Empowering the best people for most impact

Marcus has extensive experience in philanthropy, within Australia and internationally, guiding people who want to give and who want to be sure of making a real impact.

Donating money to a charity is not a transaction. It is a gift and is given without conditions. Donors cannot ask for the gift back and cannot receive a financial return. Every donor is generous and is motivated by achieving maximum impact.

Evaluating impact

The most important consideration is looking at the level of positive impact the organisation has for its beneficiaries. Factors to take into account may include the identity, location, number and diversity of beneficiaries, the duration of impact (one-off or long lasting), mode of delivery, cost versus impact etc. Information readily available may not provide all the answers and some targeted questioning is often necessary to get a better understanding.

Choosing the best organisation

Donors looking to achieve a positive social impact need to carefully choose the best organisation to achieve that social impact. Being informed is vital, in order to be confident.

Factors to be considered include quality of:

• Management;

• Programming;

• Governance, including the board; and

• Monitoring and evaluation.

Method of Donation

It is also important to consider whether a donation should be tied to a particular program or whether it should be given on an untied basis. Charitable organisations will tell you that the most valuable donation is one which is given on an untied basis. This gives them the flexibility to spend money when and where it is needed most.

One reason some donors prefer to donate to programming is because they want the charity to acquit all their funds. It is important for the donor and the charity to ensure a trusting relationship so that there is a good level of trust and communication. Each donor will need to decide what sort of regular reporting they require and the quality of reporting will influence whether the donor continues to give. If a donor becomes unhappy with an organisation, they may be able to ask for some changes before committing again. Marcus can provide ongoing help with these decisions to a greater or lesser degrees required.