2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards - Celebrating the most outstanding workplace giving programs in Australia - One Million Donors
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Celebrating the most outstanding workplace giving programs in Australia Proudly sponsored by:
A MESSAGE FROM
Jenny Geddes
CEO, Workplace Giving Australia
2020 is the fifth year of the Workplace Giving help so many Australians in need and also ensure • Mark Pearce, Chief Executive Officer,
Excellence Awards…and what a terrible year it has that you are helping working Australians to donate in Volunteering Australia
been for so many amongst us. In such a difficult the most cost effective and efficient way.
• Simon J. Robinson, Director,
year, WGA was delighted to receive 62 entries –
Wpg is open to every working Australian and we Corporate Citizenship Australia
22 entrants were from organisations new to the
encourage thousands more employers and their
campaign. In what is no doubt testament to such a WGA is grateful for the support of the Department
workforces to join the campaign to achieve One Million
trying year, the largest number of entrants were in of Social Services for its continued sponsorship of
Donors. Reaching and exceeding this number will
the ‘Best Employer Response to a Crisis’ category. the Awards and to King & Wood Mallesons for its
revolutionise how charities are funded in this country.
ongoing commitment to wpg and for hosting the
In a year when so many other forms of fundraising
Distinguished Panel of Judges 2020 Awards ceremony. We hope that we can come
ceased immediately, or were severely curtailed, we
Our distinguished panel of judges had the very back together in person in 2021 to celebrate the
have seen that, if workplace giving (wpg) donors
difficult task of evaluating the excellent entries. On support that wpg provides to so many amongst
retained their jobs, they continued to donate from
behalf of the sector, we sincerely thank: us in need.
their pay. The latest ATO data from FY 2019 shows
that there were 201,237 donors up by 19,781 from • Wendy Scaife, Judging Chair, Associate Professor As 2020 draws to a close, on behalf of the WGA team
the previous year. This is a dramatic increase from & Director, The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and directors, please allow me to wish you the very
FY 2018 and is the seventh year of consecutive & Nonprofit Studies at QUT best for the festive season and I hope that you and
growth. Pleasingly, there was a huge 22% increase your loved ones continue to be well. I’m sure you will
• Judy Barraclough, Head of Strategy & Philanthropy,
in the number of employers offering wpg to 5,382 join us in our hope that 2021 is a better year for us all.
The Smith Family
employers. (More information on the FY 2019 ATO
data is included on Page 5). • Dan Creasey, Head of Pro Bono & Community
Impact, King & Wood Mallesons
There is always more to be done and we encourage
all organisations who entered the Awards to share • Sarah Davies, CEO, Philanthropy Australia
their stories and encourage their partners and • Natalie Egleton, CEO, Foundation for
suppliers to also take up wpg. Doing so will of course Rural & Regional Renewal
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 2
A MESSAGE FROM
Wendy Scaife
Associate Professor & Director,
Australian Centre for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Studies at QUT
Judging Chair
Many people giving a little to lots, often. At such a time, to report 60+ Awards entries and The largest area for future learning the judges
some real innovation coming through as a theme agreed was setting specific objectives and
It’s a winning formula and the essence of workplace
is particularly heartening. People are busy, time demonstrating the related measurable results, and
giving and the annual Workplace Giving Excellence
is short and I applaud those who have prioritised also celebrating the link to payroll giving that is at
Awards. The wins come for the community by way
reviewing and celebrating these programs. the heart of most programs.
of predictable, steady revenue for charities and
those they serve. They come for organisations Several standout features from this year’s Awards Thanks go to the Awards authors, the many
that act on their corporate values in this way and include: partners and individuals who make up this activity
become valued and often better workplaces in turn. in companies and charities across the nation, the
• Informed opportunism and – dare I say the word
The wins too are there for individuals who give Workplace Giving Australia crew, the experienced
– ‘pivoting’ – especially to online engagement
in convenient, easy, feasible ways, heightened by judging team and to the organisations and leaders
shared impact with colleagues and often matched • A sterling response to the Best Employer
achieving so much good and leveraging all they are
giving by companies. Response to a Crisis category – most apt and to do more for their communities.
much needed
This intrepidly growing part of Australia’s giving
ecosystem is important in any year. Blend in post- • Elements such as gamification adding to
engagement
Keep well, keep positive
bushfire alongside COVID and all its social, physical
and economic permutations, and giving through • More examples of ‘focused’ activities such as
and keep giving!
workplaces takes on a whole new significance. We corporate Giving Days
all know charitable revenue has been stretched
by service demand and the loss of donations and • Genuine evidence of staff giver and partner care
volunteers. in stretched times
• Innovations such as Corporate Giving Circles,
and magic spun from low budgets
• Championing workplace giving beyond an
individual organisation.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 3
Thank you
A sincere thank you for the support, knowledge and expertise of
this year’s Awards judging panel.
Wendy Scaife Dan Creasey Judy Barraclough Mark Pearce
Head of Pro Bono & Community Impact Head of Strategy & Philanthropy Chief Executive Officer
Judging Chair
King & Wood Mallesons The Smith Family Volunteering Australia
Associate Professor
& Director
The Australian Centre
for Philanthropy &
Nonprofit Studies
at QUT
Natalie Egleton Sarah Davies Simon J. Robinson
Chief Executive Officer Chief Executive Officer Director
Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal Philanthropy Australia Corporate Citizenship Australia
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 4
Workplace Giving Data FY2019
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LATEST ANNUAL ATO* DATA MILLENNIALS ARE
THE MOST INVOLVED
996 more employers 19,781 new donors $5 donation increase
22% increase to 5,382 Now 201,237 giving Average donation $215 p.a.
Millennials aged under 34 are the largest group of
workplace givers.
Research shows millennials want their employer to
$ offer involvement in something bigger.
WORKPLACE GIVING
MAKES AN INCREDIBLE
CONTRIBUTION
GROWTH TREND CONTINUED Since 2003, over $700m of new funding distributed.
$50m $ donations Significant increases Since 2010, funds donated have grown 90%.
Number of donors
200k
$45m
190k THERE IS HUGE
POTENTIAL
TO DO MORE
$40m 180k
33% of working Australians now have access to
170k workplace giving, but only 5% participate.
$35m
If participation doubled to 10%, charities would receive an
additional $40m p.a. – even more with matching.
$0m 0
FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019
*Workplace Giving Australia is grateful for the ongoing support of the Australian Taxation
Office (ATO) in generously sharing de-identified data about workplace giving trends.
Note: Exceptional one-off SME donations in FY15 removed.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 5
2020 Finalists Overviews 2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 6
BEST
Public Sector Program
Results + Impact • As a state owned organisation, Sydney Water’s
community program is highly scrutinised as it is
• Workplace giving (wpg) participation rate of 13.2%
spending taxpayer’s money. They have a thorough
Sydney Water A clear • Average annual donation per employee of $636 policy in place and tools that support the delivery of
objective to put the • Matched amount $526 per employee the program. They use Good2Give’s payroll donations
and grants platforms, including their Fundraising@
customer and community Overview + Highlights
work partnership with GoFundraise.
at the heart of everything • As Australia’s largest water utility, Sydney Water’s • Their program is introduced to staff during induction,
vision is to create a better life through world-class
the organisation does water services. They supply over 5 million people
where they can opt-in to any of their community
activities. The communication approach is top
underpins the success across Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains and the down, bottom up. The leadership team champions
of the workplace giving Illawarra with drinking water, water and storm the programs and they are supported by all levels
water services. They have 2,754 permanent and
program approximately 2,500 contractor staff who work
of management, team champions and staff in the
graduate program.
From the Judges across corporate offices, and 28 service depots and
• Sydney Water provides two days of volunteer leave
water filtration and water recycling plants.
“Impressive that a focus on workplace and their 200+ volunteers average around 1000
giving continued despite so much • Sydney Water’s wpg program’s objective is to hours per year. In 2019, Sydney Water’s Community
provide an equitable opportunity for staff to give
disruption, including a change in Grants program awarded $80,000. In addition, they
back to causes that are close to their hearts. This is
leadership, COVID and the severe have 50 portable water stations which are loaned to
enabled through a multi-pronged approach to giving
drought.” community organisations, schools, and councils for
which includes support for two corporate charity use at community events.
partners – WaterAid and Orange Sky, payroll giving,
which is matched by Sydney Water, volunteering,
annual and emergency relief appeals, community
grants, personal fundraising and team based charity
activities.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 7
BEST
Pro Bono / Workplace Volunteering
Results + Impact • 7-Eleven employees are involved with industry visits
and attend AMES Impact Day activities. AMES staff
• CEO & Board members are actively engaged and
participate in 7-Eleven group recruitment activities and
supportive of AMES activities
7-Eleven Australia and AMES this is recognised as staff professional development.
• Regular weekly communication to staff encourages
Australia provide migrant • The commitment to the partnership is firmly led by
participation in volunteering with AMES
students with experience of
the 7-Eleven Chair who takes a personal interest in the
• Increased volunteering participation rate to 33% through
the Australian workplace as a
COVID
program along with the CEO and senior leadership
team. AMES brings important insights and learnings of
pathway to employment • Workplace giving for AMES is matched multiculturalism that is a significant part of 7-Eleven’s
From the Judges • Dedicated community investment manager within business model.
“Love the Board involvement. Good 7-Eleven • Virtual volunteering during COVID has been successful
participation rate at 33%.” • All employees are entitled to 1 day a year for volunteering and has enabled an increase in participation and helped
Overview + Highlights expand the volunteering to interstate teams.
• 7-Eleven is Australia’s third largest private company. The
national office of 580 employees supports the 700+
stores in neighbourhoods across VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD
and WA. The business is made up of more than 450
Watch the Video small family-owned businesses, many from multicultural
backgrounds, who are proud to be part of their local
communities.
• The partnership with AMES is helping migrant students
learn and experience the context and language of the
Australian workplace. It is helping AMES in their teaching
of employability skills and is informing their work on
major government contracts.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 8
BEST
Pro Bono / Workplace Volunteering
Results + Impact Overview + Highlights
• Accenture has achieved 50% of employees participating • Accenture is a leading global professional services
Accenture Rapid action in volunteering efforts in 2020, and increased pro bono company, providing a broad range of services in strategy,
in adapting programs to participation by 75% on the previous year. Despite the consulting, digital, technology and operations.
challenges of COVID, employees have contributed 9,133
help nonprofit partners and hours of pro bono work and 15,440 hours of volunteering
• The agile response to multiple disasters has helped boost
participation and focus efforts to organisations most in
communities during 2020’s to more than 150 different community organisations. need and/or supporting local communities.
multiple crises • Accenture delivered on the promise of technology and • MakingADifference is the one-stop platform for
From the Judges human ingenuity by using technology to engage their employees to donate, fundraise and participate in
people. In response to the bushfires, they quickly built Accenture coordinated initiatives and propose and
“MakingADifference - the one-stop
a community of more than 200 volunteers to leverage participate in their own events, as well as record their
platform for workplace giving and skills across their whole organisation and to develop volunteer hours.
volunteering.” an ecosystem with their communities, nonprofits and
• During the bushfires & COVID pandemic, volunteering
clients. During COVID, Accenture highlighted the ways
leave was increased from 1 to 5 days for employees
people could volunteer virtually to maintain employee
supporting these important causes. Donation matching
engagement and to continue to support the community.
was increased to 100% matching for bushfire and COVID
• Pro bono support helped the Australian Red Cross to related causes, projects and partners.
work across 110 evacuation centres across the country,
• In late May, a Social Innovation Challenge was launched
supporting them operationally to assist those people
to help nonprofit partners manage the significant impact
most impacted.
COVID was having on their programs. From 18 entries,
• Accenture’s network of 100 Corporate Citizenship 4 successful project ideas were funded through this
champions and 350 Sustainability Squad members program, delivering solutions for their partners ABCN,
cascade messages across the business and run events Eat Up Australia, Australian Red Cross and TupuToa (NZ).
and campaigns. Accenture Leadership communicate and
• Corporate citizenship is embedded in Accenture’s
encourage participation as part of regular ‘All Hands’ calls.
culture. It’s a pillar of their Responsible Business strategy
and is intrinsically embedded in everything they do.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 9
BEST
Pro Bono / Workplace Volunteering
Results + Impact • Deloitte’s Bushfire Support Finder helped those
affected to understand the grants and other assistance
• 5,027 staff participated in the FY2020 Impact Day (out
opportunities available to individuals, businesses and
of 9000 staff)
Deloitte Australia’s firm-wide communities. Deloitte prioritised its efforts based on
• The Accelerate program delivers skills workshops for
contribution of skills, nonprofits
community advice.
knowledge and funding in • The FY20 community contribution of $31m included
• Impact Day 2019 was their biggest ever with more
response to the bushfire $11.76m pro bono, $16.1m skilled and traditional
than 5000 of their people at 500 events. Many Impact
Day events focused on education, employment and
crisis delivers record levels volunteering ($10.32m skilled, $5.78m traditional), $1.73m
opportunity. Climate change related events were also
of social impact in donations, dollar matching and support
on the list of charity causes in which their people were
• Deloitte’s total bushfire response amounted to more than passionately engaged.
From the Judges
$3 million of in-kind, commercial and volunteering support,
“Good participation rate, commitment • During Workplace Giving Month, Deloitte held a series of
including more than $500,000 in pro bono services
via Steering Committee, deliberate highly popular charity Zoom events in which members
• The firm was able to coordinate their efforts and work of their family of charities – OzHarvest, The Smith Family,
and intentional response to COVID,
across federal and state government agencies Many Rivers, The Garvan Institute and BeyondBlue
and gave data for results.”
Overview + Highlights – presented their on-the-ground experiences of the
• Their five-pillar Social Impact Program includes: Pro pandemic in Australia.
Impact Day 2019 Bono projects, Local Signature (special one-off events), • Deloitte global disaster recovery experts and former
Mentoring, Crisis Response and Impact Accelerate. US FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
Impact Day is a feature event that encourages employees worked closely with the National Bushfire Recovery
to access their one day of paid leave to make an impact Agency to help define and roll out the response. They
in the community. committed to auditing the Australian Red Cross Disaster
• The firm-wide crisis response has enabled their people Relief & Recovery Fund; auditing Fire Fight Australia, a
to use their time and expertise to help on the frontline of national concert for bushfire relief attended by 70,000+
bushfires, COVID, floods and other disasters. people that raised over $9m for bushfire relief and
providing tax and legal assistance to Andrew Forrest’s
• A Steering Committee of key leaders in the firm was
Minderoo Foundation’s $70m donation to the bushfire
established to coordinate the bushfire response and
relief fund.
work at national, state and local levels to target effort
according to the areas of greatest need.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 10BEST
Pro Bono / Workplace Volunteering
Results + Impact • Pathways In Technology (P-TECH): A global education
initiative.
• IBM offers global pro bono and volunteering programs
that are deployed across 40 nations In 2020, Australian IBMers have supported the 13 P-TECH
IBM Australia The breadth schools across Australia by regularly mentoring students,
• A long-standing program to support employees who
and depth of IBM’s workplace volunteered with the NSW State Emergency Service and
acting as guest speakers and supporting IBM site visits.
pro bono and volunteering the NSW Rural Fire Service was increased to offer up to • Blue Day Out annual volunteering day for all employees.
provides staff with 20 days of paid annual leave In October 2019, IBMers volunteered for Beach Clean-
opportunities to give back to • The IBM Service Corp employee pro bono consulting up, Red Cross Blood donations, grant writing for various
the community program is a feature of the partnership with the Taronga nonprofits, fence repair in regional communities and
Conservation Society (TCS). A dedicated team of IBM warehouse duties for various nonprofits.
From the Judges volunteers are providing pro bono consulting to the • Blue Good Fund to support volunteering in local
“IBM Australia offers up to 20 days TCS on the issue of the estimated three billion animals communities
paid volunteering leave to employees impacted by the recent bushfires. Scoping work is well In its first year, grants from the fund were provided to a
who are SES and NSW RFS underway to enhance data and analytics insights related range of local community projects with IBMers providing
volunteers” to TCS’s Breed and Release programs technical and volunteering support. Examples include:
Overview + Highlights – Surf Life Saving QLD for the purchase of safety
IBM.org is IBM’s global online platform for all things cameras
volunteering and Corporate Social Responsibility. IBMers – Rebuilding of fences following the ACT bushfires
can find volunteering opportunities, donate to charities
– Mentoring of primary school students as part of a
of their choice, record their volunteering hours, apply for
global robotics competition
community grants and read about IBM’s investment in
community according to their region and local issues in
focus. There are three structured programs available:
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 11BEST
Launch / Refresh (Employer)
Results + Impact • AIC also took their responsibility to grow wpg beyond
their own team and implemented an awareness raising
• The workplace giving (wpg) program began in 2017
approach for their sector. This work will continue in
Australian Investment • In 2019, Lunch n’ Learn sessions with charity partners
the years ahead and has the goal to encourage more
were launched
Council Lunch n’ Learn member organisations to get programs up and running.
• Staff participation grew from 45% to 83%
sessions with charity partners • AIC created a video on the benefits of wpg encouraging
• The average donation amount grew from $186 to $462
almost doubles employee AIC’s members to get involved – this video was
participation and triples the Overview + Highlights presented at AIC’s annual gala dinner with over 500
guests attending.
average donation amount • The Australian Investment Council (AIC) is the peak
national body and leading voice of private capital
From the Judges investment in Australia. With a team of 12, the reach
“This program uses a strategic and goes beyond their own staff to Australia’s leading private
focused approach and has the equity firms; venture capital firms; private credit funds
potential to leverage other corporate and institutional investors such as superannuation and
workplace giving efforts.” sovereign wealth funds and leading financial, legal and
operational advisers.
• AIC refreshed its wpg program by adding special
Lunch n’ Learn sessions with their charity partners. These
sessions allowed staff to connect with the work of their
charity partners in a more meaningful way. Immediately
after the sessions, staff were provided with a hard copy
Watch the Video form and emailed a soft copy form and were encouraged
to donate whilst the stories were top of mind.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 12BEST
Launch / Refresh (Employer)
Results + Impact • Refresh relied on four key principles; 1-on-1
communications, building awareness with ongoing
• Achieved top 5 status with a company-wide
reinforcement of key messages, leveraging key
workplace giving participation rate of 72%
Bain & Company A clear moments of change within the business (e.g.
• 99% of the senior leadership team involved
goal to be one of the top 5 promotions periods), continue to leave staff the choice
• Very high average annual donation amount
workplace giving programs in per employee of $660
of how to spend their money.
the country, combined with • The focus of the communications campaign was as
• Workplace giving (wpg) has become part much on delivery of the message as on the message
a highly effective company- of the Bain DNA itself. They wanted to present wpg as the default
wide communications mindset, rather than a potential add-on. They also
campaign ensures success Overview + Highlights ensured that everyone in the firm heard the message
by sharing it at all face-to-face staff meetings
From the Judges • Bain & Company is a global management consulting
and communicating through a variety of channels
“A focused and strategic campaign. firm. The firm is located in 59 offices across 37
including:
Communication was also highly countries. In Australia, Bain has offices located in
Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and has 320 staff. – Digital messages on TV screens in all offices
strategic using the influence of
– Messages in the weekly firm-wide newsletter
peers and an authentic expression • In 2019, staff participation was 57%. In 2019, a goal was
of impact.” set to be one of the top 5 programs in the country. –C
harity messages and profiles on their internal
• A committee of volunteers across the firm developed a workplace social media platform
plan, which was endorsed by their Managing Partner.
• The strategy involved analysing what percentage
of staff at different levels were giving, engaging
champions across every level of seniority and at
every office location, and executing a multi-faceted
communications campaign.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 13BEST
Launch / Refresh (Employer)
Results + Impact • Working with unions and staff helped create a simplified
sign-up process and the ability to change existing
• Since launching the campaign of a centralised
donations. New starters also received information
workplace giving (wpg) program on 1 July 2020,
Tomago Aluminium A solutions Tomago has achieved a participation rate of 64%, an
during their new starter induction and are now
approach to creating a unified increase of 8% in just two months
automatically signed up to wpg once they sign their
workplace giving program • In the last 12 months over $188,000 has been raised
employment contract.
bringing together staff, • Average annual donation amount per employee is $172
• Each year, employees are invited to nominate their
favourite charity. Staff are then asked to vote and
employers and unions with $94 being matched
determine the charities that will be the current year’s
From the Judges • New starters received information during their new recipient. Although they have a small committee
starter induction and are automatically signed up once overseeing the process, it’s the employees who decide
“Very impressive result of 64%
they sign their contract which charities will benefit.
participation. It was well planned,
resourced and utilised all avenues to • Dedicated communications strategy reflecting the • A major component of the re-launch campaign was
unique challenges of a large workforce in a 24/7 a targeted communications strategy to highlight the
effectively communicate. It had all the
operation importance of giving back to the community. The
hallmarks of a real re-launch. Bringing
charity partners in to morning teas Overview + Highlights phrase ‘You know it’s worth it’ was used to motivate and
with staff is a powerful way of • Tomago Aluminium is an aluminium smelter in engage staff.
demonstrating impact and making Newcastle that has been operating since 1983. The • The communications focused on key messages for non-
the experience of giving have real company contributes $1.5 billion annually to the members (encouraging membership) and to members
meaning.” Australian economy, of which $800 million is spent (to increase donation amounts) plus consistent
locally. Tomago employs 950 staff (full-time equivalent) goal setting and sticking to a schedule. Also by
as well as 190 contractors. communicating their success to the workforce to show
• Tomago’s 2020 Workplace Giving Fund objective was that they really can make a difference.
to create a simple and centralised wpg program and
bring together two existing programs. The aim was
to bring efficiencies and focus, attract new members
to give and increase the average donation amount of
existing members to a targeted $3 per week.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 14BEST
Launch / Refresh (Charity)
Results + Impact • There were four project phases:
• Year on year workplace giving (wpg) income growth of – Phase 1 – Determine scope: pro bono support
11.6% in FY19/20 was sought from Bain & Company (Bain). With
The Smith Family exceeds support from Bain and WGA, a strategic review was
• Increased wpg income by $143,000
industry average growth conducted looking at how TSF could double its wpg
• Three new wpg partners added
through targeted strategy income in five years.
development and execution Overview + Highlights – Phase 2 – Data analysis: three years of wpg data was
• The Smith Family (TSF) is Australia’s leading children’s analysed and segmented. Interviews were held with
From the Judges education charity helping young Australians in need to wpg partners to gauge ‘voice of the customer’, drivers
“Great clarity and specificity in participate fully in their education. Their learning support and challenges. Interviews were also conducted with
identifying the issues, undertaking and mentoring programs help children to fit in at school, the TSF corporate partnerships team to understand
research, developing strategy and keep up with their peers, and build aspirations for a wpg confidence and barriers.
implementation. Good clear targets better future for themselves. They currently support – Phase 3 – Prototype: strategic review completed
and measurement and excellent around 56,000 students sponsored on their flagship providing seven recommendations. TSF corporate
results.” ‘Learning for Life’ program. partnerships’ five-year strategy and value proposition
• TSF recognised the opportunity to improve their wpg was finalised.
program. There were three drivers: – Phase 4 – Launch and future strategy: TSF
– realise better ROI, partner retention, business implemented Bain’s recommendations, including
development opportunities and improve competitive training the corporate partnerships team on wpg.
advantage in the marketplace; Updated all wpg collateral and messaging and rolled
– help elevate wpg visibility and performance nationally out to all corporate wpg partners in time for 2020
across the sector; and Workplace Giving Month. Team delivered four ‘lunch
– a review of TSF’s corporate partnership program n learn’ presentations to partners’ employees to
value proposition indicated that its wpg offering support Workplace Giving Month.
should be reviewed.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 15BEST
Innovation
Results + Impact • Through a one-off or regular phone call, volunteers and
clients were able to have a friendly chat to help maintain or
• 83% of those who received a phone call said that they
improve social connection and reduce the stress of isolation
saw an overall improvement in their wellness due to
Australian Red Cross COVID CONNECT
until normal patterns of social interaction could be restored.
In partnership with CBRE and • 89% said COVID CONNECT was just what they needed
• The calls were made by trained volunteers from
a number of other corporate right now and that it’s important to have someone to
their corporate partner CBRE. The training and calls
partners, Australian Red Cross talk to
were made from the safety of the employee’s home.
Volunteers could nominate the day or days they were
responded to the needs of • Corporate partner volunteers were involved in making
available to make phone calls to those who had signed
socially isolated Australians the calls and rated their experience highly satisfying and
up via their website or through referrals. The calls were
during the pandemic with said that it would make them more likely to volunteer
approximately 10 to 15 minutes and provided a one-off
again in the future
a new community outreach chat or a regular connection.
program COVID CONNECT Overview + Highlights • Australian Red Cross is aware that disasters can happen
providing phone calls to assist • Australian Red Cross is building a better society based all year round and that help is needed to scale up quickly.
on people helping people. Supplying relief in times The pandemic has also shown the interconnections of
those in greatest need of crisis and care when it’s needed most. CBRE is the everyone and every industry. The organisation believes
From the Judges world’s largest commercial real estate services and that we need to leverage the power of humanity to
investment firm. support one another through disasters, events and
“Nailed the context and opportunity it
presented to use corporate volunteer • When COVID first hit in Australia, CBRE and their pandemics.
resources to maximum effect, despite employees wanted to know how they could help. They
hugely challenging circumstances.” were looking for employee engagement opportunities to
enable their employees to have direct touchpoints with
their humanitarian work and those Australians they were
supporting during the pandemic.
• Australian Red Cross knew many Australians were
feeling scared and lonely and they knew that good social
connections are essential for all aspects of their physical
and mental wellbeing. As such, they implemented COVID
CONNECT.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 16BEST
Innovation
Results + Impact THANK YOU videos to acknowledge charity partners. The
• A total of 26 store teams were involved in creating campaign concluded with video messages from charity
videos for this campaign in a time when they are busier partners to say THANK YOU to JB Hi-Fi team members
JB Hi-Fi Authentic and than normal and focused on the impact of COVID for their years of giving.
creative THANK YOU • Helping Hands achieved a 1% increase in participation • Beyond the campaign connecting and engaging the
campaign engages staff with 467 new team members giving to the program JB Hi-Fi team during a particularly challenging period,
and celebrates the work of it showcased the agility and resilience of their charity
• An additional $8,477 (from new member donations and
partners as they continued to deliver support through
charity partners through double matching from the organisation)
their important work. It helped connect charities with
challenging times • Showcased the work of charity partners across the JB
their donors in new ways.
Hi-Fi team in new and exciting ways
From the Judges • The challenge for JB Hi-Fi became how to find a way to
Overview + Highlights engage their team and promote the benefits of giving
“A standout application because of • JB Hi-Fi is an Australian and New Zealand retailer without expecting more from their already generous
its thinking and heart. The employee, of consumer goods, specialising in video games, team members. They wanted to do something to
donor and partner care here show electronics/hardware and home appliances. JB Hi-Fi celebrate wpg and engage their team in a very positive,
that all are critical to good, ongoing has 200 store locations across Australia, employing fun and engaging way. The intention was to provide
outcomes in wpg and to the important more than 8,500 staff. Their Helping Hands workplace store and support office team members with a chance
goals of retaining workplace givers giving (wpg) program has sustained record levels of to pause and reflect on their own generous giving, and
and connecting them directly to the participation year on year. showcase the work of charity partners as they adapted
cause/s.” • The impact of COVID across the JB Hi-Fi business was to deliver their services.
felt most at store levels with team members working • Their THANK YOU campaign took into consideration all
through complexities and fast paced change never factors, both internal and external, likely to be impacting
before experienced. This required a rethink on the usual on their employees’ relationships with wpg in June 2020.
‘ask’ often associated with Workplace Giving Month and Their campaign was run in-house with video content
instead the Helping Hands Committee said THANK YOU being created by stores on their phones and edited
in a simple, clever and authentic way. by their Training & Development Leader. Their charity
• The campaign delivered weekly messages over the month partners also created video content internally, with a very
of June. It commenced with a THANK YOU message from specific brief to create something unique, simple and
the Committee to wpg donors to celebrate another year low-cost. This is authentic to JB Hi-Fi and reflects what
of giving. Store teams were invited to create their own their team and customers love about their brand.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 17BEST
Innovation
Results + Impact • Giving Circles at Work (developed in conjunction with
Good2Give and The Centre for Social Impact Swinburne)
• Over $45,000 was raised for nine charities
offers organisations an innovative solution to further
Westpac Group An Australian • 82% of participants responded positively to the
engage employees in wpg and address the needs in the
statement ‘Participating in a Giving Circle in my
first program offering ‘Giving workplace made me feel that my work environment
community that they care about.
Circles’ in the workplace enables me to make a positive contribution to the
• The Giving Circles at Work trial was an Australian first
drives participation and community’
program for the workplace. The solution was to use
technology to enable Giving Circles in the workplace
engagement with charity • Donations were matched
without detracting from the rich experience of
From the Judges • Employees felt their giving was making a significant participating in a grant making process. It provides a
difference because they heard directly from the charity different channel of income for the charities and a unique
“Thorough planning and an innovative
and could see what was needed learning experience for participants.
concept sees potential for significant
impact. Good to see validated Overview + Highlights • Participants could set up regular payroll donations and
outcomes and partnership in place.” • Westpac is Australia’s first bank and oldest company, and the Giving Circles’ fundraising activities could also be
one of the largest banks in New Zealand. channelled through Good2Give and attract company
About Giving Circles, including a matching.
• Westpac Group was looking to find new ways to engage
summary of results from the trial • The Giving Circles provided positive outcomes for both
its employees in workplace giving (wpg) and to bring
people together who are passionate about a cause. Corporate Social Responsibility and HR strategies.
Watch the Video Research published in 2017 recognised the growth in In the future, Giving Circles could run across partner
collective giving in Australia. companies, creating networks of people with a passion
• The challenge was to transform these findings to to bring about social change. Participants could provide
actionable strategies with tangible outcomes to grow pro bono services to their charities and volunteering
giving in Australia. The Giving Circles at Work trial was opportunities could also be linked to the giving cycle.
developed to address this need.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 18BEST
Employer Response to a Crisis
Results + Impact • ANZ announced financial relief packages for customers
affected by bushfires in QLD and NSW in September
• ANZ donated $882,200 through workplace giving (staff
2019. By mid-November, as fire conditions worsened,
giving and company matching) to volunteer fire services
ANZ Bushfire appeal across Australia, Australian Red Cross, Foodbank Australia,
ANZ activated its second response, by encouraging
extended to ANZ’s global the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, St Vincent
donations to Australian Red Cross and Foodbank
employees, combined with a de Paul Society and WWF Australia
Australia through its workplace giving (wpg).
generous corporate response, • Close to $390,000 was raised from employees across
• As the wpg program was only available to permanent
and Australian employees, it was quickly broadened to
significantly increased the the ANZ Group which the company either matched
enable all ANZ employees (permanent, contractors)
funds donated dollar for dollar, or double matched if donations were
globally, across 33 markets, to participate.
made directly through payroll giving in Australia
From the Judges • Paid leave was given to employees who volunteered
• Non-permanent employees in Australia and overseas
“A very impressive and holistic workplace employees could donate to ANZ’s community partners
in emergency services to ensure staff were financially
giving response, including payroll giving, through ANZ’s digital fundraising platform, ‘Shout for Good’,
supported while they served their communities
corporate donations, volunteering and to ensure 100% of donations from Visa or MasterCard
• $1 million customer support package to those affected
in-kind support. ANZ demonstrated a transactions would go directly to chosen charities.
by the bushfires
commitment to put communities’ needs • Over 50 ANZ employees volunteered to collect
• ANZ’s digital fundraising platform, ‘Shout for Good’,
first and act flexibly in a time of crisis.” donations from the foyers of three of ANZ’s largest
also facilitated over $2.6 million in donations during the
offices across Melbourne and Sydney.
Bushfire Benefit Concert
• As Associate Sponsor of the Australian Open tennis
Watch the Video Overview + Highlights championship, ANZ delayed the launch of its planned
• Established in 1835, ANZ is among the top four marketing campaign by one week as bushfires continued
Australian banks and top 50 in the world. ANZ operates to affect communities. Instead, ANZ donated the
in 33 markets with a purpose to shape thriving significant prime-time television advertising space to its
communities through the priorities of financial wellbeing, wpg partner, St Vincent de Paul, to help support their
environmental sustainability and housing. bushfire recovery and rehabilitation work.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 19BEST
Employer Response to a Crisis
Results + Impact • Banking and insurance staff provided customer care
hardship assistance to those directly impacted and many
• Australian Unity, in conjunction with the Australian Unity
more team members were indirectly involved through
Foundation and employees, raised $183,772 to support
Australian Unity the bushfire response
fundraising activities and other support initiatives.
Multi-faceted bushfire relief • This included $46,911 in employee workplace giving
• The Australian Unity wpg program responded to
response with wide-ranging (wpg) donations, $36,861 in dollar matching and
the bushfire response through dedicated employee
support $100,000 directly from Australian Unity and the
fundraising pages and internal media campaigns calling
for employees to aid bushfire crisis relief by supporting
Australian Unity Foundation
From the Judges the three nominated charities, Australian Red Cross,
• 135 employees registered their volunteer time during and
“An excellent multi-faceted response WIRES and Wildlife Victoria.
since the bushfire crisis, with an estimated value of over
with good outcomes and levels of $40,000
• Emergency disaster support was offered to any
engagement and volunteering growth employees who were directly impacted through
evident. Terrific to see the range of Overview + Highlights the loss of their home or property, which included
options deployed to staff as well • Australian Unity was established in 1840 and is Australia’s vouchers for essential items, emergency relief
as to clients.” first member-owned well-being company, offering payments to help with accommodation or other
its members and customers health, wealth and care services, additional paid special leave for up to four
services. weeks, unlimited Employee Assistance Program
• Australian Unity’s response to the bushfire crisis was support and a dedicated team to help them navigate
significant and included employee and company their immediate response to the crisis.
donations, employee fundraising and volunteering. • In addition, up to four weeks of ‘special paid leave’
In addition, support was provided to employees and was provided to staff who were part of the specialist
customers who were directly impacted by the bushfires, volunteering agencies including the Country Fire
including those who lost property and homes. Authority, Rural Fire Service and Defence Reservists.
• Stories of support were shared with staff and customers This was extended to staff who were required to provide
via the ‘Connecting with Care’ program. Team members carers’ support. In addition, Australian Unity customers
were motivated by the activities their colleagues were were also supported through premium relief and the
doing with aged care and retirement residents, which prioritisation of payment of claims for eligible health
encouraged more staff to get involved in volunteering. insurance customers.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 20BEST
Employer Response to a Crisis
Results + Impact Overview + Highlights
Bushfires: • KWM is a global top-tier law firm headquartered in
Asia. In Australia, it has over 1600 employees across
King & Wood Mallesons • Two staff appeals raised over $113,000 (including
the country. The firm responded to both the COVID
matching by KWM)
From Chefs to Solicitors, King pandemic and the bushfire crisis, which was also
• KWM supported with a $350,000 donation to five
& Wood Mallesons (KWM) organisations
supported through KWM’s workplace giving program,
has thrown its firm’s resources Dig Deep®.
• Team members participated in a virtual ‘Relief Run’, with
behind supporting two crises – $2,700 donated to Australian Red Cross
• KWM provided a comprehensive and meaningful
the Bushfires and COVID • Provided free legal advice to KWM’s community partners
response to the two crises and drew on all the resources
available to the firm to support those in need. There
From the Judges in areas such as taxation, privacy, data protection, risk was a mix of specialist pro bono legal support, team
management, insurance and employment law fundraising and hands on volunteering.
“Good activation of the workplace
giving program, Dig Deep®. Impressive COVID: • The response was targeted at supporting KWM’s
to see KWM utilising their full ‘arsenal’ • Provided over 1,200 hours of pro bono support (valued existing community partners, which meant team
– from legal expertise to catering staff at over $578,000) and advice on over 35 COVID pro members already had an understanding of their work
to letter writing, combined with solid bono matters for KWM’s community partners, including: and confidence that their donation would be spent
team fundraising, staff giving and – Four secondees joined Community Legal Centres to effectively.
company matching.” help on the frontline • KWM was also able to effectively adapt to a new way
– Provided three COVID legal updates as part of the firm’s of working and was able to deliver virtually exceptional
Impact Masterclass series for community partners programs such as:
– Over 7,000 meals prepared by over 12 KWM volunteers – TalkLaw® - KWM’s signature community legal
in the hospitality team education initiative
– 50 staff volunteered to assist Australian Red Cross – KWM School of Opportunity – a social mobility
make over 4,000 calls for socially isolated Australians program for young people experiencing disadvantage
as part of its COVID CONNECT service
– 10,000 face masks had been donated to the firm. Four
team members packaged them up and sent them to
community partners on the frontline
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 21BEST
Employer Response to a Crisis
Results + Impact delivered by their community partners increased, but
corporate volunteering support was no longer available
• Over $183,000 donated during the crisis
as ‘work from home’ was implemented. The immediate
Origin Energy Foundation • Despite the COVID crisis, Origin maintained staff
priority was to come up with creative and innovative
participation in both payroll giving and volunteering. In
Leadership support and fact, donations by Origin employees increased 9% from
ways for Origin team members to support. Two highly
creative execution helped the previous year
innovative volunteering programs were developed.
workplace giving donations • With company matching, $930,212 was donated in
• 300 ‘Origin families’ participated in the SolarBuddy
Family Pack program and assembled 1,500 individual
increase, even in a time of FY19/20, $100,000 more than in the previous year
SolarBuddy lights to be sent to children living in energy
crisis • Despite work from home restrictions, an innovative poverty enabling them to read and study after dark.
employer-charity partnership with SolarBuddy provided The CEO of SolarBuddy said that the support of Origin
From the Judges
Origin’s capable and purpose-driven employees an Energy Foundation was ‘literally oxygen’. Solar Buddy
“The application has incredible depth outlet to offer meaningful support. 300 ‘Origin families’ delivered an online ‘thank you’ session for Origin families,
and demonstrates a mature and built 1,500 SolarBuddy lights for children living in energy giving them the opportunity to see how and where the
authentic culture of giving connected poverty solar lights will be delivered. As a result of external media
to Origin’s purpose.” • Throughout the crisis, Origin volunteers made daily calls coverage, SolarBuddy received enquiries from other
to people living in social isolation corporates and over 50 orders from individual families.
Overview + Highlights • In addition, around 100 Origin volunteers actively
• It quickly became evident that the COVID crisis would hit participated in the Australian Red Cross’ COVID
Origin’s community partners hard. They were concerned CONNECT program. Team members from across the
that regular workplace giving donations would decrease, country made thousands of calls to socially isolated
so the Origin Energy Foundation quickly reassured Australians. The appreciation has been overwhelming,
employees that they would continue to match their with one client saying that the Red Cross calls had ‘saved
donations. Contrary to expectations, donations were her sanity’.
significantly higher than for the same period last year • Throughout the pandemic, Origin’s employees have
and the number of employees donating via payroll enthusiastically embraced opportunities to get involved
increased by 46% year on year. and continue to donate their time and money to the
• Cancellation of face-to-face volunteering in mid- community.
March had an immediate impact. The need for services
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 22MOST INNOVATIVE
Working wonders
Charity and Employer Partnership
for sick kids
Results + Impact • EVENT wpg funds help support the Foundation’s Juiced
TV program which is made by kids in hospital. Juiced
• 45% of Event Hospitality & Entertainment Limited
TV provides an innovative and exciting way to engage
(EVENT) staff participate in payroll giving
Children’s Hospital patients, families and EVENT employees. Juiced TV
• EVENT’s workplace giving (wpg) program has donated
Foundation QLD with Event over $1,228,880 to the Children’s Hospital Foundation
content is shared at EVENT’s staff inductions. EVENT
Hospitality & Entertainment QLD since 2007
Cinemas assist with the annual Juiced Awards where kids
and their families involved in Juice TV dress up to walk
Event Hospitality & • EVENT staff fundraising, volunteering and in-kind the red carpet and celebrate the achievements of Juice
Entertainment donates support has resulted in lifelong impact for both the TV’s season. EVENT staff work with Juiced TV patient
over one million dollars to Foundation’s patients and families presenters and their families to provide movie reviews of
Children’s Hospital Foundation Overview + Highlights family films. EVENT also supports Juiced TV by providing
• EVENT is a leading entertainment, hospitality and leisure hotel accommodation when needed.
From the Judges
company operating in Australia and New Zealand. • EVENT’s wpg donations also help sponsor the Hospital’s
“Great partnership rationale and Kidzone playroom.
• EVENT is committed to protecting and giving back to
synergy, with strong planning. There
the communities in which it operates through a focus on
is high engagement and donors see
sustainability, fundraising and diversity. The Children’s
the impact of their donations.”
Hospital Foundation QLD helps sick and injured children.
The Foundation became an EVENT wpg charity partner
Watch the Video in 2007 and in 2011 was selected as EVENT QLD’s
corporate charity partner via a tender process.
• The partnership seeks to address the areas of greatest
need within the Queensland Children’s Hospital in line
with EVENT’s brand mission and values. Holding young
people, technology, entertainment, innovation and fun
at the centre of their shared strategy enables a clear
direction for both parties.
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 23MOST INNOVATIVE
Charity and Employer Partnership
Results + Impact and they encourage employees to ‘opt in’ to wpg and
choose from 29 charities. ANZ’s target for ‘Learning
• 41% increase in the number of ANZ employees supporting
for Life’ sponsorship via wpg is incorporated into their
The Smith Family through workplace giving (wpg)
The Smith Family with ANZ ‘Financial Wellbeing’ public target ‘to enable social and
• ANZ’s wpg donations increased from $84,050 to $220,123
Shared value partnership economic participation of 1 million people by 2020’.
• 20 additional children sponsored by ANZ employees
seeks to enhance the • Understanding ANZ’s CSR strategy and finding the
financial capability of Overview + Highlights alignment to TSF’s vision was the first important step
in creating the partnership. TSF’s mission to help young
Australians in need • The Smith Family (TSF) is Australia’s leading children’s
disadvantaged Australians succeed at school to create
education charity helping young Australians in need
From the Judges to participate fully in their education. They are on better futures for themselves has clear links to ANZ’s
“Really good nomination. Strong the ground in 91 communities, working with nearly ‘Financial Wellbeing’ agenda. In addition to sponsoring
alignment of values and excellent 700 partner schools across Australia. Around 56,000 ‘Learning for Life’ students through wpg, many ANZ
students are sponsored in TSF’s flagship ‘Learning for staff also volunteer to directly support TSF’s education
results”
Life’ program. programs being delivered to students and families.
• Established in 1835, Australia and New Zealand Banking • Once the strategic partnership was formed, both parties
Group (ANZ) provides banking and financial services defined key partnership objectives and KPIs so that
to retail, commercial and institutional customers. ANZ success could be articulated and measured. They created
is among the top four banks in Australia and the top 50 a wpg plan, communications/media plan and employee
banks in the world. ANZ’s purpose is to help shape a engagement activity plan, which included a call to action
world where people and communities thrive, focusing on from ANZ’s CEO during Workplace Giving Month. During
three priority areas: financial wellbeing, environmental regular catch ups these plans were adjusted to take
sustainability and housing. account of the changing landscape during 2019/20.
• ANZ and TSF’s shared-value partnership seeks to • Other ways in which ANZ staff supported TSF included
enhance the financial capability of Australians in by donating gifts and volunteering to pack for TSF’s 2019
need. Wpg is engrained in ANZ’s culture with internal Christmas Toy & Book Appeal and participating in TSF’s
messaging to employees regarding TSF’s work wpg strategic review.
integrated into Business As Usual activities/initiatives.
ANZ introduces TSF to employees during on-boarding
2020 Workplace Giving Excellence Awards Page 24You can also read
