New online portal to link NFPs and corporates

Launching in March 2015, SourceWise.org will redirect administrative and operational expenditure of not-for-profits (NFPs) into charitable giving by providing corporate organisations with a way of connecting with and developing local NFPs.

Founder of SourceWise.org, Anthony Shaw believes Australian professional services businesses have the will, expertise and skills to make a huge difference in the way charities source and fund IT, legal and financial operations. “While volunteering plans are in place with most NFPs in terms of fund-raising activities, the hugely important professional positions are currently more challenging to source and are not being effectively utilised by charities.”

Financial services and IT form a large portion of the economic output and employment share in Australia. “Charities should be using these skills and seeing the benefit of the business services sector in Australia, which has been one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy over the past year in terms of both output and employment,” says Shaw.

“The importance of legal services, financial planning and IT in any business are paramount and they form a large operating cost that can’t be avoided.

“NFP allocation of funding to administrative costs is under intense public scrutiny. No NFP can ignore that people are increasingly suspicious of their balance sheets and are reluctant to give, and are now choosing to give to organisations which they believe have the leanest operating model,” says Shaw.

By redirecting company efforts from cash-giving to real skills, SourceWise.org will create lasting results that make a difference. Many of the large business services companies in Australia have worthwhile Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs which primarily focus on donations. Experienced employee skills and talents can provide an invaluable impact which can go much further to a receiving charity. Many companies under-estimate, or are unaware of the huge impact they can make and the benefits that come from this type of giving.

“The benefit on the business side is clear from those companies who have successful CSR plans. Their staff develop an emotional attachment to their workplace once they see that the company cares about the community, not just the profits,” says Shaw.

“Cash can be easier to donate than time, but the companies will quickly start to understand the value that volunteering brings.”

SourceWise.org supports businesses taking on volunteering programs with a lend-a-hand model, a series of best-practices, planning tools and business justification aids such as case studies.

The SourceWise.org online platform, launching in March 2015, provides a portal where companies can register their skills, expertise and level of time investment. Charities can register their requirements on the same platform and the locations for jobs of all sizes. SourceWise.org will partner them up with a willing business or individuals that can help.

Sarah Harding

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