Giving Study Looks to Volunteer Strength and Recruitment

The latest stage in the biggest study of giving and volunteering in Australia, Giving Australia 2016, will see a number of registered charities being invited to participate in a survey on strengthening charities and volunteer recruitment.

According to researcher partner Professor Myles McGregor Lowndes from Queensland University of Technology, decisions impacting upon the Not for Profit sector are being made constantly, but fundamental information about the size and nature of the sector is still sorely lacking.

“A solid evidence base can play a critical part in good decisions by Not for Profit organisations themselves and by governments,” he said.

In the latest stage of Giving Australia 2016, a number of registered charities are being invited to participate in a survey on strengthening charities.

“For the first time, we do know how many charities there are in Australia and this allows researchers to sample such organisations in a focused way, to reflect the total population more accurately,” Professor McGregor-Lowndes said.

“A carefully constructed random sample of organisations registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is being emailed an invitation to participate. This has the promise of providing a more accurate evidence base.

“With this survey we hope to be able to provide information about  the barriers to greater fundraising and use of volunteers;  the resources successful organisations use in fundraising and volunteer recruitment; what resources charities need in order to improve their fundraising or volunteer recruitment; and the new technologies being embraced by charities.

“In order to maximise the benefit of this project to the sector as a whole, it is imperative that we obtain accurate data from a wide range of charities. If you receive an invitation to participate, we urge you to take up this opportunity to contribute your voice in the largest study of giving and volunteering ever undertaken in Australia.”

The Giving Australia 2015-2016 project  is being undertaken by the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at the Queensland University of Technology and its partners, on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Social Services and the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership.

Former social services minister Scott Morrison first announced the study in 2015, saying: “By drawing a picture of giving and volunteering behaviours, attitudes and trends, this project will improve our understanding of the capacity and needs of community organisations.

“It will establish good baseline data to measure progress on philanthropic giving, and a strong basis for policy decisions to encourage charity in Australia.”