NFP news

January 18, 2016

More than half of the total value of Australia’s charity sector is controlled by just two states, according to figures from the national charity regulator.
NSW and Victoria account for $58.2 billion of the Australian social sector’s combined income of $103 billion.
NSW is by far the heaviest hitter when it comes to charitable dollars, with the state’s charity sector worth $31.9 billion, followed by Victoria at $26.3 billion.
According to the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC), NSW charities also employ over 304,000 people and around 588,000 people from the state volunteer.
ACNC Commissioner Susan Pascoe said the report was evidence of the immense contribution of NSW’s charities.
“NSW charities are not only economically significant, but also contribute greatly to the community,” Pascoe said.

The charity that looked likely to lose $200,000 in the collapse of tech giant, Dick Smith Holdings, has been rescued by another company.
Retail Food Group (RFG), the largest multi-food franchisor in Australia, has committed to supporting Epilepsy Action Australia’s (EAA) biggest annual fundraising event, Purple Day.
The company will promote and fundraise for Purple Day across its franchise network, which includes brands such as Donut King, Brumby’s Bakery, Michel’s Patisserie, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Pizza Capers and Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar.
EAA had been left with a $200,000 funding gapafter Dick Smith went into receivership earlier this month. CEO of EAA, Carol Ireland, said she was relieved that another company had stepped in to support the charity.

Source: ProBono

One of Australia’s best known child protection advocates, Hetty Johnston AM, has announced she will step down as CEO of the organisation she founded to become the chair of its board.
But in an unusual set of circumstances, she will be replaced by the current chairman of Bravehearts, meaning the pair will effectively trade places.
Johnston, who founded Bravehearts in 1997, said she wanted to step away from the day-to-day operations of the organisation to focus on larger advocacy goals.
“Part of my responsibilities will include driving special projects, such as our independent inquiry into the Family Court called Abbey’s Project, and some other exciting initiatives that will bring us closer to our 2020 vision.
Johnston will be replaced by, and replace, current Bravehearts chair, Angelo Venardos.

Source: ProBono

A new finance survey conducted by female-focused not-for-profit 10thousandgirl (10TG), shows that more women are thinking about the bigger financial picture, but lack the discipline and skills to start their financial journey.
While 63 per cent of respondents said that they set finance-related goals for the New Year, only 60 per cent went on to say they don’t actually create a budget for the year ahead.
When asked what held them back from pursuing their financial goals, almost two thirds (63 per cent) put discipline at number one, knowledge at number two (43 per cent), and skills third (42 per cent).
“Women have moved from thinking tactically to a more strategic review of their circumstances, and that’s wonderful but we still feel there’s more to learn, and certainly some discipline to introduce.” said Zoe Lamont, Founder of 10thousandgirl.

For the first time in its 52 year history, Not-for-Profit crisis call centre, Lifeline, received more than one million requests for help from Australians in 2015, including recording the busiest ever four-month period for the help line.
Lifeline Australia’s new CEO, Pete Shmigel, said the organisation was connecting with more help-seeking people than ever – answering more than 71,000 calls a month since September 2015 – as demand for its 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services rose to new levels.
Between September and December 2015, Lifeline said that more than 84,000 calls were received each month with a call answer rate of 85 per cent – up from 61 per cent in 2012.
“It’s heart-wrenching that there are so many in our community in crisis and needing support, but it is heart-warming that they can rely on the compassionate and effective help offered by Lifeline’s more than 4,000 telephone and online crisis supporters, most of whom are volunteers,” Shmigel said.

Source: ProBono