Community Foundation Embraces Savvy Giving

The funds under management of one of Australia’s oldest and largest community foundations, the Australian Communities Foundation, has grown by more than 16 per cent to $45 million, its annual meeting has been told.

Earlier this week more than 100 Australian Communities Foundation (ACF) donors and supporters gathered to celebrate what the Foundation says has been another impactful year of achievements and growth.

ACF Chair Annie Duncan launched the 2013 Annual Report, “Giving Voice”, saying the Foundation and grant recipients had all come together through many thoughtful and exciting grants.

The new CEO Jonathan Chapman read a the message from world-renowned philanthropist Roberta d’Eustachio who encouraged all philanthropists to give voice to their giving as a way of encouraging others.

Chapman said that three gifts from ACF’s donors had been named in the recently announced “Australia’s Top 50 Philanthropic Gifts”.  

“With the assistance of improved investment returns and with donations in excess of $6.5 million, the corpus has grown by over 16 per cent to $45 million,” he said.

“Whilst growing the corpus does not define success, grants had grown by 78 per cent to $6.89 million including ACF’s first grant of $1 million.  

“Over 25 new donors establishing sub-funds or Gumnut Accounts in the previous twelve months.”

Chapman said that while he had only been in the job for a few weeks he was very optimistic and excited about the future of ACF.

He said that in accepting this important role as CEO, he had combined his two careers; his first one in the finance and investment sector and more recently working with and for community groups.

Guest speaker at the event was Philanthropist and Community leader Genevieve Timmons, author of the recently published Savvy Giving.

Savvy Giving, the art and science of philanthropy was commissioned by ACF to make philanthropy more accessible and to help create a better quality of life in communities everywhere.

Timmons explained why a community foundation is a perfect model for donors who want to explore philanthropy and to become engaged in grantmaking.  

“Community Foundations have the structures and importantly the knowledge and connection to communities to support donors and to get funds to their destination – where it is needed,” he said.

“Savvy Giving is a resource of tools and stories for grantmakers and grantseekers. It is a resource for givers just starting the philanthropy journey and also for the more seasoned donors.

“The fun part of grantmaking begins when the grants reach their destination.  It is the relationship opportunities donors can have with grant recipients is what brings Philanthropy and giving to life.”

Savvy Giving is available to purchase ACF website and will be in bookshops in the new year. The full ACF Annual Report is available for download at www.communityfoundation.org.au