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SVA News & Articles
SVA in the news
 Chris Cuffe announces the Third Link Growth Fund’s underlying fund managers
Michael Traill comments on the current economy’s impact on charitable giving in the AFR
How non-profit work can be a rewarding alternative for professionals
Ethical Investor magazine profiles the launch of SVA Consulting
Chris Cuffe launches the Third Link Growth Fund to support the non-profit sector
SVA Launches the Indigenous Investor Circle
New research report shows Australia lags the world in philanthropic giving but new opportunities emerge
Read Michael Traill's commentary on 'The Strategic Philanthropist' in the Business Spectator
Michael Traill comments to the AFR about the impact of recent market gyrations on corporate giving
Jan Owen AM selected as a finalist for the 2007 NSW Telstra Business Women's Award
SVA launches The Circle magazine to commemorate our 5th anniversary  Click on links to view other news sections
Portfolio ventures in the news
Community partners in the news
Chris Cuffe announces the Third Link Growth Fund’s underlying fund managers 21 July 2008
Chris Cuffe has convinced some of the best and brightest investment minds in the country to offer their services for a good cause. Mr Cuffe, director of Third Link Investment Managers and an executive director of SVA, has announced the names of the 17 underlying managers within Third Link Growth Fund, many of whom have agreed to work for free. Cumulatively they will potentially forgo more than $1 million in fees each year. All management fees to Third Link, net of expenses incurred, will go to support SVA. This will be an estimated 1 per cent of the fees per year or an annual revenue stream of around $1.5 million once the Fund closes at $150 million. Read the Sydney Morning Herald article written by Adele Horin about this announcement . Michael Traill comments on the current economy’s impact on charitable giving in the Australian Financial Review 18 July 2008
Australian families are feeling the pinch as plummeting stock prices, high interest rates and the increased price of household staples like food and petrol take their toll which may affect their charitable giving, reports Emma Connors in the Australian Financial Review. In tough times, people still donate because they understand that others may have it even harder than they do. While these factors are yet to stem philanthropic flows from wealthy individuals and businesses, those groups are thinking twice before digging deep. And charities are adjusting their plans accordingly. SVA, which depends largely on corporate donations and wealthy individuals to sustain its support of social entrepreneurs and other activities, reports its funding inflow is slightly ahead of target. Chief Executive Michael Traill said income had grown every year, including the 12 months to 30 June. However these supporters are not simply handing over their money. ‘The not-for-profit sector is moving from cheque-book charity, where there is little connection between donor and recipient, to engaged philanthropy,’ Mr Traill said. ‘There's no question the market is tough and charitable contributions are discretionary but I am optimistic about our capacity to grow – the challenge for the sector is to do so with clarity and accountability.’ How non-profit work can be a rewarding alternative for professionals
12 May 2008
Growing numbers of young professionals and seasoned executives are joining the non-profit sector, particularly with organisations that acknowledge the need for decent pay and structured professional development.
SVA founder and chief executive Michael Traill told the Australian Financial Review that talent which ‘jumped ship’ from the private sector shouldn’t have to live hand to mouth.
While he believes SVA has access to astonishing talent who would accept pay levels much lower than they were used to, the issue of remuneration is still important in the non-profit sector.
Ethical Investor magazine profiles the launch of SVA Consulting
May 2008
SVA achieved an Australian first with the launch in April of its consulting division, reports Ethical Investor magazine.
SVA Consulting will help non-profit organisations and their funders clarify direction, measure performance and improve capacity.
The group’s executive director, Duncan Peppercorn, says he is confident there is demand for a consulting service dedicated to helping non-profit organisations achieve their next stage of growth and long-term sustainability.
Chris Cuffe launches the Third Link Growth Fund to support the non-profit sector
10 April
SVA Executive Director Chris Cuffe announced today the launch of the Third Link Growth Fund. The creation of the Third Link Growth Fund is a unique and pioneering initiative. The Fund provides investors with an opportunity to participate in a professionally managed investment. Importantly, all fees received from managing the Fund’s investments, net of expenses incurred, will go to support the non-profit sector via ongoing donations to Social Ventures Australia (SVA). The name ‘Third Link’ directly signifies this important connection between the non-profit sector (often referred to as the ‘third’ sector) and investors. For more information about the Third Link Growth Fund, please visit www.thirdlink.com.au. Watch Third Link Growth Fund's profile on ABC's Inside Business program or listen to Chris Cuffe's interview with Fran Kelly on ABC Radio's Breakfast program. SVA Launches the Indigenous Investor Circle 19 March 2008
SVA launched the Indigenous Investor Circle at a lunch in Sydney today. This initiative has been established to provide support for proven programs that are combating issues in this critical area of social need. The Indigenous Investor Circle helps to take these programs to scale through a powerful pooled investment model that leverages funding dollars. It contributes to a cross-section of non-profit organizations and initiatives. For further information on this initiative please download our Indigenous Investor Circle brochure.
Megan Davis, Director of the Indigenous Law Centre and Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law of the University of New South Wales, discusses Indigenous Community Issues with a group of around 50 people at the Royal Automobile Club in Sydney on 19 March 2008.
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New research report shows Australia lags the world in philanthropic giving but new opportunities emerge 10 March 2008
A new report commissioned by the Petre Foundation—Good Times and Philanthropy: Giving by Australia’s Affluent—was launched on 10 March 2008. The report, produced by the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies based at Queensland University of Technology draws upon the latest research to examine giving trends by affluent individuals in Australia and how these compare with overseas counterparts. Speaking at a briefing hosted by SVA in Sydney (SVA hosted a similar briefing in Melbourne on 11 March), Petre Foundation Chairman Daniel Petre said: 'On an asset basis affluent Americans currently give around 10-15 per cent of their net worth to philanthropy. Their Australian counterparts seem to be allocating less than three per cent. 'On an income basis wealthy Americans allocate 3.8 per cent of income to charities while average wealthy Australians give less than one half of one percent. The report shows that although the average household income of wealthy Australians rose by 36 per cent over the last decade, their charitable giving over that time only increased by from 0.36 per cent of income donated to 0.45 per cent of income donated. Responding to the report, SVA Chief Executive Michael Traill said the report articulated some very clear opportunities to enhance the nexus between the non-profit sector and affluent Australians. 'The non-profit sector must provide evidence that giving will make a difference. Organisations need to take a more strategic, results-oriented approach and to provide their funders with engagement opportunities and an understanding of the social issues involved. At the same time, funders wanting their money to contribute to creating sustainable social and environmental change need to take a more strategic approach to their philanthropy. 'Our experience is that when this occurs funders tend to provide much larger amounts and for longer periods because they are prepared to take a long-term view and are clear about the social return on their investment. They are connecting their heads to their hearts.' Download a podcast of Daniel Petre discussing report findings
Download the entire report
Download an executive summary of the report
Download Daniel Petre's presentation from the launch event
Read media coverage about this research...
Sydney Morning Herald, 'More bang for their buck'
Sydney Morning Herald, 'Rich getting richer - but giving away less'
The Australian, 'The rich are keeping it for themselves'
Australian Financial review, 'Australia's rich are poor givers'
Sydney Morning Herald, 'Australia stingy on philanthropy front'
TheAge.com, 'Rich not giving enough to charity'
Herald Sun, 'Deep pockets and short arms'
| Left to Right: Daniel Petre, Michael Traill, Kym Madden and Wendy Scaife at the research report launch in Sydney. |
Michael Traill comments on 'The Strategic Philanthropist' in the Business Spectator 15 February 2008
In this commentary, Michael explores how Australia's philanthropists can make their generosity deliver real impact. He offers six practical steps to stragetic philanthropy. Read Michael's commentary in its entirety
Read Michael's past articles from the Business Spectator Michael Traill comments to the AFR about the impact of recent market gyrations on corporate giving 2 February 2008
Corporate Australia’s growing willingness to support philanthropic causes is unlikely to falter regardless of the recent share market correction.
Social Ventures Australia chief executive Michael Traill says he is ‘cautiously optimistic’ corporate philanthropy will not come undone despite the harsh market conditions.
Speaking to the Australian Financial Review, Mr Traill says: ‘There is no question that when the market falls as significantly as it has done, commitments might change.’
Yet corporate social responsibility had become a popular subject among business leaders in the past five years, and many major corporations had given significantly and generously in that time.
‘Some of these may tie their level of charitable giving to a percentage of profits but there is also a significant countervailing trend that is pushing corporates to engage and much of that is being driven internally, by staff,’ he says. The Perpetual Foundation releases research report on non-profit leadership and management November 2007
The Perpetual Foundation's key objective is to promote thought leadership and best practice in philanthropy. It recently commissioned a research report on leadership and management in the Australian social economy. This interesting report, titled 'Contrary and Congruent Views of Leadership and Management in the Australian Social Economy' was headed by researcher Hugh Morrow of the Social Economy Executive Education Network (SEEEN). Over 1,300 survey respondents and 55 focus group participants from non-profit, for-profit and government organisations contributed to the project. The report's overarching findings conclude that:
General management skills and processes are the critical enabler of growth and sustainability in the Australian social economy.
More knowledge, data and frameworks are required to inform important decisions and to drive positive change.
The Australian social economy is larger and more complex than most people realise. It is also undergoing significant change.
Many of the challenges raised are symptoms of the complexity of the sector; others of its growth and change.
Underlying many of the effects of change are the policies of governments and funders – the key ‘enablers’ of the sector.
Most of the issues identified by the sector and its stakeholders can be overcome by improving general management capability, and the creation of a robust knowledge base and relevant frameworks for decision-making. Download and read the full report or a summary from the Perpetual Foundation web site. Jan Owen AM selected as a finalist for the 2007 NSW Telstra Business Women's Award.
October 2007
SVA congratulates executive director Jan Owen AM for being selected as a finalist for the prestigious 2007 Telstra Business Women’s Award in NSW. Jan joins an elite group of business women who were honoured for their achievements at an awards ceremony on 5 October 2007.
Her nomination in the catagory of Community and Government highlights Jan’s outstanding contribution over the past 20 years working in the areas of child welfare, youth affairs and women’s issues within Australia. More recently, her role within SVA has been to help identify and support innovative programs that can break entrenched social and environmental challenges.
Jan Owen AM (right) with Jennifer Moxon, Director - Distribution Sector, IBM Australia.
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SVA launches The Circle magazine to commemorate our 5th anniversary
'When our eyes see our hands doing the work of our hearts, the circle of creation is completed inside us.'
Michael Bridge, Author
25 May 2007
To mark our anniversary, we sought a vehicle to record our work and a symbol to represent the essence of our philosophy. We chose to publish a magazine, which we named The Circle.
The circle symbolizes continuous evolution, community, commonality, our globe and balance – connecting heads to hearts. We think of circles of friends, of influence and of healing.
The Circle magazine aims to provide readers with a snapshot of Australia's social landscape and to shine a light on SVA's aspirations for a brighter future for all Australians. Many of our nation's most respected social observers and industry leaders have contributed their views and observations as we focus attention on the critical issues facing Australia.
 Sign up for a free copy of The Circle magazine to be mailed to you.
We thank everyone whose dedication to SVA made The Circle' s publication a reality.
Our special thanks to the AMP Foundation for generously underwriting the cost of this magazine and to BlueStarPrint for printing it gratis. Our grateful thanks also goes to our graphic designers, Philip Ritchie and Paul Sadler of Eyconology Design, our photographer, Lorrie Graham, and our editor, Patrick Lindsay.
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