Philanthropy

It’s my opinion ….

Sometimes it’s not a matter of choosing a worthy cause to support, but it choosing you.

One night several years ago I was lying awake thinking about a family in unfortunate circumstances. Ideas started whirring until finally I jumped up and went to the study whereupon I wrote down my thoughts for two hours. These ideas became the basis of a plan I would later take to a range of stakeholders. Firstly, I had to convince the family to embrace the plan, then others. Finally, the plan got the go ahead from all sides, signaling several months of organising a fund raising event. Come the day and the event was a success in every way possible. Lots of people came together and contributed, resulting in a very significant outcome for the family.

It was one of the most fulfilling days of my life. When the dust had settled, I reflected that rarely have I been so energised and purposeful. It was as if everything I had done up until that point had prepared me to take on that challenge. It left me hungry to experience this high more frequently i.e. all the time! A lifelong interest in philanthropy was awoken.

Far be it that sharing this story is to big note myself. The reverse is the case. I am yet to achieve my ambition to live a life dominated by philanthropy. For every hour I’ve volunteered and for every dollar I’ve donated there are many who have done much, much more. It’s not a competition. Rather, it’s about fostering a fellowship of goodwill and an expectation of contribution. Prominent citizens are now making very public donations. Their aim I am sure is not for the limelight but to promote this expectation amongst others.

I will share further thoughts about philanthropy and specific causes in these pages in due course.

Thanks for reading

Scott

QUT Learning Potential Fund

It's my opinion.....
 

...that the world faces enormous challenges. (Has this ever not been the case?) In my view, solving these challenges will require plenty of bright, talented people with the education and enthusiasm to take them on. Where to find such people? Through universities! I looked through a "What are they doing now" section of the QUT website a while back. What struck me was the range of amazing things that the graduates were doing. Truly, here was a group which collectively will make a positive difference to the world we live in.

I strongly believe that education is a fundamental right for everyone, regardless of their social, economic or personal circumstances. The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Learning Potential Fund is a strategic investment in realising this belief. The Fund provides financial support to students in need who have the desire to reach their full potential.
 
I personally support the QUT Learning Potential Fund and to this end I pledge to donate $2 for every purchase of my book Your Professional Headspace towards the QUT Learning Potential Fund. By purchasing this book you are giving others the best possible chance to succeed by gaining a tertiary education. 
 

A fascinating insight

I had the pleasure of catching up with Nadeyn and Anushka from the QUT Learning Potential Fund on 29 June 2012. From my perspective I wanted to provide them with an update regarding the sales I hope to make of my book, which in turn will fund a donation to the LPF. During the conversation, Nadeyn and Anushka shared with me that the LPF has to date been responsible for 11,800 scholarships and bursaries since its inception in 1999. Not only that, students who receive such assistance have a 40% higher retention rate than normal scholars. The source of the funding for this remarkable activity varies but features high contributions from QUT graduates (glad to see they put something back) and remarkably, QUT teaching staff (demonstrating an absolute belief in the quality and value of what they do).

I came away from the meeting feeling very positive about the LPF and my association with the work it undertakes.
 

A first instalment
 

June 2013. Twelve months on from my meeting with Nadeyn and Anushka, it was my very great pleasure to return to QUT to provide the first payment relating to my pledge of $2 for every copy of "Your Professional Headspace" sold.  I'm pleased to report that the cheque represented 500 copies. Here's hoping that many more copies will be sold so that this occasion can be repeated.

Here I am with Nadeyn Barbieri of the QUT Learning Potential Fund, along with Ken Gideon, QUT Alumni Manager.  Post this photo, Ken took me on a tour of the new facilities at QUT which were truly impressive. During the visit, Ken told me that QUT itself matches such donations $1 for $1, meaning that my donation will provide even more benefit to deserving students.

A remarkable story

A meeting with Scott Sullivan 12 July 2012

I attended a fund raising event last night. Didn't know much about the cause beforehand, just responded to an invitation from Kev Ryan (of Long Lunch Club fame). Turns out it was in relation to Motor Neurone Disease. If you don't already know, MND is a tough gig - a life sentence accompanied by a debilitating condition that gets worse and worse, for which there is no known cure. After Kev's brief introduction a handsome, articulate fellow got up to talk. The main message was to educate the gathering about MND and to talk about the foundation he has started to raise money for people affected by the disease.

What impressed, saddened, shocked and ultimately inspired the group was that the speaker, Scott Sullivan is battling MND himself. He has chosen to spend his remaining time with us on the quest to assist others.

As it happened I got the chance to speak with Scott personally after the presentation. He is a really genuine, likeable fellow who has occupied himself with a cause higher than himself. Putting a hand on my heart I cannot possibly say that I would swap places with Scott. However I am full of admiration for what he is doing and how remarkably he is handling the cards he has been dealt.

If you are interested in knowing more about Scott's story or indeed should you wish to donate to his cause, go to his website The Scott Sullivan Story for more information.

I also had the pleasure of meeting Mary Jung of the Wilson HTM Foundation at the same function. The Wilson HTM Foundation had made a very significant donation to Scott's cause as part of the official proceedings. Mary shared with me some of the causes that the Wilson HTM Foundation has assisted with. I was really impressed with the good work being done and how this Foundation was helping to change lives. With all the challenges that we face in the world and the bad things we constantly get to hear about, I was uplifted to hear about this culture of giving and supporting which is quietly working away and doing good deeds.

For me, the function was outstanding and deeply significant. I wish both Scott and the Wilson HTM Foundation every future success.
 

 Social business

On 17 August 2012 I had the pleasure of hearing a presentation from Muhammad Yunus, the founder of Grameen Bank and the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner.

He spoke about setting up the Grameen Bank, which lends small amounts of money to impoverished people. The outstanding success of that venture was amazing enough in itself. However he then went on to describe what he calls "Social Business", where people who normally operate to make a profit turn their attention, skills and resources to doing social good. The enterprises set up under these arrangements are able to keep on doing good work because they are run as self sustaining businesses - no government support required.

Muhammad Yunus explained how he thought that economists have got it half wrong. Yes, people can be self centred and seek to maximise their own benefits and profits and self interest. Yet those same people are capable of extreme generosity and for being very concerned about their fellow man.

Seems to me that with the social businesses that Muhammad Yunus has been instrumental in establishing there is an example to follow which will help to address some of the problems we face in helping our fellow human beings.

All in all, it was an inspirational address and certainly got me thinking about how I might be able to apply this concept to assist others.

An inspiring meeting with some CEO's

This week I attend a presentation which included hearing from 3 business leaders, two who are currently CEO's of prominent foundations and another who has been in that role.
The presentation had been jointly arranged by Perpetual, Davidsons Recruitment and the Institute of Chartered Accountants, all prominent organisations with longstanding credentials in this area.
I came away from that presentation very impressed with the calibre of the presenters. How fantastic for such organisations to have executives who are so capable, intelligent and attuned to the space in which they operate. I thought it was absolutely incredible that these people chose to apply their considerable talents in an area where there is such a profound potential benefit for our society.
An interesting point was made by the last speaker, who implored everyone to abandon the term "Not for Profit". He prefers "Not for Dividend" or even "Not for Loss". His point was that if these organisations actually return a surplus that there is even more capability to fund outcomes for the organisation's intended beneficiaries.
I was also impressed not just by the number of people in attendance (by my reckoning over 70) but their calibre and genuine interest in this area.
I certainly hope to participate in further events of this nature.

12 October 2012.