About Us

Founded in 1968 FIA has for over forty years provided career development opportunities for professional fundraisers and advocated on behalf of the fundraising industry.

 

FIA keeps you in touch with your colleagues, provides monthly professional development opportunities, mentoring for new members, advisory services, news, job opportunities and information.

 

We investigate trends and issues of significance to your sector and act on members behalf to consult with industry and government in setting standards for fundraising practice. Our professional development programs include Skills 123 delivered by your local chapter, the Fundraising Management Diploma (distance learning), Madison Down Under (residential learning), FIA's International Fundraising Conference and CFRE, the international certification program for fundraising executives. Members are also encouraged to participate in the  FIA National Awards for Excellence in Fundraising.

 

FIA has seven chapters working locally and nationally, furthering the potential of fundraising professionals. Your membership will deliver benefits for your professional growth and will contribute to our capacity to work on your behalf for the fundraising industry.

 

Please click here for our 2009 Annual Report.

 

Please click here to access the FIA Constitution.

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Purpose and Objectives

We exist to make the world a better place by advancing professional fundraising through:

• Advocacy of standards
• Professional development pathways
• Measurable credentials

So that our members can achieve best practice.

 

Objectives

In order to achieve our mission, we will:

1. Promote and enhance education, training & professional development of fundraisers
2. Provide a resource of fundraising information
3. Advocate for fundraising practice to Government, industry and the community
4. Support and promote Certification of fundraisers
5. Develop standards and Codes of Practice
6. Promote and enhance fundraising as a profession
7. Promote and encourage research into fundraising and philanthropic giving

 

For information on becoming a member of FIA, please click here. To download a copy of our current constitution (as at February 2010) click here.

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History of Fundraising Institute Australia

The earliest record of systematic Fundraising in Australia is contained in the history of the Benevolent Society of NSW, Australia's oldest charitable organisation, founded in 1813. The record shows that "organising secretaries" were employed in the mid 1870s to "organise the philanthropic instincts of the citizens of the colony of NSW".

 

Modern Fundraising has its origins in the 'Wells Organisation', established by Lewis G Wells and Ashley Hale. 'Wells' was predominantly a Church Fundraising program, originally based in the USA. The US company launched a Canadian company, which in turn launched the Australian Company in 1954. From there the Wells Organisation spread to South Africa, New Zealand and England.

 

The introduction of the Wells Organisation to Australia revolutionised Fundraising in this country, particularly in relation to churches. It broke the 'two bob-in-the-plate" mentality of donors and Wells became very successful. In 1956 there were about 25-30 employees in Melbourne and a similar number in Sydney.

 

The Fundraising industry started to expand beyond the church field and, for example, raised funds for the Sovereign Hill in Central Victoria, and the Pharmaceutical College in Parkville Melbourne.

 

In its early days, Fundraising was a demanding occupation. Employees were on the road most of the year, keeping them away from the distraction of home life and on the job 24 hours a day. Despite good remuneration, employees began leaving in the 1960s, some with the intention of establishing their own Fundraising consultancies. Others joined non-profit organisations.

 

Our Institute is Born
The Australasian Society of Fundraisers [ASF] was formed in 1968 at a meeting of a group of Fundraisers in Melbourne. Over the next two years the constitution was revised, culminating in the birth of The Australasian Institute of Fundraising [TAIF] on 2nd September 1972.

 

Chapter 1 [Victoria] was chartered in September 1972, with about 30 members. Chapter 2 [NSW] was chartered about three months later, followed by Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, New Zealand, ACT [later disbanded] and Tasmania. In 1989-90 the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand was established, splitting off from TAIF.

 

FIA Comes into Being
TAIF became incorporated in 1988 under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and the name of the Institute was changed from TAIF to the Fundraising Institute-Australia Inc. at the Annual General Meeting of the Institute in October 1992. In June 1999 The Institute adopted a new constitution and became a Company Limited by Guarantee. Its Registered Office is in Chatswood, NSW.

 

National Conferences Begin
TAIF began holding biennial national conferences in 1974 [Monash University], and now holds conventions annually. The 25^th International Fundraising Conference was held in Brisbane in February 2002. Attendance at these conferences ranges from 300 to 500 people, with about 75% of delegates being members of the Institute.

 

Management
The business and affairs of the Institute are managed by a Board of Directors comprising members elected from each of six states. States with more than 150 members have an additional director.

 

A Professional Body
As a professional body recognised by Government and business alike, the Institute has adopted a mission which is aimed at Professional Development, Advocacy and Member Services.

 

The FIA assists its members in their professional efforts by:

• providing a forum for discussion on common concerns

• providing opportunities for continuing professional education

• researching, developing and disseminating relevant information

• representing the profession's interests within the Government arena

• fostering ethical standards for the management, direction and counselling for Fundraising programs

 

International Affiliations
TAIF soon became well known internationally among professional Fundraisers. In the late 1980s TAIF became a Foundation Member of the World Fundraising Council, which consisted mainly of national Fundraising bodies from the USA, Canada, France, England, Mexico, South Africa and Australia.

 

FIA now has a network of connections with fundraising organisations around the world including USA based [AFP] Association for Fundraising Professionals, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy [AHP], the UK based Institute of Fundraising; and with the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand [FINZ]. FIA is also a Participating Organisation in CFRE International, an international body established to provide certification for fundraising professionals.

Our Members
The members of the FIA are men and women who are engaged substantially, if not wholly, in the profession of Fundraising, who have united for the benefit of their profession and for the good of those who serve the community at large. They share a common bond in their commitment to their profession and to philanthropy as a whole. For the most part, they work for and with, not for profit organisations within the charitable, medical, arts, educational, religious, community and welfare service as well as sporting and social fields. Some also serve within the profession as Fundraising counsel providing Fundraising services to these organisations.

 

Our members are bound by FIA's Principles & Standards of Fundraising Practice and are required to pledge their commitment to observe and promote its objectives.

Membership of the FIA is recognised as an important indication of an individual's career commitment to the field of Fundraising and the ideals of philanthropy.

Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA) - Advancing Professional Philanthropy

FIA Annual Report 2009 (Adobe PDF File)
FIA Constitution (updated 2010) (Adobe PDF File)