The Top NFP Stories for 2013

It was a very big news year for the Australian Not for Profit sector and as 2013 comes to a close, Pro Bono Australia looks back at the year that was and what made the biggest headlines.

From the fate of Australia’s new charity regulator to Not for Profit salaries and million dollar donations – they all hit the top read news stories in 2013.

1. NFP Salary Survey Reveals Charity Remuneration Insights

The results of Pro Bono Australia’s first salary survey revealing the highlights and lowlights of annual remuneration, bonuses and professional development, topped Pro Bono Australia News’s most-read story list.

The survey, carried out by Pro Bono Australia and its partners Beveridge Consulting and Dakin Mayers, found that few Not for Profit executives and managers were rewarded with salary bonuses and other work incentives or offered professional development.

It also found that:

69 per cent of respondents were female and 31 per cent male;

• Average practical experience in the field of work was nearly 15 years;
• A significant number of the respondents to the survey had Bachelor Degree/Bachelor Degree (Honours) level of education (41 per cent), followed by Masters Degree (25 per cent);
• 74 per cent of respondents work five days or more, followed by 14 per cent working four days.

2. Australia Post Seeks NFP Partnerships

Readers were drawn to Australia Post’s call out for Not for Profit applicants for three-year partnerships worth $500,000 per year.

The partnerships, to promote inclusion in communities, would operate under its new Our Neighbourhood National Community program.

However, the successful NFP applicants of the partnerships are yet to be announced.

3. Andrews Announces Move to End ACNC

The sector was in uproar when new Federal Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews announced his moves to abolish the ACNC.

Andrews, who pre-election said he would be abolishing the ACNC, outlined his intended plans at the Disability Services CEO Conference and in Parliament during a debate on the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2013.

“To benefit civil society as a whole, the Government has committed to abolishing the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, with repeal legislation to be introduced into Parliament next year,” Andrews said in his speech at the Disability Services CEO Conference.

Also well-read was a follow-up story, ACNC Replacement Unveiled, which outlined the ACNC’s replacement – a Centre for Excellence – and how it would act as an advocate for the sector, be a leader in innovative and provide education, training and development opportunities.

4. eftpos Ups the Ante – a $2 million Give-Away to an Aussie Charity

eftpos Australia’s announcement that it would be doubling its Christmas donation to $2 million grabbed the attention of Pro Bono Australia News readers.

As part of the Christmas Giveback campaign, eftpos Australia asked Australians to vote on where they wanted the money to go.

And the winners? Diabetes Australia and Cancer Council Australia.

5. TOP 200 Aussie Philanthropists

Philanthropy proved a hot topic with the announcement of Australia’s Top 200 philanthropists.

The findings from research consultancy, Fundraising, Research & Consulting revealed eight families, foundations and individuals at the top of the list having donated more than $100 million so far.

And it was the ‘Fs’ who had it; with Fairfax, Feeney and Forrest the top three family names of philanthropists who have so far donated more than $100 million to Australian causes – the Fairfax Family, Chuck Feeney and Andrew and Nicola Forrest.

Also rating high on the most-read list was the Top 50 Philanthropic Gifts of All Time.

Representatives of the Myer Family Company, The Myer Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund, Pro Bono Australia, Swinburne University and Philanthropy Australia joined together to showcase Australia’s top philanthropic gifts following an exhaustive public nomination process.

The Top 50 went to a public vote to determine the Top 10 gifts – and taking the most votes was the original Epworth Hospital.