Vale Marc Besen AC
Fri, 10 Nov 2023
Marc Besen AC, the renowned philanthropist and co-founder of the Sussan clothing group, passed away this week aged 99. Tributes appeared across the media, remembering Mr Besen warmly. Forbes magazine said he was regarded as “retail royalty” and a legend of business, and to those who knew him best, “he was kind, funny, loyal and incredibly wise”.
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Small Grants are vital to strengthen rural Australia
Jill Karena, Place Portfolio Lead, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal
Fri, 3 Nov 2023
For purpose organisations come in many shapes and sizes, and have varied needs according to their structures and location. This means that there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to grant making, writes Jill Karena, Place Portfolio Lead, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. In this thought piece, Jill explains how small grants can have a big impact, particularly on grassroots organisations, which may not be able to access traditional philanthropy.
Grattan Institute: The philanthropy behind powerful systems change advocacy
Fri, 3 Nov 2023
At Philanthropy Australia’s Philanthropy Meets Parliament Summit in Canberra last week, Danielle Wood, outgoing Grattan Institute CEO, reviewed some of the outstanding outcomes the independent public policy think tank has achieved in one of our case studies illustrating effective collaboration with government.
Philanthropy’s response to the terrorist attack by Hamas and violence in Israel and Gaza
Fri, 20 Oct 2023
Chuck Feeney: Philanthropic world mourns loss of an extraordinary giving hero
Fri, 13 Oct 2023
The American philanthropist who was called the ultimate example of Giving While Living, Charles ‘Chuck’ Feeney, died this week aged 92. He dedicated his fortune, made from duty free shops, to universities and good causes, giving away $8 billion across five continents, mostly anonymously.
How Beyond Blue’s ‘Way Back’ program went national
Nick Place
Fri, 6 Oct 2023
The aftercare offered to someone following a suicide attempt was woefully lacking only 10 years ago. Beyond Blue, along with an entire ecosystem of philanthropic support, community members, government and primary health networks tackled the issue in 2014 and developed the Way Back program. Earlier this year, the successful scheme was handed over to federal and state governments to run, with more than $150 million in funding, called Universal Aftercare. Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, we look at how it all came together.
Reflections about medical research: philanthropy’s role
Mary Chackola, National Engagement Manager for Victoria and Tasmania, Philanthropy Australia
Thu, 28 Sep 2023
This week, Philanthropy Australia hosted a roundtable event with special guest Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert from the University of Oxford. Professor Gilbert is the co-developer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and she spoke about philanthropy’s role in funding medical breakthroughs. Mary Chackola, Philanthropy Australia’s National Engagement Manager for Victoria and Tasmania, reflects on the discussion.
