Best Practice

Take advantage of the knowledge of experienced philanthropy practitioners with these resources.

Trustee Handbook for Private Ancillary Funds

With the commencement of the new regulatory regime governing Private Ancillary Funds (PAFs), formerly Prescribed Private Funds (PPFs) effective 1 October 2009, Philanthropy Australia has created a booklet which will serve as a handbook for all PAFs.
The PAF Handbook has been written by David Ward, the author of the very well received Trustee Handbook, and is available free online.
Download the Private Ancillary Funds Trustee Handbook (PDF)

Rules of Thumb for Aspiring Philanthropists

William White, President and CEO of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, shares his learning on the art of giving with eight rules of thumb for aspiring philanthropists. Download here.

Australian Philanthropy journal

Australian Philanthropy is the quarterly journal of Philanthropy Australia. A subscription to Australian Philanthropy is a good entry point to the activities of your philanthropic peers. You can browse back issues or try some of these suggested articles:

Getting to the Change You Want to See - Dr Diana Leat
From Australian Philanthropy, Issue 69, Doing Philanthropy Differently (Autumn 2008)
Over the centuries billions of dollars have been spent worldwide by philanthropists and foundations. In the face of such generosity, asking what has really changed seems ungratefully impolite. Clearly, some things have changed – and some have, equally clearly, not. So do foundations need to change for change? Do they need to do something new, or perhaps reinvent something old to achieve the change they want to see in the world? Download here.

Grantmakers Online - Philanthropy 2.0 - Emily Turner
From Australian Philanthropy, Issue 69, Doing Philanthropy Differently (Autumn 2008)
The buzzword ‘Philanthropy 2.0’ describes the recent developments in fundraising and donations made through the internet. Making reference to the ‘Web 2.0’ phenomenon, and using ‘philanthropy’ in a broad sense, it describes informed giving by both individual donors and grantmakers. Download here.

Introducing Family Foundations - Genevieve Timmons, Portland House Foundation
From Australian Philanthropy, Issue 65, Ages and Stages (Winter 2007)
Among the array of structures that have colonised Australia’s philanthropy sector – community foundations, government initiated foundations, corporate foundations, trustee companies and Prescribed Private Funds – what is it about family foundations that remains distinct and unique? Download here.

The Carnegie Conundrum - How much should one give? - Christopher Baker and Denis Tracey
From Australian Philanthropy, Issue 65, Ages and Stages (Winter 2007)
Being a highly successful industrialist, Andrew Carnegie continued to generate wealth at the same time as he was giving it away.
Many families involved in philanthropic giving may find themselves in a similar position. Download here.

QUT Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies

The Centre of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies consists of academics and research students who have an interest in researching philanthropy and nonprofit organisations. Apart from the research activities of its members, staff associated with CPNS also teach programs tailored for students interested in pursuing careers in the management of philanthropic and nonprofit organisations or in public administration associated with nonprofit organisations.

The CPNS website also contains lots of useful information and news for new philanthropists.