Event

The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS) at the Queensland University of Technology hosted a Reforming Fundraising Regulation Conference from 19 - 20 April, 2011.

Fundraising by charities and community organisations is the lifeblood to carrying out their mission. Fundraising activities are for the most part controlled by each State and Territory and as you can imagine for national campaigns the need to transact with multiple jurisdiction poses a number of difficulties for organisations.

This conference came as Australia is on the brink of some very important inquiries and policy deliberations about fundraising, charities, nonprofit organisations and the Third Sector generally. We invited international experts in this field to meet with those involved in the inquiries and policy process as well as practitioners and researchers. Contributions sparked informed debate at the highest level about the best regulatory regime for fundraising. A conference program is attached.

This conference was part of the Centre's Nonprofit Model Law Project, which seeks to develop streamlined and seamless regulation of nonprofit organisations. The project aim is to develop model legislation for a nonprofit organisation regulatory environment that is based on evidence and international best practice. Legislation being considered by the project includes the law governing the variety of nonprofit legal structures together with those laws covering activities uniquely engaged in by nonprofits especially fundraising and charitable gaming. The object of model legislation should ensure nonprofit organisations are able to achieve their purposes effectively while at the same time be able to enhance social engagement in contemporary civil society. The project leader is Linda Lavarch, the former Queensland Attorney General.

The Conference took place over two days, with a variety of speakers, chairs, discussants and topics. For detailed information on the topics covered please see the Reforming Fundraising Regulation Conference Program (pdf, 82kb)

Speakers, Chairs and Discussants:

Colin Ball, Independent Consultant, Australia;
Murray Baird, Moores Legal, Australia;
Mr Putnam Barber, University of Washington, USA;
Dr Oonagh Breen, University College Dublin, Ireland;
Meredith Campbell, Royal Children's Hospital Foundation, Australia;
Graham Corney, Corney & Lind, Australia;
David Crosbie, Community Council for Australia, Australia;
Michele Dunn, ADAPE Australasia, Australia;
Robert Fitzgerald, Productivity Commission, Australia;
Dr Ted Flack, St Vincent de Paul Society, Australia;
Trevor Garrett, Charities Commission, New Zealand;
Nigel Harris, Mater Foundation, Australia;
Associate Professor Helen Irvine, School of Accountancy, QUT, Australia;
Dr David Kennedy, The Atlantic Philanthropies, Australia;
Ms Linda Lavarch, The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, QUT, Australia;
Di Lawrence, Brigidine College - St Ives, Australia;
Simon Lockwood, Everyday Hero, Australia;
Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes, The Australian Centre of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, QUT, Australia;
Fiona McLeay, Public Interest Law Clearing House Victoria, Australia;
Derek Mortimer, DF Mortimer & Associates, Australia;
Dr Susan Philips, School of Public Policy and Administration, Canada;
The Honourable Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Human Services & Minister for Social Inclusion, Australia;
Professor Chris Ryan, School of Accountancy, QUT, Australia;
Professor Adrian Sargeant, Indiana University, IUPUI, USA;
Dr Wendy Scaife, The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, Australia;
Dr Mark Sidel, University of Iowa, USA;
Dr Matthew Turnour, Neumann & Turnour Lawyers, Australia;
John Unkovich, Consumer Affairs Victoria, Australia
Heather Watson, McCullough Robertson Lawyers, Australia;
Dr Pamala Wiepking, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands;
Susan Woodward, PILCHConnect, Australia;

The Chatham House Rule applied to discussions through the Reforming Fundraising Regulation Conference.

The Chatham House Rule originated at the Royal Institute of International Affairs with the aim of guaranteeing anonymity to those speaking within its walls in order that better international relations could be achieved.

"When a meeting is held under the Chatham House Rule, participants are free to use the information received but neither the identity not the affiliation of the speakers, nor that of any other participants may be revealed; nor may it be mentioned that the information was received at a meeting of the Institute."

Further information is available at http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/about/

Day 1 - Tuesday April 19 2011

Opening Address and Welcome
Presenter: Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 17 min, 17 sec)

The Reform Agenda
Presenter: The Honourable Tanya Pilbersek MP
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 6 min, 39 sec)

Introduction to Conference
Presenter: Linda Lavarch
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 16 min, 49 sec)

The place of Fundraising Regulation in the Australian nonprofit reform agenda
Chair: Sue-Anne Wallace
Presenter: Robert Fitzgerald
Discussant: David Crosbie
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 33 min, 21 sec)
Discussant Video / Audio (Running Time: 6 min, 43 sec)

Views from Abroad
Chair: Colin Ball
Presenters: Dr Oonagh Breen, Dr Pamala Wiepking, Putnam Barber, Professor Susan Philips, Trevor Garrett, Mark Sidel
Discussant: Professor Adrian Sargeant
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 1 hr, 47 min, 52 sec)

What are the opportunities and challenges for Australian Fundraising Regulation?
Chair: Sue Woodward
Presenter: Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes
Discussants: Dr Ted Flack, Nigel Harris, Fiona McLeay
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 58 min, 03 sec)

Principles of Fundraising Regulation
Chair: Di Lawrence
Presenters: Dr Matthew Turnour, Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes
Discussants: Professor Susan Philips, Dr Oonagh Breen, Mr Putnam Barber

Day 2 - Wednesday April 20 2011

What are the available regulatory tools?
Chair: Dr Daniel McDiarmid
Presenters: Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes, Professor Mark Sidel, Dr Oonagh Breen, Putnam Barber, Professor Susan Philips
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 1 hr, 22 min, 37 sec)

Exemption from Fundraising Regulation
Chair: Graham Corney
Presenter: Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 29 min, 30 sec)

Role of Fundraising and Administrative Ratios
Chair: Murray Baird
Presenters: Professor Adrian Sargeant, Professor Chris Ryan, Associate Professor Helen Irvine
Discussants: Dr Ted Flack, Trevor Garrett
Presentation Video / Audio (Running Time: 47 min, 32 sec)
Discussant Video / Audio (Running Time: 15 min, 43 sec)

Giving While Living
Chair: Myles McGregor-Lowndes
Presenter: Dr David Kennedy

The new media - Internet and social networking
Chair: Dr Wendy Scaife
Presenters: Mr Putnam Barber, Mr Nathan Betteridge, Ms Meredith Campbell, Mr Derek Mortimer, Mr John Unkovich
Meredith Campbell Video / Audio (Running Time: 18 min, 29 sec)
Putnam Barber Video / Audio (Running Time: 7 min, 57 sec)
Simon Lockwood Video / Audio (Running Time: 7 min, 46 sec)
John Unkovich Video / Audio (Running Time: 7 min, 47 sec)
Derek Mortimer Video / Audio (Running Time: 11 min, 56 sec)

So What?
Chair: Linda Lavarch
Presenters: Panel/Reference Group

Conclusion
Presenter: Professor Myles McGregor-Lowndes

Date

19 April 2011 - 20 April 2011

Location

The Owen J Wordworth Room, S Block, Queensland University of Technology