Welcome “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

I’ve always been heartened by this quote from Margaret Mead, one of the world’s most famous cultural anthropologists. One of the most enjoyable aspects of working in philanthropy at Equity Trustees is the opportunity to meet philanthropic clients who have chosen to structure their giving through a sub-fund with the Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation or through a Private Ancillary Fund. It is inspiring to learn about their focus, motivation and the impact of their philanthropy.

Each philanthropist’s journey is unique and their pattern of giving often reflects their life experience and the issues about which they are concerned.

We have the privilege of meeting individuals, families, and companies who carry out their philanthropy with intelligence and compassion in a wide variety of areas – medical research, protection of animals and the environment, education, the arts, and most often, funding support services and creating opportunity for those who are vulnerable and in need.

The one thing they share is a common desire to make a difference and a spirit of generosity and compassion. It is uplifting to work with people who bring this focus to their lives through philanthropy.

In the lead up to the end of the financial year Equity Trustees’ Donor Relations Team have been in contact with our philanthropic clients to ensure their grants and donations are made according to their recommendations.

We were truly delighted that in many cases clients also made additional donations to their sub-funds to grow their philanthropy even further for the future.

In May we held an event at the Melbourne Zoo to see some of the species conservation programs funded by our clients in action and to introduce the experience of philanthropy to younger generations.

We are holding another event on Sunday, 16th August at the NGV International. I hope to have the opportunity to meet many clients and their friends and families at this unique event.

Tabitha Lovett General Manager, Philanthropy Equity Trustees

Philanthropy MattersJuly 2015

Equity Trustees Limited ABN 46 004 031 298 AFSL 240975. This newsletter is intended as a source of information only. No reader should act on any matter without first obtaining professional advice which takes into account an individual’s objectives, financial situation and needs. This newsletter was produced in July 2015.

The donor event at the zoo and Albus the Maremma guard dog.

What Philanthropy Can Do – At the GalleryEquity Trustees is hosting a morning event at the National Gallery of Victoria International for philanthropy and private clients and their families. We will enjoy the NGV Kids Program and the current Open House: Tromarama for Kids exhibition.

Date: Sunday 16 August 2015Time: 9.15 am – 11.15 amVenue: NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne

If you wish to attend, please email Sarah Wickham swickham@eqt.com.au or phone (03) 8623 5127.

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Philanthropy Matters July 2015

Science and Singing: The Joseph Sambrook Opera Scholarship

Joe Sambrook, Jeremy Kleeman and Mary-Jane Gething.

In late 2013, Joe Sambrook and Mary-Jane Gething established a named scholarship with the Melba Opera Trust, Australia’s premier scholarship program for promising opera singers.

Both Joe and Mary-Jane have had distinguished careers in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. After many years working in research institutes in England and America, they returned to Australia in late 1994 to take up positions in Melbourne, Joe as Director of Research at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Mary-Jane as Professor and later Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Melbourne. They are both now retired.

Mary-Jane says that she and Joe had been giving modestly to other arts organisations. When they started to receive the Melba Opera Trust’s magazine in the mail, they found the fundamental support that the organisation provides its scholars matched their own ideas about that crucial period of a career when people need support, both in science and in the arts. They identified it as a pre-professional stage, where there’s a gap following university study.

Contemplating a bequest in their wills, Joe and Mary-Jane contacted Melba Opera Trust, and discussion led them to a decision to give in their lifetimes so that they could enjoy seeing the progress of their scholars, and follow their development. Mary-Jane says “It’s a really lovely way to do it, and we’re very glad we changed our minds. We know how our support is working, and we’re really enjoying being part of it – it’s just wonderful”. This year they completed the endowment of the Joseph Sambrook Opera Scholarship with a final gift through their private ancillary fund managed by Equity Trustees.

Bass baritone Jeremy Kleeman, whom Joe and Mary-Jane had previously admired when he was a member of the Victorian Opera’s Developing Artists Program, became the first scholarship holder in 2014 and the couple is thrilled to be supporting him again in 2015 to pursue his talent and passion.

An Easy Way to Give to SchoolsRecent Federal legislation has allowed tax deductions for donations to Australia’s most disadvantaged schools through a new education charity, Australian Schools Plus.

“Schools Plus is essentially the first point of call for anyone wanting to make a tax deductible donation to a school,” explains CEO, Rosemary Conn.

Opportunities to provide tax deductible philanthropic support to schools had previously been restricted to school building or library funds but thanks to a recommendation in the Review of Funding for Schooling (aka The Gonski Report), Schools Plus was established to remove the barriers that had obstructed schools and funders.

“The establishment of a national organisation to help forge those relationships between disadvantaged schools and supporters was championed by David Gonski and eight nonprofit organisations including The Smith Family, Social Ventures Australia, Philanthropy Australia and the Foundation for Young Australians,” Rosemary says.

“I think education is one of those unifying topics in philanthropy and we’ve spoken with many individuals who’ve had a fantastic education experience themselves and are very keen to support kids who are less advantaged.”

This year, Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation clients have used Schools Plus (endorsed by the ATO as a Deductible Gift Recipient Item 1 charity) to fund achievement awards, donations to a school’s library and scholarships.

For more information, visit the Australian Schools Plus website schoolsplus.org.au

A longer version of this story appeared in the online Generosity Magazine in June, generositymag.com.au

Donations via Australian Schools Plus support students in disadvantaged schools nationally.

Continued Page 3

Philanthropy Matters – July 2015 / 3

Philanthropy Matters July 2015Philanthropy Matters July 2015

The ARA Group was formed in May 2001 with the merger of a number of companies to offer a broad range of complementary solutions and products through its six divisions, Manufacture, Electrical, Security, Fire, Mechanical and Building Services. Today the company employs more than 1,200 skilled people throughout Australia and has an annual turnover of $300 million. What has this got to do with philanthropy you ask?

In 2009 the company established the ARA Group Endowment, a sub-fund of the Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation.

Ed Federman, Managing Director of the ARA Group, believes it is important for the company to give back to the communities where it operates.

“It is good business to be a valued community contributor and a great way to build staff belief in the company,” said Mr Federman.

“We want to support charities every year, but we also want to leave a lasting legacy, which is why we chose to establish a fund that can grow every year and have a perpetual horizon.”

Returned serviceman, Josh and his Young Diggers trained dog, Lucky.

ARA employees can make donations to the Endowment through a workplace giving program and they are invited to nominate charities to be supported each year. This year the ARA Group Endowment gave donations to six charities in four states.

The company has a large presence in the Hunter Valley region where it provides a number of services to the resources industry, so supporting the Rescue Helicopter Services in the area made a lot of sense.

In Queensland, the Young Diggers charity trains rescue dogs to become assistance dogs to support serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members who are dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD).

All six charities provide valued services to a range of beneficiaries.

Ed Federman has a goal of building the ARA Group Endowment to $3 million in the next 10 years. Currently the corpus is around $500,000, but the company has a strategy to engage staff, customers, suppliers and other interested businesses and is building a donation platform on its website to make donations simple and easy. Good luck ARA Group in reaching that target.

Demonstrating Corporate Social Responsibility

Science and Singing: The Joseph Sambrook Opera Scholarship (cont.)“He’s a charming young man, and interestingly, he has a science background as well”, says Mary-Jane.

As well as the scholarship for vocal development Jeremy also benefits from the mentor and performance programs with Melba Opera Trust.

Earlier this year, Mary-Jane and Joe hosted a soiree at their home where Jeremy performed for appreciative guests.

Jeremy says he found the occasion to be a ‘fantastic experience’.

“Joe and Mary-Jane have been wonderfully supportive of me, so it was such a pleasure to give something back and to represent to their friends what they are supporting.”

Rescue Helicopter Services is supported by the ARA Group Endowment.

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Philanthropy Matters July 2015

Philanthropy at the Zoo

A young guest with Albus the Maremma guard dog.

Equity Trustees hosted an intimate family event for donors and private clients at the Melbourne Zoo in April. Rain didn’t stop guests from enjoying a special glimpse into some of the important conservation work at the Zoo.

Costing $30 million over five years, Zoos Victoria has identified the work it will carry out to save 20 native species such as the Helmeted Honeyeater and Southern Corroboree Frog. For 20 of these species, urgent conservation intervention is required. The Zoo program might be their only hope of survival.

Guests met Dyson the Eastern Barred Bandicoot (funded by the Dyson Bequest) and Albus the Maremma guard dog, who is being trained to protect these bandicoots when they are released back into the wild. We also visited the amphibian centre and the butterfly house after morning tea in the education pavilion at the Lion’s Gorge, where viewing the lions was a close affair!

The view from the education pavilion at the Lion’s Gorge.

Stanford Calling – A Once in a Lifetime OpportunityAustralian not-for-profit leaders have an extraordinary opportunity to apply for a scholarship to one of the world’s leading universities.

Through a generous scholarship from the Dyson Bequest, a talented not-for-profit CEO can attend the prestigious Stanford Executive Program at Stanford University in California.

The Stanford Australia Foundation Dyson Bequest Scholarship provides $50,000 towards course fees and travel costs for this intensive and rigorous six-week executive management program.

Stanford Australia Foundation Chairman Steve Hawkins said the Executive Program is an experience that will impact the trajectory of someone’s career.

“The scholarship recipient will get access to first class professors, a world-class peer group, Graduate School of Business (GSB) alumni status and connections that will last a lifetime.”

Applications for the 2016 Stanford Association Foundation Dyson Bequest Scholarship close at the end of September. Details can be found on the Australian Scholarships Foundation website scholarships.org.au/

Profile of a Philanthropy Team Member

Contact UsFor information about the Grants and Scholarships available through Equity Trustees, visit eqt.com.au. or contact the Philanthropy Services team (philanthropy@eqt.com.au) on 1300 133 472.

Sarah WickhamDonor Relations Manager

Sarah joined the Equity Trustees’ Philanthropy team in June, coming to us from RMIT where she was a Development Adviser.

After four years of working with major gift donors, Sarah has significant experience in facilitating meaningful philanthropy for clients.

Prior to becoming a fundraising professional, Sarah worked in state and federal government. She has BA degree in politics and history from La Trobe University.

Sarah will complete a Masters degree in Social Investment and Philanthropy at the end of year and is currently the President of Swinburne’s Philanthropy Alumini.

She has a passion for social change and this year was a co-winner of the ANZ Nexus Innovator Award for a web-based collective giving platform that is currently under development.