Victoria manager commences

Artsupport Australia is delighted to introduce its new Victoria Manager - Anna Draffin - who commences on 3 May. This new role supports the Australia Council for the Art’s strategic priority to increase philanthropic support for the arts in Victoria.

Anna brings extensive experience in communication and fundraising, having most recently been Deputy Director of Heide Museum of Modern Art, where she led the Communication and Development team. Anna was a recipient of an inaugural Margaret Lawrence Bequest scholarship in 2006 for leadership in arts management.

Her role will complement managers in Darwin, Perth and Brisbane and the Sydney-based director so Artsupport Australia’s programs can reach more clients nationally – encompassing artists, arts organisations, philanthropists and foundations and trusts. Artsupport Australia’s director Louise Walsh will continue to service NSW, ACT, SA and Tasmania.

Anna’s position is jointly funded by the Australia Council and Arts Victoria. She will have an office at Arts Victoria, and will be available for appointments from late May. 

Conference presentations

Artsupport Australia is behind two plenary sessions at the following national events:

• Philanthropy Australia Conference in Melbourne on 1 September 2010
Lessons Learnt re Indigenous Philanthropy – what hasn’t worked and why? has panelists Jill Reichstein, Neil Balnaves, Roger Allen and Tanya Hosch. More information here.  

• Regional Arts Australia Conference in Launceston on 27 August 2010
Is Philanthropy the Solution for Regional Artists? will be chaired by Caroline Baum with speakers Janet Hirst, Glen Donnelly and a leading visual arts philanthropist (tbc). More information here.

Artsupport Australia 2010 masterclass and lecture: Bequests 

International consultant in bequest fundraising, Richard Radcliffe, returns after five years to present Artsupport Australia’s 2010 masterclass and lecture series in:

• Sydney on Tuesday 16 November, and
• Melbourne on Thursday 18 November.

UK-based Radcliffe last presented similar events in 2005 to much acclaim. His overview and strategies to capture this typically overlooked income stream have provided new insights and skills for many arts organisations. We will be taking online registrations in July – we will notify you when the system is ready.

Updates on three philanthropy mentoring programs

1. Key Organisations philanthropy mentoring program 2010
Stage two of the Key Organisations philanthropy mentoring program commenced in January this year, with 14 new key organisations selected. The 14 companies have been funded to cover 50 per cent of the salary of a part-time philanthropy manager for two year – providing the other 50 per cent themselves. The position is expected to be self-funding after the two-year period, and ideally after one. The 15stage one (pilot) key organisations have now graduated and are continuing to be mentored by Artsupport Australia. To be eligible for the program the companies have to be a Key Organisation of the Australia Council. The stage two organisations are:

• Gadigal Information Service
• Australian Centre for Photography
• The Song Company
• Melbourne Chamber Orchestra
• Centre for Contemporary Photography
• Brink Theatre
• Australian String Quartet
• Tasmanian Wood Design Collection
• Tasdance
• WA Youth Jazz Orchestra
• Spare Parts Puppet Theatre
• Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts, Australia
• Barkly Regional Arts
• Australian Book Review.

2. Major Performing Arts philanthropy mentoring program 2010
Now in stage five of the program, 11 selected MPAB organisations are currently matched with an external mentor for a minimum of two years, to help develop strategies and programs to increase private giving income. The program currently includes:

• WA Symphony Orchestra (Mentor: Frankie Airey)
• Queensland Ballet (Mentor: Mary Jo Capps)
• Sydney Dance Company (Mentor: Frankie Airey)
• WA Ballet (Mentor: Sue Sweetland)
• Sydney Theatre Company (Mentor: Alex Hamill)
• Queensland Orchestra (Mentor: Nigel Harris)
• Circus Oz (Mentor: Carillo Gantner)
• State Theatre Company of South Australia (Mentor: Jane Wynter)
• Black Swan State Theatre Company (Mentor: Louise Herron)
• Orchestra Victoria (Mentor: Crispin Rice)
• Company B (Mentor: Jane Westbrook).

The program will be reviewed in coming weeks to determine its direction for stage 6 for 2010/11.

3. Indigenous mentoring program and expo 
Over four years to 31 December 2009, Artsupport Australia managed a philanthropic mentoring program to selected Indigenous arts organisations to increase their philanthropic income and help them become more financially sustainable. Running on a similar model as the MPAB program described above, this program finished at the end of 2009. It culminated with an Indigenous Arts Expo in Melbourne in November last year, presenting 10 organisations. They performed and displayed their cultural material to invited philanthropists and foundations, giving them an intimate account of their work. A video from the Expo can be viewed here.

The participating organisations at the expo were:

• Desart (Mentor: Mary Valentine)
• Euraba Artists and Paper Company (Mentor: Gillian Corban)
• Gadigal Information Service (Mentor: Bob Mansfield)
• IAD Press (Mentor: Jane Jose)
• Ilbijerri Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Theatre Co-operative (Mentor: Ian Roberts)
• Kurruru Indigenous Youth Performing Arts (Mentor: Yvonne Sneddon)
• Magabala Books (Mentor: Barbara Cail)
• Tandanya (Mentor: Anne Skipper)
• Mirndiyan Gunana Aboriginal Corporation (Mentor: Paul Wand)
• Yirra Yaakin (Mentor: Ann Tregonning)

 Sector updates

Individual giving rises

Australian Taxation Office statistics on donations claimed as part of 2007-8 income tax returns indicate that a total of $2.34 billion was donated. NSW led the charge with $1.13b of this (48%), followed by Victoria with $526m (22%). This is an increase of $54million on the 2006-7 figures of $1.89 billion. The full report and associated tax statistics are available here.

Donations by private ancillary funds continue to grow

Private ancillary funds (PAFs, formally known as prescribed private funds or PPFs) also indicate continued growth in donations ($727miliion in 2007-8) and assets. The current number of PAFs gazetted is 769, though more exist awaiting gazettal. Between 2001 and 2008, these PAFs distributed $447m to eligible organisations. Over that period, culture came second to welfare as a beneficiary, receiving $63.2million – which is a great result considering that it was almost last at the outset. Refer to Queensland University of Technology’s 1st factsheet for 2010 for more PAF statistics and analysis here. 

A working document has been prepared that sorts the most currently available list of gazetted PAFs by state and territory that is available here. As information changes over time, you should conduct your own investigation to determine its accuracy.

Australian NFPs optimistic

A December survey of 119 Australian not for profits revealed that 85 per cent of the organisations were changing their focus in 2010 from cost cutting to fundraising. The survey was done collaboratively by PricewaterhouseCoopers, Fundraising Institute of Australia and the Centre for Social Impact, and followed an earlier survey completed in May 2009. It reveals that larger organisations rode through the downturn with less loss of income and corporate funding levels have been maintained. The full report ‘Managing for Recovery’ can be found here.

Resources

Free computers for small cultural organisations

The Australia Council has 150 desktop computers which it will provide free of charge to small organisations operating in the arts and culture sector. The computers are business-quality machines that were purchased new at the end of 2004.  They are loaded with the Windows XP operating system only, no other software is installed. Organisations interested in this offer will need make their own transport arrangements from the Council offices at Surry Hills. More information is available here or please contact Kieran Creaven if you need any more information about this offer.

YouTube supports not for profits

The YouTube website is providing Australian eligible NFPs with the chance to connect with supporters, volunteers, and donors for free. For more information refer here.

Fundraising tips

The following three articles from Pareto Fundraising are recommended reading: Subscribe to their e-news here.

The most powerful fundraising tool in the world

Sean Triner reconfirms that a strategic survey is an invaluable tool for the most effective fundraising here.

Bequest fundraising, pure and simple

Christiana Stergiou breaks the traditional approach to bequest fundraising here.

Toward better bequests

CARE Australia has successfully revived its bequest program, and shares its lessons here.
This article first appeared in the March edition of Our Community’s Raising Funds Newsletter. 

Annual giving is moving online

US-based Robert Burdenski presented our 2009 masterclasses. He writes on the trend and benefits of moving to online appeals here.  This article was first published in the February/March 2010 issue of Fundraising and Philanthropy Australasia.

Reflections worth noting

Celebrated fundraiser Kingsley Aikins offers insights on international fundraising and philanthropy. As president and CEO of The Ireland Fund, and Artsupport Australia’s inaugural lecture presenter in 2004, he has masterminded very successful strategies for the Irish diaspora. Click here.
This article was first published in the February/March 2010 issue of Fundraising and Philanthropy Australasia.

US expat private giving

Any organisations wishing to secure donations from Australian expats living in US and who are US taxpayers, should be aware of two vehicles to enable their donations to be tax deductible:

1. The American Fund for Charities
2. CAFAmerica.

Events and opportunities

Australia Business Arts Foundation events

Australia Business Arts Foundation Awards – close 7 May 2010
Now in its tenth year, the AbaF Awards includes these giving-related categories, which for the first time include individual artists and arts board members:

• AbaF Giving Award – for individual artists and arts and cultural organisations’ giving (donations) programs; annual campaigns; capital campaigns; patron programs, bequest programs, projects supported by foundations.

• Goldman Sachs JBWere Philanthropy Leader Award for an individual, family, group, foundation and other entity that through their leadership, advocacy, practice and example has encouraged increased philanthropic giving to Australia’s cultural life.

For more information and application forms refer here.

Ongoing events 

AbaF offers regular workshops around Australia that will develop your skills in philanthropic fundraising. For a full listing, refer here.   

Others 

Madison Down Under - Barossa Valley, SA, 13-17 August  2010
The Fundraising Institute of Australia's intensive four-day residential education program for fundraising professionals in the not-for-profit sector will take place 13-17 August at the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort, South Australia. Aimed at fundraising, development and marketing staff, CEOs. Some Artsupport Australia staff have attended in past years and can recommend attendance for intense exposure to fundraising practices and professionals from Australia and overseas. Visit here.

Philanthropy Australia - Grantseeker workshops 2010 - Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane
A half-day morning workshop will provide an overview on Australian trusts and foundations and the environment in which they operate. Learn how to research potential funding sources. $220 per person. More information is here.

CASE Asia-Pacific Institute in Educational Fundraising - Mt Eliza, VIC, 25-29 October 2010
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), a US-based membership organisation, will be presenting this five-day fundraising intensive at the Melbourne Business School, Mornington Peninsula. It offers world-class training for fundraisers. While the fees for their seminars may be high, we can seriously recommend the programs for experienced fundraisers. For more see here

Contact

We are always interested in any material, ideas or experiences that will advance philanthropic fundraising in Australia. Also, let us know if you have any specific needs that we could help you address and ideas for future newsletters.

Louise Walsh director
Ivana Jirasek coordinator
Elizabeth Swinburn administrator
Gillian Harrison Northern Territory manager
Kathy Davis Queensland manager
James Boyd West Australia manager
Anna Draffin Victoria manager