Let’s help NFPs help others

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As soon as we see them in their bright-coloured T-shirts on the street, we pretend to be busy. We look down on our phones, we’re frantically looking for something in our bags, or we become incredibly fascinated by that house to the right. We know what they want and we just don’t have the time to stop and talk. Or rather, we can’t be bothered to.

If we just keep our eyes closed, look at our phones or that beautiful pigeon that just flew past, there is no problem. We live in a problem free world. And occasionally we give some money away, just to feel that we’re contributing, that we’re one of the good people.

But let’s take a moment to actually consider the work charities take on, the missions they embark on to create a better place. Often it starts with the people on the streets, or that person on the phone asking if “you have minute?”. And even though we may not want to, perhaps we should dedicate a minute for them more often. Let’s try and help them help others.

In a society where funding is becoming increasingly harder for not-for-profit organisations to come by, it’s even more important that we take our responsibilities. NFPs are just as important to the society as commercial companies are. The commercial ones make the economic wheel spin around, while NFPs support the weak and vulnerable. One can’t function without the other.

As the Australian election comes closer, there’s an increasing debate regarding the government’s funding strategies, both negative and positive. Thankfully Australians are some of the most giving people in the world, and in total NFPs received over $5 billion in funding and is an industry which employs close to a million people across the country.

The Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership has now initiated the largest ever research effort into philanthropic behaviour to understand how, why and how much Australians give to charity, called Giving Australia 2016. The findings of the study are intended to help implement new policies and ideas to help Australian organisations and communities.

Because NFPs are a vital part of our country. They’re a vital part of our economy and society, and it’s a sector we must protect.

Let’s take a moment next time you get approached by someone in a bright green T-shirt, or receive that phone call from an organisation. Let’s give a little bit of our time to help them help others.

Mimmie grew up in Sweden and first came to Australia as a backpacker after high school. After travelling around the country for two years she returned to Europe and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism in London. But the longing for Australia and the sun became too strong. After having worked for some time in the media industry, Mimmie decided to make a change and swap the news for conferences. She now gets to do what she loves the most, meeting new people and keep learning about cultures and issues while producing conferences on current topics.