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New research to investigate if millions are hitting the target Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC launched a national first investigation of the links between philanthropy and education in Melbourne on 23 March 2011. 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. During his launch opening speech, Professor Blainey said, “Australia has a long tradition of philanthropy, where people having made money decide that it belongs largely to the nation and to the people who enabled them to make that money.” Professor Blainey went on to recount numerous examples of philanthropy from Australia’s history including Walter Powell’s donations to establish Wesley College in the 1860s, Henry Reed providing money and advice in the formative years of the Salvation Army, also in the 1860s, and the predecessor of the Australian Football League giving all gate takings of football matches to help relieve the Indian famine of the 1870s. Speaking ahead of the launch 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 her fellow CEOs from the philanthropic organisations and school principals 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. Professor Blainey concluded his opening speech with his hopes that the partnership between The Ian Potter Foundation and ACER produces seeds that lead to a bumper harvest. The official launch of LLEAP took place at Melbourne Town Hall at 11.00am on Wednesday 23March. For further information about LLEAP visit www.acer.edu.au/lleap « Back to eNews
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Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC launched a national first investigation of the links between philanthropy and education in Melbourne on 23 March 2011.

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.

During his launch opening speech, Professor Blainey said, “Australia has a long tradition of philanthropy, where people having made money decide that it belongs largely to the nation and to the people who enabled them to make that money.”

Professor Blainey went on to recount numerous examples of philanthropy from Australia’s history including Walter Powell’s donations to establish Wesley College in the 1860s, Henry Reed providing money and advice in the formative years of the Salvation Army, also in the 1860s, and the predecessor of the Australian Football League giving all gate takings of football matches to help relieve the Indian famine of the 1870s.

Speaking ahead of the launch 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 her fellow CEOs from the philanthropic organisations and school principals 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.

Professor Blainey concluded his opening speech with his hopes that the partnership between The Ian Potter Foundation and ACER produces seeds that lead to a bumper harvest.

The official launch of LLEAP took place at Melbourne Town Hall at 11.00am on Wednesday 23March. For further information about LLEAP visit www.acer.edu.au/lleap

New research to investigate if millions are hitting the target