QUT philanthropy survey wants feedback from professional advisors

A Queensland University of Technology researcher is investigating the role professional advisors play in encouraging wealthy Australians to give philanthropically. An important survey on the issue closes on May 31.

The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies (ACPNS), within the QUT Business School, is calling for volunteers to complete a 10-minute online questionnairre which will help guide the future of Australian philanthropy.

The 2014 Study of Professional Advisers and Philanthropy, which will assess the willingness of professional advisors to discuss philanthropy with their clients, is the fourth study of professional advisors by the ACPNS since 2002. 

Professional advisors working with clients on issues such as tax, accounting, financial planning, legal matters, estate planning, trusts, banking, wealth management, or other medium to long-term financial matters are being invited to participate.

“While Australians generally are quite generous, Australia’s wealthy (on average) are not donating as much to charities as their counterparts in the US, UK and Canada, despite their wealth growing at a much faster rate than their level of donation,” lead study author Stephanie Boldeman, said.

“There is an increasing trend since 2002 among Australian advisers to include philanthropy in their suite of services for wealthy clients.”

Acting director of the ACPNS, Wendy Scaife, said the findings from the study would feed into an Australian body of research into attitudes towards philanthropy and also be measured against findings from similar studies from the US, UK and Canada.

“We want to know what advisors think about discussing philanthropy with their clients who may be able to give to their community, and what they think about helping clients plan their giving,” Dr Scaife said.

“What’s the current state of play? Do advisors see there are particular constraints on their capacity to provide advice to clients on philanthropy?”

To complete the online survey, which closes May 31, click here.

www.qut.edu.au

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POSTED MAY 25, 2014.