 - With only a few months to go until its second state conference, Volunteering Victoria is thrilled to announce an impressive lineup of speakers that will energise, enhance and connect the volunteering sector in Victoria.

Tech Giant Launches Foundation to Tackle Indigenous Disadvantage

Luke Michael, Tuesday, 5th March 2019 - One of Australia’s leading tech companies is giving away more than half a million dollars to organisations helping Indigenous children, as part of a new charitable foundation.

Cafe Roasted for ‘Appalling’ Sign Mocking Disability Abuse

Luke Michael, Thursday, 7th March 2019 - Social media backlash over a cafe sign with a joke about abusing a woman in a wheelchair has sparked calls for action on the high rates of domestic violence experienced by women with disability.

Concerns Raised Over Government’s Domestic Violence Plan

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 6th March 2019 - Community groups warn the Morrison government’s $328 million domestic violence package will not fix major gaps in the safety service system that are making it hard for victims to get ongoing support.

Opinion

The NDIS is Not Medicare

Fran Connelley, Tuesday, 5th March 2019 - In the disability sector the customer is always going to feel what the employee feels, writes Fran Connelley explaining her shift in focus to workplace culture.

‘A Crisis is Coming’: Buy-Now-Pay-Later Services Target Vulnerable Young Women

The ‘Hidden Gem’ of Philanthropy

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 19th March 2019 - Sub-funds are being hailed as “Australia’s best kept secret”, in light of a new snapshot providing the first data on sub-funds in Australia.

‘It Takes a Village’ to Help Kids Succeed in Education

Luke Michael, Tuesday, 12th March 2019 - Charities are calling on Australians to play a greater role in the education of young people, warning of a $1 million cost to the community for each student not completing high school.

Gen Y Emerge as Australia’s Most Generous Givers

Luke Michael, Thursday, 14th March 2019 - Millennials are the most giving generation in Australia and are nearly twice as likely to volunteer for a cause than baby boomers, according to new research.

Why Digital Matters?

Wendy Williams, Thursday, 7th March 2019 - Dr Lucy Bernholz talks to Wendy Williams about the risks, and the opportunities, for civil society in the digital age, and why we should all be paying more attention to data.

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night… And Still Isn’t Safe in 2019

Impact 25 Winners Revealed

Disability Royal Commission a Step Closer

Lent Picket Outside Abortion Clinics Reignites Calls for Safe Zones

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 6th March 2019 - Anti-abortionists commencing a 40-day picket for Lent outside abortion clinics in Western Australia have infuriated humanitarian and pro-choice charities, renewing calls for safety zones to be introduced nationwide.

Embracing Innovation in the Charity Sector

Luke Michael, Wednesday, 6th March 2019 - Australian charity leaders need to embrace forward-thinking solutions to help their organisations solve complex problems, experts say amid the launch of an innovation survey for the not-for-profit sector.

Where Are All the Women? Campaign Questions Lack of Female NGO Leaders

Maggie Coggan, Friday, 8th March 2019 - Major humanitarian organisations are backing a campaign calling on civil society organisations to match the low percentage of women in leadership roles with the high percentage of women in staff.

A Lighter Note

Therapy Chickens Bring Joy to Aged Care Home

Spotlight

Serving Up Bush Tucker and Turning Around Young Lives

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 6th March 2019 - Charcoal Lane, a social enterprise of Mission Australia, is shaking up Melbourne’s food scene with its native bush tucker menu. But the young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander chefs and waitstaff have a story of their own to tell, writes Maggie Coggan, in this month’s Spotlight on Social Enterprise.

Investors Hungry for Action on Climate Change

Luke Michael, Tuesday, 5th March 2019 - A multi-trillion dollar investor coalition is demanding that the world’s largest fast-food brands, including McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, and KFC, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water use in their supply chains.

New Policy Centre Encourages Australia to Look Abroad for Tax Reform

Maggie Coggan, Friday, 8th March 2019 - Progressive think-tank The Australia Institute has established a new policy centre in a bid to learn lessons from Nordic countries, to re-shape economic and social policy in Australia.

Opinion

Evidence: Taking the Guesswork Out of Grantmaking

Contributor, Thursday, 7th March 2019 - Philanthropy and corporate giving can learn from the way policymakers are incorporating objective evidence of “what works” in their policy decisions, write Robyn Mildon, Natasha Morris and Sarah Hollingworth from The Centre for Evidence and Implementation.

Launch of Global NGO Tech Survey

Wendy Williams, Tuesday, 5th March 2019 - Australians are being encouraged to take part in the “world's only crowdsourced research project for the not-for-profit sector”.

Changemaker

Giving Philanthropy Back to the People

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 11th March 2019 - Maree Sidey is the CEO of the Australian Communities Foundation, an organisation connecting donors to causes that matter, and working to make philanthropy more democratic by creating a community of donors. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

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Beware The Exits and Refocus

Jo Scard, Thursday, 7th March 2019 - Fifty Acres founder and managing director Jo Scard discusses how organisations should prepare for the election following all the news of high-profile exits, and talks about their new workshop plus their new ACCELERATOR program.

Sponsored

What Does $87M of Giving Look Like?

Opinion

Is the Health and Human Services Sector a House of Cards?

Impact 25 Winners Revealed

Sponsored

Energise, Enhance and Connect at Volunteering Victoria’s 2019 State Conference

Sponsored

Leave a Gift of Love

Contributor, Tuesday, 12th March 2019 - Peninsula Animal Aid is encouraging people to leave a gift of love in their will to help fund vital animal services.

Changemaker

Giving Philanthropy Back to the People

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The Data4Good Conference Combats the Misuse of Data

Contributor, Thursday, 7th March 2019 - Those passionate about learning new, innovative ways to make a positive impact on society with data and analytics will have the chance to learn from local and international industry experts at the Data4Good Conference in Sydney on 28 March, writes John Hoffman, CEO of Altis.

Sponsored

Beware The Exits and Refocus

Spotlight

Serving Up Bush Tucker and Turning Around Young Lives

Sponsored

AICD Releases Second Edition of its NFP Governance Principles

Contributor, Tuesday, 5th March 2019 - The AICD Principles document is an extremely valuable resource for NFPs, their directors, and other stakeholders, writes Darryl Swindells, from HLB Mann Judd Sydney.

Changemaker

The Power Behind a Not-So Rubbish Cause

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 4th March 2019 - For 30 years, the first weekend of March has brought Australians of all walks of life together to do a simple, yet effective act – pick up rubbish. As CEO of Clean Up Australia, Terrie-Anne Johnson is leading the charge. She's this week’s Changemaker.

Opinion

More South Australians Struggling – Health and Housing

Dr Alice Clark, Thursday, 28th February 2019 - Dr Alice Clark, the executive director of Shelter SA, reflects on the links between housing and health, following the release of a report looking at prescription data from people experiencing homelessness in Adelaide.

Changemaker

Fighting the Barriers of Migrant Employment

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 25th February 2019 - Tina Kuek is the founder of Kazi Victoria, an organisation helping people of migrant and refugee backgrounds navigate the job market and find meaningful employment. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

‘Forgotten’ Refugees With Disability Waiting Months for Basic Services

Luke Michael, Friday, 22nd February 2019 - A woman arrives in Australia. She is a refugee. She has a disability. She discovers there is no suitable home for her to stay. Instead, she and her family are placed in short-term accommodation without facilities to support her basic needs. They are forced to take desperate measures.

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Bring Your Ideas to Life on a Churchill Fellowship

Contributor, Thursday, 21st February 2019 - Passionate Australians who want to challenge the status quo and create or make a positive impact on Australian society can bring their ideas to life in 2019 by applying for a Churchill Fellowship.

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Transform Conference Early Bird Discount Ends Next Week. Book Now!

Contributor, Tuesday, 19th February 2019 - With tickets selling fast and early bird discount ending next week, time is running out for Australian not for profits to secure a 25 per cent discount for the Connecting Up Transform Conference at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 8-10 May.

Changemaker

The Youth Camp Changing the Face of the Outback

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 18th February 2019 - Tanya Dupagne is the director and founder of Camp Kulin, a youth program to help children in rural Western Australia affected by childhood trauma, get back on track. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

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A New Standard of Sustainability

Contributor, Thursday, 14th February 2019 - Melbourne-based outdoors apparel brand, Mister Timbuktu, is tackling the war on waste by recycling plastic bottles into leggings and raincoats that are made for adventure.

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Tactics and Big Ideas

Jo Scard, Tuesday, 12th February 2019 - Fifty Acres founder and managing director Jo Scard offers advice on how to make sure you succeed in your government engagement campaign in the next few months.

Changemaker

Pushing Homelessness to the Front

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 11th February 2019 - With homelessness rates rising rapidly, Kate Colvin, policy manager for Council to Homeless Persons, and spokesperson for the Everybody’s Home Campaign, is battling to make housing insecurity heard by the powerful. She’s this week’s Changemaker.

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Consumers Hold the Power to Make a Real Difference in 2019

Andrew Cairns, Thursday, 7th February 2019 - If more people around the globe chose to spend at least some of their income buying goods and services from for-good businesses, it could make a big impact, writes Andrew Cairns, CEO of Community Sector Banking.

Spotlight

Quench Your Thirst and Save the Reef

Maggie Coggan, Wednesday, 6th February 2019 - Beer and the Great Barrier Reef are two things most Australians treasure, which is why James Grugeon, founder of the Good Beer Company, created a tasty beer that’s also helping save the reef, writes Maggie Coggan in this month’s spotlight on social enterprise.

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Voting with Your Wallet – What Did You Vote for Today?

Contributor, Tuesday, 5th February 2019 - The impact of your purchase is much more powerful than you think, writes Small Giants founder and CEO Danny Almagor.

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Transitions Film Festival Presents Visions for a Better World

Contributor, Tuesday, 5th February 2019 - The eighth annual Transitions Film Festival returns to Cinema Nova this February with another inspiring line-up of world-changing films.

Changemaker

Cheers to a Change in Australia’s Culture

Maggie Coggan, Monday, 4th February 2019 - Christina DeLay is co-founder of Altina Drinks, a social enterprise hoping to tip Australia’s drinking culture on its head with a range of alcohol-free cocktails. She’s this week’s changemaker.

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The Definitive Google Ad Grant Application Checklist For 2019

James Smith, Thursday, 31st January 2019 - Just over a year on from Google’s policy changes to its Ad Grants scheme, the not-for-profit sector has begun to find its feet within the updated framework. Still, with the ripples of that conversation now beginning to dissipate, its implications are worth brushing up on.