ASI ‘SMART Company’ Scholarship Fund Blog

J Brown
Fundraising Administration Officer
Diabetes Australia - Victoria

First of all I would like to thank ASI for granting me the ‘SMART Company’ Scholarship to attend the Skills 1 course with the Fundraising Institute Australia.

I am currently attending the Skills 2 course, which I couldn’t have attended if I would not have finished skills 1 successfully.

Skills 1 gave a broad overview of all fundraising activities. From raffles to major gifts to the legal and ethical obligations of a not for profit organisation. It was great to hear about such a broad range of fundraising activities. I particularly enjoyed learning from the presenters’ experiences, as their presentations were based on their own successes and failures over the years in fundraising. It was good to hear everyone being so passionate about fundraising.

Apart from providing us knowledge of all fundraising principles, the Skills 1 course has also been a great place to meet new fundraisers and learn from their experiences.

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July 16, 2007

FAO: COS, social affairs, technology, philanthropy

Advanced Solutions International (Asia Pacific) has been honoured with a nomination for a 2007 Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership Award by the Fundraising Institute Australia.

The nomination recognises the fruitful relationship between ASI, which provides software to the non-profit sector and the FIA, which represents the sector’s fundraisers. At the heart of the partnership is the innovative ASI SMART Company Scholarship Fund which funds training courses, conference attendance and professional development for individuals working in the non-profit sector.

“ASI’s SMART Company Scholarship Fund stands out as a prime example of a practical, focused and powerful community business partnership,” says FIA CEO Dr Sue-Ann Wallace. “This partnerships strengthens us both but more so the non-profit sector which we serve.” State and territory winners will be announced late August.

The nomination has ASI managing director Paul Ramsbottom ecstatic. “I’m actually quite emotional about it,” he says. “But my staff would say I’m always emotional about something. It’s especially rewarding because we’ve worked hard with the FIA to build a genuine partnership – not just swapping money for some logo exposure. We’ve evolved from sponsor to partner. It feels good.”

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July 16, 2007

FAO: COS, social affairs, technology, philanthropy

Seven non profit professionals have reason to feel a little warmer this winter courtesy of the latest round of the ASI SMART Company Scholarships. The winners, who come from New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria will share in more than $6000 of funding to develop their professional skills and strengthen the non profit organisations for which they work.

The latest round attracted more than $20,000 of funding applications from Australian and New Zealand non profit professionals. The magnificent seven who most impressed the selection panel are professionals from Monash University Medical Foundation, The Mary Potter Foundation, Bush Heritage Australia, Australian College of Health Service Executives, YHA Victoria and two individuals from Diabetes Australia - Victoria.

Now in its second year, the ASI SMART Company Scholarship Fund supports individuals to undertake study directly relevant to their work in the non profit sector across Australia and New Zealand. This round’s winners will build on their skills with training in fundraising, workplace training and assessment and attending national conferences for the non profit sector.

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The Fund received applications requesting more than $20,000 in funding in the June round.  We are pleased to confirm seven Scholarships were awarded with a total value of more than $6,000. A further $12,000 will now be made available for the final two rounds of funding for 2007.

Congratulations to the following Scholarship recipients:

Part A – Fully Funded Education Scholarships

Melinda Warnecke – Monash University Medical Foundation
FIA Skills 2

Jenny Brown – Diabetes Australia Victoria
FIA Skills 1

Trevor Bailey - Diabetes Australia Victoria
Madison Down Under (special partial scholarship)
 

Part B – Education Subsidies for ASI Customers

Michelle Jewels – The Mary Potter Foundation
FIA Diploma of Fundraising Management

Lea-Anne Bradley – Bush Heritage Australia
Madison Down Under
 

Part C – Education Grants for ASI Customers

Dr Dianne Ball – Australian College of Health Service Executives
Associations Forum National Conference

Jen Grant, YHA Victoria
Certificate IV Training & Assessment
 

We thank all the applicants for taking the time to prepare their applications.  Applicants - successful in this round or not - are encouraged to consider applying again in future funding rounds (annually in September, December, March and June).