Not for Profit Update 9

December 3, 2015

A third of Australian Not for Profits have discussed a possible merger with another organisation in the past year, according to a research released by the Australian Institute of Company Directors. –
The survey of more than 2900 directors from a diverse range of NFP organisations found that 32 per cent of Boards had discussed a merger in the past year, while 7 per cent actually merged and another 7 per cent were i
n the process of doing so.
The fact that NFPs are actually entering into mergers – and not just talking about it – is a significant shift from previous years. NFP boards are clearly trying to improve their efficiency to ensure that they achieve their missions,” John Brogden said, Managing Director and CEO of the AICD
Julienne Price, Head of Schools and Not for Profit Sector Banking at Commonwealth Bank, said it remained crucial for the NFP sector to continue to look for innovative ways to strengthen its financial foundations to continue to service the community and to maximise longevity
Earlier this month social sector leaders called for at least 100 charities to merge or shut down altogether, saying that an overcrowded sector meant many organisations were competing against each other for the charitable dollar.

Source: Pro Bono Australia

Australian television and radio celebrity, Carrie Bickmore, has launched a charity with the initial aim of raising $1 million to find a cure for brain cancer.
Bickmore famously used her Gold Logie acceptance speech to campaign for more government funding to be directed towards brain cancer research. Less than one day after going live, the charity has already raised $72,000 towards its $1 million goal.
Bickmore said she was spurred to set up the charity by a wish that no other family has to watch their loved one die from brain cancer the way her family did.
"It receives less than five per cent of all government cancer research funding. That's not good enough.
Carrie’s Beanie’s 4 Brain Cancer will officially launch in December with a public concert. Pop stars Ed Sheeran and Vance Joy will headline the event, with the money raised from the 1200 potential ticket sales going to Carrie’s foundation.

Source: Pro Bono Australia

World Vision Australia will cut 89 jobs and overhaul its fundraising and administration operations in a bid to survive a weak Australian dollar and changing aid market.
World Vision CEO, Tim Costello, told Pro Bono Australia News that the organisation had lost 30 per cent of the money it had raised due to the struggling Australian dollar.
Along with a weak Australian dollar, Costello said his charity’s chief funding stream – child sponsorship – had failed to keep pace with cost increases in recent years.He said in his 12 years at World Vision Australia child sponsorship had dropped from 80 per cent of the organisation's revenue to 43 per cent.
World Vision Australia said the the restructure would have no direct impact on its development and humanitarian work in Australia and overseas.

Source: Pro Bono Australia

As the consumer affairs watchdog investigates claims of accounting and reporting irregularities at the high profile charity foundation set up by cricketing great, Shane Warne, the organisation’s website has gone offline.
Consumer affairs watchdog, Consumer Affairs Victoria, has confirmed that it is investigating the charity.
“Consumer Affairs Victoria is concerned about a number of inconsistencies in The Shane Warne Foundation's reporting and accounting practices and is currently looking into this matter,” a CAV spokesperson said
A report in Fairfax Media said an investigation by The Sunday Age revealed The Shane Warne Foundation raised $1.8 million in three years but donated an average of only 16 cents of every dollar to institutions that care for sick and underprivileged children.
The General Manager of The Shane Warne Foundation, Emma Coleman, told Pro Bono Australia News on Sunday that the organisation was assessing the situation. “We have three board members in different countries, and we will not be making a public statement about the investigation until next week,” Coleman said.

Source: Pro Bono Australia

Facebook's new tools for non-profits consist of a Donate button for Pages and posts, and a dedicated Fundraisers feature that allows organizations to solicit financial support for specific causes and campaigns.
With the new Donate buttons, non-profits can enable their supporters to send donations without leaving Facebook and to broadcast the news of their donations to their friends.
Facebook is currently testing the new Donate buttons and Fundraisers pages with several dozen organizations, including the American Cancer Society, The Leukaemia & Lymphoma Society and World Wildlife Fund.

Source: Pro Bono Australia