Tradition of Philanthropy

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In this new series, Susan Chenoweth, Director of Philanthropic Programs at UQ, shares her views about what philanthropy is, how it works and why it is an essential part of any contemporary university’s strategic plan for future growth and effectiveness.

Susan Chenoweth, Director of Philanthropic Programs

Philanthropy, or the “love of humankind”, has a tradition of meeting the needs of a community that are not met by government, business or even community sectors. A philanthropist is focused on making an impact in the world, using not only their money, but also their time, influence and information.

Australia has a strong tradition and growing practice of philanthropy, and higher education is becoming an increasingly attractive sector into which philanthropists can invest to achieve a social outcome.

There is a thirst and willingness among a growing number of philanthropists to be part of something that has a potential to deliver broad-reaching outcomes, particularly in health-related research.

A decline in public investment across all levels of education in Australia in recent years has made philanthropic support and other private investments increasingly critical to Australian universities. Philanthropic investment and support ensures a quality student experience is available for more people and enables life-changing and world-changing discoveries to be made while preserving the reputation and global competitiveness of Australian universities.

We are seeing a groundswell of interest in philanthropy at The University of Queensland amongst staff, students and alumni.

A growing number of our alumni see giving back to UQ as a valuable and meaningful way to express their gratitude for a great education. Other alumni donors want to make an impact in the lives of the current generation of students, or on research that is changing lives and transforming the planet. Making that first gift can be a leap of faith for many alumni, but the desire to make a difference, combined with a loyalty and confidence in UQ, is creating a community of invested, supportive philanthropists.

More than 4000 donors gave over $30 million in large and small gifts to UQ in 2011. The collective impact of these donations is immense and powerful. More than 1000 alumni gave to UQ through the annual appeal last year. While many of those gifts were under $100, collectively donors contributed more than $1 million to support emerging researchers and students in crisis after the Brisbane floods.

We often work with philanthropists who have multiple interest areas such as health, youth and Indigenous issues, or the environment. Whatever the interest area or size of the gift, our donors can play a role in developing solutions to the greatest challenges of our time.

I have the privilege of working with a diverse range of philanthropists who are passionate about making a contribution to our society. Some give for immediate impact. Others seek to establish gifts in perpetuity that will deliver lasting benefits beyond their lifetimes to generations to come. Whichever way they give, thousands of donors large and small invest in a diverse array of programs at UQ each year.

One example of philanthropy in practice involves a family I am currently working with. They have spent considerable time together over the past 12 months defining a giving strategy for their foundation. Their interest in giving to UQ stems from a desire to give back. The lead donor studied at UQ as a recipient of a commonwealth scholarship, which was life-changing for him. It gave him access to education and the career and success he has enjoyed in life. But while that was the original motivation to give to UQ, as a family they are very committed to providing education and opportunity to disadvantaged children and youth. It has been very rewarding to work with this family and offer them a range of UQ programs that will help them to achieve their philanthropic goals.

Regardless of motivation, type or amount, philanthropic income is a valuable resource with which the not-for-profit sector can achieve big social outcomes. When philanthropy is given in partnership with shared commitment to outcomes, I think the greatest impact is made.

We have recently launched “Giving at UQ” – a website designed to inspire current and potential donors about the diverse range of programs and research they could support within UQ. I invite you to review the new site, as it aims to make identifying and giving to a suitable project easier for our smaller gifts program.

Whether you are someone who is just starting out on a journey in philanthropy or an experienced philanthropist seeking to make a significant investment, you will find that UQ is a worthy partner for your philanthropy.For more information about how you can support UQ visit www.uq.edu.au/giving.

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