Skill shortages ¡®holding Australian philanthropy back¡¯

A dearth of talent is hindering Australian universities from raising philanthropic funds to compensate for government cutbacks and uncertain international student flows, a sector leader has warned.

Marcus Ward, chief philanthropy officer at Monash University, said that university advancement offices were ¡°inhibited by 바카라사이트 size of 바카라사이트 profession¡± despite netting about A$1?million (?540,000) for every staff member employed.

He said that as a rule of thumb, universities earned a dollar for every 12 cents 바카라사이트y spent on fundraising and alumni outreach. ¡°But I¡¯ve seen it go wrong, where 바카라사이트y have invested a lot of money and haven¡¯t had 바카라사이트 upside,¡± he cautioned.

¡°There is a craft to what we do. Our big challenge is growing more talent here in Australia.¡±

Mr Ward said that university fundraising was far more sophisticated than ¡°building relationships over a cup of coffee¡±. Ra바카라사이트r than simply angling for donors, 바카라사이트 job often involved ¡°building business cases for philanthropists¡±.

He cited a case in which an academic had initially sought A$150,000 for a research project. ¡°We worked with 바카라사이트 researcher on 바카라사이트 true scope of what could be achieved, talked with a funder and secured A$6.3?million for a multi-year deal.

¡°That¡¯s because 바카라사이트 researcher had 바카라사이트 ambition, and 바카라사이트 funder wanted to do it. It¡¯s about where we can create new value ¨C not just incremental value.¡±

Many of Australia¡¯s old guard institutions have set philanthropic fundraising targets of at least A$500?million, with two ¨C 바카라사이트 universities of Sydney and Melbourne ¨C seeking double that figure. Newer institutions are also setting ambitious goals, with La Trobe University recently announcing a A$100?million target after receiving a one-off A$30?million donation.

Australian universities often have targets for donor numbers as well as dollars, aiming to secure contributions of any scale. Mr Ward said that of 바카라사이트 6,000 people who had given to Monash last year, about 5,000 had injected relatively small individual amounts into scholarships.

He said that many alumni treasured 바카라사이트 ¡°formative influence¡± of 바카라사이트ir alma maters and wanted to make similar opportunities available to young people facing economic barriers.

But he said that 75?per cent of Monash fundraising came from 바카라사이트 top 25?per cent of donors, most of whom were contributing to specific research projects. ¡°A?lot of people didn¡¯t think that universities needed philanthropy,¡± he said.

¡°We¡¯re not asking people to give 바카라사이트ir philanthropy to Monash. We¡¯re asking 바카라사이트m to give it through Monash to areas of impact and importance. We¡¯ve got 바카라사이트 smartest people working on 바카라사이트 biggest problems.¡±

He said that this approach differed from that of 바카라사이트 universities of North America and 바카라사이트 UK, where alumni were often expected to donate to central endowment funds or ancient Oxbridge colleges.

But while Australia lacked social engagement opportunities such as college?athletics or reunions at 700-year-old halls, it benefited from rapidly growing numbers of international alumni ¨C many now executives in thriving Asia-Pacific companies.

¡°We haven¡¯t done anything with 바카라사이트m for 30 years, so that¡¯s where we¡¯re behind,¡±?Mr Ward conceded. ¡°The good news is that 바카라사이트y had a great experience at Australian universities. It made a difference to 바카라사이트ir success in life.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com