Case studies
Founded in 2006 by Neil and Diane Balnaves, The Balnaves Foundation has a commitment to supporting the arts, particularly sculpture, health and projects that benefit young Australians.
The work of Beyond Empathy vividly shows how philanthropic giving to an arts organisation can benefit young people in regional Australia.
Paul and Vicki Clitheroe had supported a number of charities over the years on an ad-hoc basis and wondered if their money was being used effectively. The introduction of prescribed private funds (PPFs) as a new flexible trust structure in 2001 was timely and in 2004 the Clitheroes established their foundation which focuses on supporting health, medical research and the arts.
Coca-Cola Amatil supports 11 charities through their workplace giving program, including Don Spencer’s Australian Children’s Music Foundation.
Coca-Cola Australia Foundation
Coca-Cola Amatil and Coca-Cola Australia established the Coca-Cola Australia Foundation (CCAF) jointly in 2001 with the aim of 'making a difference to Australia's youth'.
Department of Health and Ageing
The employees of the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing's workplace giving program supports the Song Room’s music programs for disadvantaged schools.
It is vital that more Aboriginal people are engaged in the administration work in Art Centres – a role that has been denied to them through poor education and lack of opportunity. The Desart Artworker Program seeks to train and employ 60 Aboriginal people over the next three years
Euraba Artists and Paper Company
Euraba is an Aboriginal owned arts centre specialising in artworks and products from hand made paper. Through art, paper making and community programs Euraba develop the skills, self esteem, knowledge and creativity of Aboriginal people in the Boggabilla and Toomelah communities.
Gadigal Information Service is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned and operated organisation that provides a one-stop-shop for those who want to pursue a career in the media and the arts.
'It started with a leap of faith. With Artsupport Australia's guidance, philanthropy has given me the best head start I could imagine.' Glen Donnelly, viola player.
Gondwana Voices encompasses two of the world’s finest children’s choirs, the Gondwana Voices and the Sydney Children’s Choir. Philanthropic funding has helped Gondwana Voices strive for creative excellence and be accessible to talented young people from all across Australia.
Harold Mitchell Foundation & Musee du Quai Branly
The Harold Mitchell Foundation was formed in June 2000 with an initial $10 million donation from Australia’s leading media buyer. With a long term interest in the arts and health the foundation has allowed Harold and Beverley Mitchell to focus their community investment.
The Horizon Foundation, a Prescribed Private Fund (PPF) was established in 2004 by Tracey Steggall, following a corporate career in the UK and Australia.
At a time of unprecedented threat to Australia's Indigenous languages, philanthropic support would allow IAD Press begin producing audio and other digital language resources.
It’s a belief in “the power of black voices telling black stories” that has seen Ilbijerri become the longest surviving Indigenous theatre company in Australia.
Indij Readers is an innovative, not-for-profit company that produces contemporary Indigenous books for Australian schools. Philanthropic funding has helped more books be developed by communities, with each published story becoming a source of community pride.
Before establishing the Keir Foundation Phillip Keir trained as a theatre director, then turned his professional focus to media, publishing Australian Rolling Stone. By the 1990s he established his own company, Next Media with a multi-million dollar turnover.
Kurruru Indigenous Youth Performing Arts Inc
Kurruru Youth Performing Arts is recognised as Australia’s leading performing arts company for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people.
Magabala's aims reach beyond commercial publishing to a social mandate that sees them only publish titles by Indigenous creators, or with significant Indigenous input.
South Australian-based Margie Fischer has recently become involved in philanthropy, using the Australian Cultural Fund to make her most significant contribution.
Matana Foundation for young people
The Matana Foundation for Young People was founded in 2004 by Karen Loblay who wanted to make a positive contribution to the lives of disadvantaged young people.
'The connections we've made mean we'll be running theatre with the homeless tomorrow, and for many days after' Beck Ronkson, artistic director, Milk Crate Theatre.
Mirndiyan Gununa Aboriginal Corporation
To ensure the Lardil and Kayadilt cultures of Mornington Island are preserved Mirndiyan Gunana are galvanising young people through dance and visual arts.
The Nelson Meers Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation based in Sydney. It was the first ever prescribed private fund (a new format of trust fund) established in Australia in 2001.
State Theatre Company of South Australia
'Philanthropy mentoring means we're taking risks that are paying off. It's easier to be courageous when you know there's someone supporting you.' Irene Jones, development consultant, State Theatre Company of South Australia.
Tandanya is a place where artistic, cultural, ceremonial, historic, geographic and political information is communicated through visual arts, cultural presentations. festivals. special events and school and visitor programs.
Tjanpi, meaning ‘dry grass’, is a program working with Indigenous women to create meaningful employment in their homelands.
The West Australian Opera has been nurturing artistic talent for more than 40 years. Philanthropic mentoring is helping them tour extensively throughout regional Western Australia and give school children the experience of live opera.
The Westpac Foundation is a charitable trust which makes funding decisions solely for the public benefit. The Foundation has a particular focus on sustainable social enterprises and building communities, supporting projects of all sizes across Australia.
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Features
- Tax deductible donations by profession and postcode
- Ben Cameron. On the brink of a new chapter: Arts in the 21st Century.
- Not for profits- Managing for recovery
- New Victoria Manager for Artsupport Australia
- David Gonski's speech to FIA Conference, 2009
- Weathering the storm- fundraising in gloomy financial times
- New research into workplace giving
- Richard Radcliffe on why arts organisastions miss out on legacy donations
- Australia Council for the Arts submission to Treasury: Improving the integrity of Prescribed Private Funds
- The Westpac Foundation - moving Beyond Empathy


