United Way Australia

The United Way International World Assembly hosted in Melbourne in May 2006 was the focal event in 2006. 170 delegates from 39 countries participating together to exchange ideas, share knowledge and experiences served to foster our international relationships in the global United Way family. To our Australian members it also offered the opportunity to network in an international context and experience the benefits of the global scope of United Way. 

The Global Standards document, launched at the World Assembly, and developed as a result of extensive consultation worldwide to provide guidance to United Way members across the world who aspire to “best practice” in philanthropic endeavour, has been used during the past year and will continue as a touchstone for our United Way operations in Australia. 

 International Relationships

Relationships developed with the President and CEO of United Way International and senior UWI management by Geoffrey Green, former United WayAustralia President and Heather Leembruggen then Vice President, during our work with international committees in relation to the World Assembly and the Global Standards development have been valuable in fostering Australia’s relationship with our international colleagues to mutual benefit. My sharing the stage with Brian Gallagher, President and CEO of United Way of America, to present on Branding and Reputation at the World Assembly also contributed to forging stronger connections within the global United Way family.

Such relationships are continuing to grow in our liaison with Teresa Hall Bartels, the new President & CEO of United Way International. This closer contact is particularly significant in the context of the new “Global Initiative” project to create a truly global United Way network that leverages learning, resources and reputation that will, in turn, help to expand and deepen the capacity of local and national United Ways around the globe. 

United Way Australia has been honoured with the invitation to Heather Leembruggen UW Australia President, to join the Global Transition Board of 15 United Way leaders to implement the vision for a global United Way network and system.

 National Growth

United Way Australia’s growth strategy for the next five years is critical to our potential to be a major player in the Australian philanthropic arena and to taking a leadership role in Corporate Community Involvement (CCI) programs on a national basis.

United Way Australia’s focus during the past year and going forward is to strengthen the network and its capacity nationally. This is central to growing our brand identity and market position to achieve our community impact goals.

The development of National corporate partner relationships and establishment of national programs has been at the core of this growth strategy. A three tiered approach has been developed to engage our corporate partners in national CCI programs being delivered locally by members of the United Way Australia network.

• “Workplace Giving” programs have been implemented on a national basis with donations being distributed locally to support grass roots community organisations. While our network continued to co-operate with the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership’s Workplace Giving program until conclusion, this had limited impact in terms of new participating employers. Corporate partnerships developed by network members rendered more rewarding outcomes. 
• “Corporate Connect “ volunteering programs allows 20 staff from corporate partners to volunteer for one day in United Way organised community projects. This program has grown from 11 projects in 2004 to 75 in 2007.
  
•  “Seeing is Believing” educational programs provide first hand learning experiences for Corporate staff to meet the community groups they are supporting and to witness their donations at work. This service is increasingly being used by our corporate partners to fulfil CCI objectives.

Overall, United Way national and local programs delivered the following:

•  In 2005/06 UWA members distributed $7.1 million to 600 local community organisations.
  
•  In 2006, UWA members co-ordinated 570 volunteers, invested 3,500 volunteer hours in community projects and completed 43 projects in 22 community organisations.
  

16 Corporate partners are involved in National programs with the newest Corporate Partners during the 2006-07 being The Good Guys, KPMG, Stockland and Ernst & Young. The Good Guys program which consists of a donation for each purchase at The Good Guys retail outlets provides wide geographic spread involving 9 of our 10 members in regional as well as city centres - helping to promote United Way widely. 

Our members have experienced some challenges in resourcing the national programs and maintaining consistent standards in services and delivery. However, protocols, procedures and systems are in development phase to ensure best practice to a consistent standard and these are planned to be implemented in late 2007. 

United Way Australia Strategic Plan and Governance

UWA Board members and UWA member CEOs participated in a Strategy Planning Meeting on 6 September 2006 to review and assess our growth as a national organisation and to progress our strategies to achieve the goals we set to grow our business, our brand and our market position in the philanthropic arena.  

The Board also undertook a “Constitution review” project in a consultation process with members that examined the Board’s role, practices and organisational structure. 

To address the findings and fulfil the expectations raised by these review projects the Board through the Executive Committee has developed a statement of “Vision, Mission and Role” as well as a Strategic Plan to be presented at the National Conference when an action plan will be evolved for implementation from September 2007. 

The Strategic / Action Plan encompasses financial measures, Member support programs (e.g. training and knowledge sharing), shared resources, image building and marketing, website as well as national program administration, protocols and resourcing. 

To fulfil governance requirements and apply “best practice”:   A Board Charter and a Code of Conduct have been drafted for finalisation and application from September 2007. 

Insurance and Risk Management for the network are being reviewed and addressed with the pro bono support of the Head of Insurance of National Australia Bank. The Directors and Officers Liability Insurance policy has been reviewed and improved in this process. 

While our finances are sound as indicated by the accompanying Financial Report, we are still unable to support the employment of professional staff in any management capacity. Resourcing this role proved unsuccessful. Administration has been conducted on a pro bono basis to conserve funds but this is not necessarily a practical solution to achieving our goals for growth and servicing our members. Therefore, our members must give serious consideration to investing additional financial support in our national body if it is to grow and provide membership services. 

United Way Australia Board

The Annual General Meeting was conducted by teleconference on 20 September 2006.

Directors Elspeth Hallowes and Craig Serjeant retired from the Board and we thank them both for their contribution. Heather Leembruggen and T David Williams retired by rotation and were re-elected. We were pleased to welcome them back to the Board as well as the newly elected Christian Roth. At the next meeting of the Board Geoffrey Green stood down as an elected member and was appointed as a co-opted Director and Lorraine Wilson was elected to the Board – both very welcome. 

I was elected President and Chair of United Way Australia on 22 November and I am honoured to serve in this role. I would like to acknowledge with much appreciation the contribution Geoffrey Green made as President during the past three year term. F Runia and G Green were elected Vice Presidents and subsequently we appointed G Green as Secretary for the organisation and we thank him for his commitment.  

As President and Chair of United Way Australia I look forward to accomplishing the national objectives set and have developed a program going forward with each UWA Board member responsible for specific aspects of the program – in portfolio structure - and this is working successfully. 

I would like to give particular thanks to my Executive Committee of Geoffrey Green, Fred Runia, Ricki (Renate) Smith and Ralph Day who with the additional help of Christian Roth are devoting their skills, knowledge and experience to developing the strategic plan to address and realise the goals we have set. Their energy, commitment and work is much appreciated in helping to build United Way Australia and its effectiveness. 

Finally I would like to thank the professional staff of our members for their support and practical contributions to support our endeavours to grow United Way Australia as a leader in Australian philanthropy. 

Heather Leembruggen President and Chairman United Way Australia