On March 23^rd 2011, Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC launched a national first investigation of the links between philanthropy and education at a gathering of leaders from both sectors at the Melbourne Town Hall.

The three-year Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) project will explore whether the full potential of funding and partnerships available to Australian schools is being achieved.

Project Leader, Dr Michelle Anderson of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) said, while there is a long history of philanthropy in Australian education, some mystery surrounds how schools access and use philanthropic grants.

“LLEAP aims to find ways to improve the quality of grant seeking and grant making in Australia and identify better ways for the philanthropy and education sectors to connect and collaborate,” she said.

Dr Anderson pointed to a 2010 Philanthropy Australia members’ survey that found education is a specific funding priority for 64 per cent of the survey’s respondents. According to Philanthropy Australia there are approximately 5000 trusts and foundations in Australia. In the last year the combined total of their grants and donations was approximately $1 billion, a significant proportion of which was directed to education.

Following an oration that explored the far-reaching influence of philanthropy upon Australian society from individual achievement through to nation-changing events, Professor Blainey said, “In philanthropy and education, as in everything, there are better ways of doing things.  We should be hunting for them.  We need to find ways to do the really important activities more effectively: education is one.  By collaborating we may find a smarter path.”  

In its first year the LLEAP project will collect information through interviews with leaders in both education and philanthropic sectors, followed by an online survey and focus groups, to help form a clearer picture of the impact of philanthropy on education projects.

“Education is a major priority for Australian philanthropy with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding being directed to the sector every year,” said The Ian Potter Foundation CEO Janet Hirst.

“It is vital that we understand the true impact of this investment.  This research will give both educators and philanthropists the knowledge to ensure the funds are making the greatest difference possible.”

Mrs Hirst urged both sectors to get involved in the project by taking part in the forthcoming interviews, surveys, focus groups and case studies.

The LLEAP project is an initiative of the Tender Bridge in partnership with The Ian Potter Foundation. The Tender Bridge is a service of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) which seeks to direct funds into schools to support educational projects.

Read Janet Hirst's speech from the LLEAP launch.

To celebrate International Women's Day on 8th March 2011, we joined with the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and about 100 guests to pay tribute to women changemakers - the trailblazers, 'movers and shakers' that overcome challenges to bring about positive change and contribute to a better community for all of us.

The keynote speaker, SSE Chair and CEO of the Foundation for Young Australians, Jan Owen AM, posed the question, “Who are we to change the world? Who are we not to?” and celebrated the unique attributes of female social entrepreneurs and the particular challenges they have overcome to progress and achieve.

SSE CEO Benny Callaghan moderated a Women Changemakers panel, which included:

• Laura Egan, Melbourne Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 and Founder, Enterprise Learning Projects
• Alicia Martin, Sydney Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 and Founder, Food Within Ltd
• Nicole Endacott, Founder and CEO, Activate Australia
• Jess Moran, Co-Founder of Scarf Community

These Women Changemakers each shared their inspiring stories, and reflected on the challenges and opportunities of being female social entrepreneurs.

Alastair Wilson, CEO of the School for Social Entrepreneurs in the UK also shared his international perspective on women changemakers. Alastair spoke of the enormous ripple effect that women can have as changemakers in their communities.

The impact women can and do have as philanthropists and the importance of addressing social issues with a “gender lens” was the focus of a speech by Julia Keady from the Australian Women Donors Network. 

The Ian Potter Foundation's own CEO Janet Hirst also spoke about her own experience working on issues affecting women. She also observed the adaptive nature of women changemakers and the opportunities that change itself can present.  Click here to read Jan's speech.