Monthly income turns to charity greed
Posted by: mermaid
22nd Oct 2009 11:50pm
This was met with much distaste amongst the large pool of volunteers, who questioned why? The manager shared the same view and set off to identify the need vs greed syndrome and this is what we learned.......
more than $210 billion of institutionalised ''charity'' is now part of Australia's society and is embedded in the economy rather than being an optional extra. Old-fashioned charity is just $9 billion, 4 per cent of the total or less than 3 per cent if we acknowledge governments' financial support to charities.
There are approximately 10,400 charities in Australia with almost 12,000 outlets or branches.
120,000 staff are employees vs tens of thousands of volunteers; this figure does not include volunteers who work for schools, clubs and associations. Total wages are about $3.9 billion.
Salvation Army (eastern and southern divisions only) revenue approx $650 million, smaller average less than $800,000 per year (a extraordinary figure).
Compare these figures to an average business employing staff, with a revenue of $3.8 million - or approx five times the average charity.
Reality is charities are a business and these figures are Australian, given the number of charity organisations in Australia also exist worldwide the math just does not add up.
When presenting these figures to senior management, the manager was told rising inflation restricted the charity from performing.
The result, the manager and 3/4's of the pooled volunteers left and within 2 years the charity have employed 4 managers. The days of charity truly have gone!
What are your thoughts?
sherri
- 22nd Nov 2011 01:03pm
In Hobart we have a 'One agency policy' - and someone who comes in is informed (and gives consent to) their name (only) being shared with the other agencies.
In this way we were able to prevent 'double dipping' -which in turn meant that we could give more to more.
I am aware that other states do not use this policy, and thought it was because physical distances that do not apply in a little place like Hobart meant that it was not possible for people to attend more than one agency in a day. Perhaps it is time for Perth orgs to consider doing something similar.
As for homelessness as a lifestyle choice....it can actually be more expensive to be homeless than to have a fixed address. I rather suspect that the young man you spoke to will eventually come to realise this and eventually put down a few more roots as he matures as a person and his needs change. (But it DOES underscore the point that income security/poverty is the major issue that needs to be addressed in Australia)
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