Foundation Moves to Multi-Year Charity Support

The QBE Foundation, the charitable arm of global insurer QBE, has moved to multi-year support for one of its not-for-profit partners in 2017.

The QBE Foundation announced it’s 2017 charity partners on Monday which included existing relationships with four renewing partners – Brainwave, Camp Quality, The Big Issue and The Kids’ Cancer Project. Two new charities have also been chosen – Assistance Dogs Australia and Foodbank.

The foundation said that for the first time The Kids’ Cancer Project was awarded a three-year partnership, during which time it would continue its support of an anti-cancer drug trial and other initiatives.

QBE Foundation chairperson Sally Kincaid said: “We decided to consider multi-year partnerships for the first time this year. We recognise that certainty of funding is a challenge for the not-for-profit sector, so this allows us to commit to longer-term projects.

“All the partners would help the foundation achieve its objective of helping people in our community overcome disadvantage, strengthen their abilities, and live more independently, successfully and productively.

“Through appointing a select group for an annual partnership, it gives us the structure to build a relationship and really get to know the charities and their goals. It also allows our people to get involved, whether that be through volunteering, attending events, or sharing in the success stories when we work together to achieve great outcomes.”

It comes as growing corporate interest in multi-year partnerships was highlighted in a recent study.

In 2016 research by the Australian Institute of Grants Management (AIGM) saw grant seekers call on funders for greater support through both multi-year grants and grants covering core operational costs.

The survey is said to be Australia’s biggest study of grantseeker behaviour and attitudes, with more than 1,350 people responding to the 2015 survey.

Grantseekers used the 2015 Grants in Australia Survey to express concerns over what they saw as a fall in grants which covered core operational costs, and in multi-year grants.

Nearly 42 per cent felt there were fewer grants available for core operating costs than 12 months ago, compared to just 4.6 per cent who felt there had been an increase.

Meanwhile almost 30 per cent said there had been a fall in multi-year grants on offer over the past 12 months; only 6 per cent thought more were on offer.

“A lack of multi-year funding, combined with a lack of grants towards core operational costs, can stifle groups’ attempts at medium or long-term planning and can force them to take a shorter-term, hand-to-mouth approach,” the 2015 report said.

“If grantmakers are serious about working in partnership with grantseekers and truly taking account of their wisdom, they’ll act to arrest this concerning trend.”

A spokesperson for the QBE Foundation said the first three year partnership would provide a chance for the two organisations to work together on longer projects.

To be considered as a charity partner with the QBE Foundation, organisations must be a registered charity and are required to complete an application form detailing their funding sources and the project for which they are seeking support.

Charities that align with the QBE Foundation’s philosophy and objectives are invited to submit their applications for partnership between June and September each year.