Disability Organisation Wins Award
22 December 2003 at 12:12 pm
The inaugural Givewell Best Practice Charity Award has been won by Technical Aid to the Disabled New South Wales (TADNSW).
The award was presented as part of the 3rd Annual Ethical Investor Sustainability Awards. Givewell is the charity research division of the Lifecraft Group, and publisher of Ethical Investor magazine.
TAD NSW was identified from Givewell’s database of more than 1700 charities to exemplify best practice for charities.
It was chosen after a rigorous selection process that identified many strengths including:
– Commitment to transparency and accountability
– TADNSW publishes its annual report on the web and full financial statements are readily available.
– Unlike many charities, their accounting conforms with the Charitable Fundraising Act 1991 to report expenditure on fundraising, office administration and on direct services – information which donors want to know.
– Its history engenders trust. The organisation began in 1973 when 8 engineers convened to build special equipment for people with disabilities. Currently there are 12 branches and interest groups in NSW. It thus has a 30 year track record and shows steady growth.
– Its Mission: ‘To improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and those caring for them, through the application of technology,’ is a clear statement that translates to ‘Key Result’ areas with realistic objectives and reported outcomes, itemised in their annual report.
– Volunteers play a crucial role in all the organisation’s services by donating not only their time and labour but also their skills. Their professional expertise is fully utilised, which is unusual in the third sector, where volunteers often serve meals or perform other necessary, but mundane, duties.
– There is a culture of compassion. This is not warm fuzziness – it means ensuring proper employment practices for staff members such as OH&S and staff induction and training programs.
– Board members receive no benefits or remuneration. Three have an engineering background (appropriate to TADNSW’s work) and two are female – which provides a diversity of views.
-The female CEO Sancha Donald, says the board has been willing to progress and up-skill and have taken on board ‘governance of themselves’, which goes beyond mere compliance. This culture of cooperation permeates the organisation.
Congratulations from Pro Bono Australia!
