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About Us

Schools Plus was formed to break down the barriers between schools and donors.

We exist to improve the education outcomes of Australian students in need by increasing schools’ access to philanthropy.

Our organisation was founded in 2013, after several reports and not-for-profit leaders pointed to the many potential benefits of increasing philanthropy in the Australian education system.

Those reports include the Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) survey that ran between 2011 and 2013, which found many people wanted to give money, time or talents to advance the education of students in need. But the survey highlighted a number of barriers that made it difficult to give to schools in need.

The 2011 Review of Funding for Schooling (the “Gonski report”) also called for a much stronger focus on philanthropy in education. It recommended an organisation be established to encourage giving to schools in low socio-economic areas and to build the capacity of those schools to develop their own relationships with donors.

Philanthropy can and should be used to create partnerships with those schools that have the greatest need to improve student outcomes.

Gonski report, 2011

In 2013, a group of passionate leaders in the not-for-profit sector, philanthropists and government representatives met to discuss how this national organisation could be created to increase giving to schools in need. Eight of the leading not-for-profit organisations involved in those talks volunteered to become founding members of Schools Plus, and they officially established the organisation in July 2013. Our CEO, Rosemary Conn, was appointed in June 2014.

The Australian Government supported the establishment of Schools Plus by providing seed funding. In March 2015, Federal Parliament passed legislation granting us unique deductible gift recipient (DGR1) status – the final step that allows us to really begin to help boost philanthropic support for the schools that need it the most.

 

Support a school

Your generosity will help schools provide the opportunities students need and deserve to fulfil their potential. Explore the much-needed initiatives on our Projects page and support a school today.

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Success Stories

Read about the difference we’re making together to the lives of students in need around Australia. Our donors have already supported projects in nearly 100 schools.

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Our Founding Members

Schools Plus is backed by an impressive list of not-for-profit organisations. In 2013, a group of passionate leaders in the not-for-profit sector, philanthropists and government representatives met to discuss how a national organisation could be created to increase giving to schools in need.

Find out more