Australian Communities Forum
6 October 2016 at 8:16 am
The results of an annual longitudinal study, which analyses the effectiveness, engagement and awareness of the Not for Profit sector, will be presented at the one-day Australian Communities Forum in Sydney on 13 October.
The Australian Community Trends report delivers a clear analysis of the social context in which the Not for Profit sector is operating.
McCrindle Research will kick off the forum by presenting the emerging trends, the giving landscape, and the current and emerging supporter segments.
The Australian Community Trends report also shows that Australians are a generous bunch, with four in five Australian givers (80 per cent) giving financially to charitable organisations.
Some of the findings of the 2016 research, which will be shared by Mark McCrindle and John Rose (R2L & Associates) at the Australian Communities Forum include:
Motivation for giving
When it comes to motivation to give money to or volunteer with a charitable organisation, children and health are the top causes. Australian charitable givers are most likely to be highly motivated to give money to or volunteer for children’s charities (47 per cent) followed by medical and cancer research organisations (46 per cent) and animal welfare and wildlife support groups (44 per cent). Compared to our 2015 research findings, children’s charities have overtaken health and disaster relief as the highest giving priorities in 2016.
The key decision drivers
The key decision drivers for Australian charitable givers are knowledge and trust of the organisation, which is the most significant influence on Australian givers getting involved with a charitable organisation. Almost seven in 10 Australian givers (68 per cent) indicated that this is extremely or very significant as a motivation for getting involved. Australians are also highly motivated by organisations that make the world a better place for the less fortunate (54 per cent) and also by their own knowledge of a need (52 per cent).
The most important communication channels
The most important communication channels in helping Australian charitable givers to engage with causes, Not for Profit organisations and charitable organisations is through word of mouth by way of friends or family members. This was listed as the most influential channel through which Australian givers hear about and engage with charitable organisations, with 39 per cent of Australian givers considering this to be extremely or very important. This validates the ingrained Aussie “scepticism” and our need to hear information from someone we trust in order to fully trust the information we are receiving. Websites are increasingly seen as reliable sources of information with a third (33 per cent) of Australian givers considering these as extremely or very important to them engaging with a charitable organisation.
The Australian Communities Forum
For more information and insights, come along to the Australian Communities Forum on Thursday 13 October 2016. This forum is the nation’s one day event focused on delivering the social trends transforming Australian communities and how organisations can best engage in these changing times.
Held since 2012, this annual event provides compelling case studies, the latest research, practical workshops and, importantly, great networking over morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
Held at the iconic Customs House at Circular Quay, Sydney, and commencing with a launch of the 2016 Australian Communities report, this not-to-be-missed event will equip leaders in community engagement with the latest insights into 21st century Australian communities.
Purchase your ticket here.
Click here to view an infographic on how Australians give and how charities can engage.
