Like any field of human endeavour, philanthropy is subject to a range of commonly held assumptions, overt and covert.  Fortunately, these APS clients – with decades of lived giving experience – help us untangle fact from fiction.  

Myth #1 Bigger is better

‘Even small amounts can have an impact,’ says Este Darin-Cooper, director of the Darin-Cooper Foundation. ‘It’s not all about the amount you’re giving, it’s about deciding that this is something that you’re going to do now and, in the future.’ It’s a sentiment echoed by Megan and Arthur Criddle, who quarantined a proportion of their asset base for philanthropy before entering retirement. ‘Having a giving fund takes away the stress of balancing personal financial sustainability against continuing to give when your income diminishes.’ 

Myth # 2 We shouldn’t fund administration costs 

‘Something I was concerned about at the beginning of [our foundation’s] journey was the idea of not directing money to a pool of rising administration costs,’ explains Pat Wall, founder of the Metamorphic Foundation. ‘I’ve learned a lot about that since then. Now I see that operational costs are fundamental to an organisation’s needs.’ 

Myth #3  Philanthropy is all about the money 

‘We look for active engagement where we feel that we can make a real difference and offer tangible help,’ observes Rod Unsworth, founder of the Unsworth Family Foundation. Frank O’Halloran, founder of The O’Halloran Foundation, concurs. ‘My advice to others just starting out with their own PAF would be to encourage them to… get involved as well as give money. You get a lot more out of it than just writing the cheques. Money is only one part of the solution.’ 

Myth #4 Families should agree around giving 

‘Mum and Dad were originally supportive of a number of schooling programs that they’d had experience with. From my perspective, I thought our funding dollar could go further by supporting other causes,’ observes Jonny Vaux, director of The Vaux Family Foundation. ‘After a number of years, we all arrived at the same conclusion and decided to redirect our support. It was a discussion that evolved over time, which is entirely natural because some causes are going to hold greater emotional sway for some members of the family. You have to respect that, but you have to keep having the discussion too.’ 

Myth #5 Structured giving is boring and onerous 

‘I think a lot of people are open to setting up PAFs… because there might be something of a higher joy,’ reflects David Gonski AC, APS board member and PAF-holder. ‘There’s a joy in being successful, and part of that is doing something for the community. I believe a lot of people are thinking that way, and organisations like Australian Philanthropic Services mean that having a PAF is easy. It’s not a chore.’ 

Myth #6 Charitable partnerships are easy 

‘We realised that it was vital to align with an organisation that shares our philosophy. We thought they did align, but we were wrong,’ reflects Mike Roche, founder of The Sally Foundation, of a community garden project it supported in Zimbabwe. ‘Another valuable lesson our local partner taught us was that we have to do a project that the people want, not what the guy with the money thinks they want.’ 

Myth #7 Philanthropy is for the older generation

‘You don’t have to wait until a certain age or stage of life,’ enthuses Kent Kwan, founder of the Jam & Jelly Foundation. ‘There’s a perception that it’s something you do perhaps when you’re older, but it doesn’t need to be true. I just wish we could have started earlier!’ 

Myth #8  It’s arrogant to talk about my giving 

‘Going about our business quietly and privately sits much better with us,’ concedes Geoff Day AM, founder and Chair of The Day Family Foundation, ‘but if all donors did that, from where would we draw inspiration? If by telling our story I inspire at least one person to establish a family foundation or take a stronger leadership role in philanthropy – then it has been very worthwhile.’  

John Eales AM, founder of the Eales Family Foundation, is similarly conscious of the opportunity that sharing his philanthropic story offers. ‘Speaking about your own giving feels unnatural and uncomfortable, but when people see other people give, it makes them want to give too.’