Pro Bono Australia's aim is twofold: to facilitate and increase the level of Philanthropy in Australia and to give Not for Profit organisations the resources they need to run effectively. We have been operating as an entity since 1998 but our Directory of Not for Profits organisations, distributed annually across Australia, has been in existence since 1989.
We are a commercial company with a 'for purpose' agenda, believing that in order to be sustainable as a 'philanthropic' body we must be financially self-funding as an organisation. This thinking is emerging as a new force in the design of philanthropic and social enterprise efforts across the world blurring distinctions between Not for Profit and private sector companies. It has been an interesting path to tread.
Pro Bono Australia is now self sustaining, a fact of which we are very proud, but initially was funded through the Mahlab Group of which our Founder, Karen Mahlab is also CEO. Pro Bono Australia was started as an inspiration at a time where the true and very exciting benefits of the world wide web were beginning to be realised. Pro Bono Australia very early on realised the potential applications of it for the Not for Profit Sector.
Starting from a business model we are acutely aware of getting the balance right between what we give with no charge to the Not for Profit sector as a service and what we charge for payment. Consequently, www.volunteermatch.com.au and our News Service are services at no charge for the Not for Profit sector and those wishing to connect with them. Our Directory of not for Profit Organisations, jobs and sponsorship of the News service are income generating for us. We also deliver consulting services and training seminars.
We send and receive thousands of communications with our readers, site visitors and clients every year. In the Australian context we are now seen as being a major resource for the sector. The questions and responses we receive from recipients of our outbound surveys and e-newsletters plus unsolicited contact has been from those working at the coalface.
Pro Bono Australia has given them a place to ask for assistance and a place to resource their many and varied organisations. That makes us all in here at Pro Bono Australia very happy.
What We Do
Directory of Not for Profit organisations
A listing of charitable organisations seeking funding. Listings are linked to further information about organisations, such as contact details, mission statements, projects in progress and also hyperlinks to their own site if they have one. Donors coming to our site then have the tools to select a charity by category of interest (e.g. Cancer, Children, Welfare) and find out more about them before donating to or contacting them. Costs are kept low to allow smaller charities to list in the directory.
The hard copy directory is sent to 56,000 individuals including solicitors across Australia, Accountants, philanthropists and major companies to guide them or assist them in advising their clients about their philanthropic efforts.
e-News Service
Free bulletins containing items of interest for the Not for Profit and Corporate Community sectors. The combined readership of the two editions is nearing approx. 20,000 individuals interested in the sector and growing.
The library of back issue articles is an ever-growing resource of information for and about the sector.
Our News Service is widely regarded as Australias most informative and largest.
Jobs
A listing and search facility for Jobs in the sector. This was Australia's first niche job market site and the first and only in the Not for Profit sector. Find a job and advertise a job on the site. This facility has been slowly growing with the expanding awareness of Pro Bono Australia's website and will become the place to go when looking for a job in the sector. This is a useful site as those working in the Not for Profit sector usually stay employed within it.
The WOW Guide - Who Offers What
A listing of product and service suppliers to the Not for Profit sector. These can be free, partially funded or fully paid products or services. Companies pay to be listed in the Guide. See www.wowguide.com.au
Events
A listing of events occurring in the sector.
Site Partners
Organisations in partnership with Pro Bono Australia
Resources and Links
A list of other sites which may be useful for Australian Not for Profit organisations.
