ACF Employer Leadership Initiative

The Australian Charities Fund (ACF) has named the ten founding members as part of its Employer Leadership Initiative committed to collaborating on growing workplace giving.

ACF CEO Ted Kerr says leadership and collaboration are the keys to igniting workplace giving participation and connecting greater numbers of working Australians with their communities.

Ted Kerr, CEO Australian Charities Fund addresses the Connect, Collaborate and Celebrate Conference

 The announcement was made at the Connect, Collaborate and Celebrate Conference- the first ACF Conference to bring together employers and community partners in Sydney.

The Employer Leadership Group consists of:

• ANZ
• Australia Post
• Bain & Company
• NSW Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care
• Goldman Sachs
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia
• JB Hi-Fi
• Mallesons Stephen Jaques
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Singtel Optus Pty Ltd

Ted Kerr says October 1 marks the official roll out of the ACF new partnership model which is the culmination of insights and findings from its year-long research and strategic review.

Kerr told the conference that the partners will gain exclusive access to ACF workplace giving program materials; workshops driving creative employee engagement, charity champion training and successful workplace giving programs.

As well, ACF will provide knowledge sharing and insights from its ongoing research program and growth initiatives and access to advisory support from a team with workplace giving relevant expertise.

Kerr says partners are expected to step up their commitment to strengthen workplace giving programs.

In particular, he says ACF will be looking to community partners to actively respond to their Cutting to the Heart of Workplace Giving research identifying donors wanting to know the difference their donations make.

The research found that almost 1 in 6 donors say signing up to workplace giving has motivated them to increase their other donations, suggesting that for some, workplace giving is acting as a catalyst to enhance their engagement in other forms of giving.

This research says that as a fundraising stream, workplace giving is a new form of charitable giving that is substantially
increasing total donations to charities. This is even before employer matching is taken into account.

Kerr says communicating and celebrating workplace giving achievements was key to growing awareness and participation. As part of its ongoing investment in research, Kerr told attendees two ACF commissioned projects are currently exploring opportunities to increase communication effectiveness and employee engagement.

Kerr says ACF is looking to employer partners to lift the veil on workplace giving and give it greater visibility.

Kerr is not alone in arguing that leadership and collaboration are critical to help grow awareness of workplace giving. The Productivity Commission Report into the Contribution of the Not for Profit Sector highlighted that having regard to international experience, encouraging planned giving – especially through payroll giving – will significantly increase the level of giving by Australians.

A survey of over 1,500 people working in the Not for Profit community sector conducted by Pro Bono Australia during the first week of the 2010 election campaign found over two-third of respondents agreed government should fund a national campaign to promote and support planned giving, and especially payroll giving.

For more information go to www.australiancharitiesfund.org.au