Two decades of change and evolution in Australian philanthropy and fundraising has brought the fundraiser to the fore. What is happening in the cultural sector is a harbinger, argues Melissa Smith.
For the Director of Fundraising at the Australian Conservation Foundation, Christine Anderson, the trip to the Netherlands yielded insight and inspiration
As we move into 2023, the future looks clear and bright for fundraising professionals working within the bequest space. We can expect to see wider participation in death planning, a greater awareness of legacy giving, and transformational industry changes driven by technology. For charities and nonprofits, there has never been a better time to establish or strengthen their bequest program. Growth for good Gathered Here, Australia’s leading free online wills platform, has observed phenomenal growth of online will-writing and charitable gift-pledging. In September 2022, the number of wills written increased by 148% year-on-year. The number of gifts being pledged increased an even higher rate of 228% year-on-year. By the end…
Nearly six in 10 Australians say cost of living is their top concern. No surprise, with inflation sitting above 6%. But what does this mean for charitable giving? How should charities shore up their fundraising? First, some good news: Aussies still give when it’s needed. They gave after the 2008 financial crisis — NFP revenue initially fell by 20% but bounced back within a year. They gave during COVID lockdowns. In fact, most Australians are in a better position today than they were during past crises. Unemployment is low. The average family has close to $40,000 in savings tucked away — more than any point in the last 30 years.…
