Mission Australia Funding

Mission Australia is grateful for the funding we receive from government, our corporate partners, trusts and foundations and from members of the public who respond to our regular appeals and events, and also leave gifts in their wills. In 2010-11 almost 82 per cent of our total revenue went directly towards delivering services to Australians in need. 

Government funding
We operate 349 Community Services, most of which are supported by government funding arrangements and operated like individual businesses. Mission Australia Employment Solutions also receives funds to deliver Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) programs, including the Job Services Australia.

To win these contracts, we engage in a rigorous and transparent tender process. If we win a tender, we are funded to operate a service on behalf of government (at times, a combination of state and federal).

To ensure we effectively run a community service, each year our acquittal team submits around 600 project profit and loss statements to our funders. At the end of each project’s life, we re-tender for the contract if government chooses to continue to offer the service.

Corporate partnerships
Mission Australia works with the corporate sector to provide a wide variety of services that are designed to create a fairer Australia. We seek to find innovative ways to capitalise on the investment made by local and national partners – financial and otherwise. Our corporate partners and their employers and customers generously donate their time, money and expertise and energy.

Community supporters
Despite competing demands for their assistance, in 2011 more than 51,634 generous donors supported our work by giving to our regular appeals, attending fundraising events or making a one-off donation.

Mission Australia also enjoys strong support from many individuals, trusts and foundations – including the Sir David Martin Foundation – and community-minded individuals who leave gifts in their wills. Find out more about the wide range of Mission Australia supporters. 

In order to continue our work with disadvantaged Australians, we have to spend money to raise funds and awareness. In 2011 our fundraising costs amounted to $4.6 million, which included printing, event and campaign expenses.

Responsible and ethical fundraising
As a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (FIA) we adhere to the Principles and Standards of Fundraising Practice - the charity code of conduct guiding ethical, accountable and transparent fundraising. Mission Australia also adheres to legislation concerning our appeals, community fundraising and face-to-face fundraising. These include:

• The Privacy Act 1988
• Charitable Fundraising Act (and the relevant Charitable and Collections Acts in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, the NT and ACT and Victoria)
• Trade Practices Act

Our website also complies with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which means online donations are secure.

Transparency
We also strive to be transparent in everything we do – and have been recognised with a PwC Transparency Award for our efforts.

Mission Australia has long recognised the need for more transparency and smarter regulation in the sector, and worked with the Community Council of Australia to achieve reform. As such, we welcomed the Australian Government’s decision to establish the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC), which will operate from July 2012.

Face-to-face fundraising
Mission Australia regularly uses face-to-face fundraisers to sign up new donors to support our youth programs. These fundraisers work in small groups in public places around capitals and regional cities. All clearly display photo identification. Once a person signs up with a face-to-face fundraiser to support us, they will receive a call within a few days to confirm their ongoing donation and to thank them for their support.

If someone approaches you asking for a donation for Mission Australia and you’re concerned they are not part of our fundraising team, or you want to comment on their behaviour, please call our Fundraising Support Team on 1800 888 868 or email donorservices@missionaustralia.com.au

Complaints and comments
Our Fundraising Support Team is responsible for all donor feedback, including comments about our direct mail appeals, opt-in email campaigns, brochure inserts into magazines and online advertising. Donors can call 1800 888 868 or email donorservices@missionaustralia.com.au with feedback. 

Complaints that require escalation, investigation and resolution are logged into our complaints module. A Fundraising Support Team member will acknowledge the incident within two days and advise the donor that the issue will be resolved within five working days.

Learn more about 'Raising funds and awareness' in our Annual report.