Australian philanthropy over 20 years: A timeline
4 June 2020 at 7:45 am
A lot can happen in two decades. Here we look back through 20 years of Pro Bono News’ philanthropy coverage and share some of the sector’s key moments.
Cool Timeline
With presentations from international guest speakers Sharon Burns and Gregory Lanier, the conference – Putting the dot in philanthropy – focuses on how the sector can understand and make best use of the World Wide Web and database development.
He claims: “We have a pretty pathetic record in Australia of rich people giving money!”
This includes guidelines for Prescribed Private Funds which are set to become a new form of charitable trust.
The directory, which lists 170 companies, documents the contribution of Australian business to the community.
The research team includes Professor Mark Lyons and Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes.
The most comprehensive research on philanthropy in Australia to date, it finds Australians and businesses are giving and volunteering more than ever before, contributing more than $11 billion in 2004.
The 2007 World Wealth Report says high-net worth individuals are increasing the financial resources, time and thought that they donate to philanthropic causes.
It makes changes to Private Prescribed Funds, including some changes recommended by the sector. PPFs are now known as Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs).
To mark the 10th birthday, philanthropist and executive chair of HSC & Company, Phil Hayes-St Clair, shares his thoughts on what the next 10 years will hold.
Fundraising Research and Consulting (FR&C) updates its list of Australian donors who have given over $1 million to include more than 200 individuals and families – including eight who donated more than $100 million.
The new legislation expands “charitable purpose” and sets out the legal meaning of charity in a language everyone can understand.
“Their introduction over 13 years ago, combined with the more recent jump in large and public gifts, has provided philanthropy in Australia its biggest leap forward in many decades,” says report author, John McLeod.
It was the year Paul Ramsay left his $3 billion fortune – the largest single charitable donation ever in Australia – to his personal foundation.
It’s the largest ever national research effort into giving and volunteering. It finds the rise of crowdfunding and other technologies has allowed a “charity bypass” in Australia with more donors directly engaging with their causes often leaving charities in their wake.
It’s the largest philanthropic donation to date from a living Australian.
The Power of Advocacy, produced by Philanthropy Australia, makes the case for philanthropic support for advocacy and argues that funding policy advocacy can be an effective way to address complex social and environmental challenges.
The value of tax-deductible donations drops for the first time since the global financial crisis, with fewer Australians giving, and giving lower amounts.
A new report reveals the coronavirus pandemic could see giving in Australia fall by almost 20 per cent by the end of next year.
Nearly 90 per cent of Australian grantmakers step up in support of charities during COVID-19, with a new survey showing the country’s top trusts and foundations are giving more than ever.
For an in-depth look at how the philanthropy sector has evolved over the past two decades, see our article: Look how far we’ve come – Philanthropy
Wendy Williams | Editor | @WendyAnWilliams
