Media Release

AUSTRALIANS should add another New Year's resolution to their list by setting a challenging target for personal donations to non-profit and community groups in 2002.

Many non-profit groups across all community sectors had recorded sagging donations and support post-September 11 and needed a strong start to 2002 to avoid scaling back services or programs, said Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, the chief executive of www.ourcommunity.com.au, a national online resource for 700,000 community groups.

"Australians see themselves as a generous nation and to many extents we are. We respond quickly to emergency situations like the NSW bushfire tragedy but we still trail behind the United States, Canada and Britain when it comes to annual individual giving," Dr Galbally said.

"People like to set targets with their New Year resolutions, whether it's losing kilos, exercising more, drinking less, learning new skills or saving money. My New Year's wish is that all Australians set a challenging target to increase the amount of money - and time - they can donate to community groups in 2002".

Dr Galbally said it would be fantastic if people aimed to donate one per cent of their income to community groups but said for many people that was unrealistic.

"Everyone has different thresholds but what we are saying is make it part of your annual budget calculations. Plan to donate money. It actually puts personal giving on the agenda and becomes a natural and regular part of your annual spending", Dr Galbally said.

Dr Galbally said people needed to be more proactive in supporting the groups that support their family and friends - and not just in bad times but in good times as well. To make it easier to support non-profit groups, a free online donations service for community organisations has been established at www.ourcommunity.com.au and more groups were being added each week.

"It doesn't matter whether it is a local arts group or youth program or a national welfare agency, we encourage people to make a significant difference by planning their giving", she said.

"With the cost of insurance set to skyrocket again from January 1, 2002 all community groups are going to need additional financial support just to maintain the status quo of what they were doing in 2001."

Dr Galbally said it wasn't just up to individuals; businesses also had to be more concerned in 2002 with what they were putting back into the community.

"Businesses need to think seriously about their giving and look at ways they can make a sustainable difference to the community sector by tailoring their own goods and service to benefit non-profit organisations."