As new ways of working and living evolve, the challenges to communities both close to home and far away continue.  The devastating effects of the Beirut explosion have resonated with many of our clients, and yet again we have worked to quickly to set up appeals for charities operating in the affected areas.  I am so heartened by our generous corporate and individual donors and their willingness to step up in times of crisis and provide support.

I recently had the opportunity to see Perpetual and the Stanford Center on Philanthropy and Civil Society’s (PACS) session on the future of philanthropy and civil society during COVID-19. It was a fascinating discussion on the role of philanthropic individuals and organisations in times of social and economic crisis. The discussion around the reliance on philanthropy to augment government service provision and financial support was, to me, a further endorsement of the value the charitable sector represents to our most vulnerable communities.  There was a strong sentiment around encouraging the building of stronger community connections with philanthropic organisations, and a transparency around fund allocation and usage.  I could not agree more, there is definitely strength in community, and in clear and concise communication.

Taking a slightly different perspective, Social Ventures Australia (SVA) and the Centre of Social Impact’s (CSI) report on the role of charities in economic recovery was super interesting. Did you realise that charities account for more than 1 in 10 employees in Australia?  Not only is their work supporting vulnerable and challenged communities providing vital services, but their role in the employment economy is equally as significant.  The report goes on to say that the sectors with high concentrations of charities – health care and social assistance, and education and training – are two of the three sectors expected to contribute the most to jobs growth in the next five years.  A compelling argument for the continued support of the charitable sector not only to address the needs of those who require assistance right now, but as a fundamental contribution to the strengthening of our economy in the future.

At Good2Give we’re always innovating around ways to offer our corporate partners and donors products that can simplify and provide new ways of charitable giving. I encourage you to take a look at our recently expanded Volunteering Solutions, a genuine one-stop-shop for both volunteering and volunteer fund matching. Another great project with really fantastic results is our Giving Circles at Work initiative. The launch programme with Westpac Group delivered some great results for employee and donor engagement and donation levels, with the research and summary report delivering a compelling case to roll them out more widely.  Do get in touch if you’d like to know more.

And in the background, this crazy year is moving fast! In a few short weeks we’ll have the first day of Spring – and with it seems to come a whole raft of fantastic fundraising opportunities! There’s everything from Liptember and Walktober to Movember. If you’re getting involved this year, I suggest you encourage everyone to set your page up on Good2Give with our partner GoFundraise nice and early to take advantage of any corporate matching.

Your regular giving is a vital part of ensuring charities can continue to function in these trying times.  Thank you so much for your continued attention,

Lisa Grinham Chief Executive Officer Email LinkedIn