A blog to help celebrate Give Now Week and Giving Tuesday 2015

By Dr Wendy Scaife, Project Director, Giving Australia 2015*

*Giving Australia 2015 is

• the largest ever research undertaken into Australian giving and volunteering
• funded by the Department of Social Services and an initiative of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership
• a collaborative effort by the Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies at QUT, CSI Swinburne and the Centre for Corporate Public Affairs, with support from sector partners Volunteering Australia, Philanthropy Australia, Fundraising Institute Australia and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.

Like many, I truly respect the nonprofit and philanthropy sector. It’s not perfect but it is great: its fervour for every kind of cause; its clout to effect change; its passion for and by people; its compelling voice for those humans, animals and landscapes that have none.

Its ironies should be cherished: its most valuable workers are often unpaid, those with most help those with least and the worst in society brings out the best in our people; equality-based entities battle inequality and tenaciously pursue profit for nonprofit purposes; and the sector works with, while also advocating against corporate or government actions.

It is a unique and inspiring space and force.

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