QBE Foundation announces 2017 charity partners

The QBE Foundation, the charitable arm of Australia’s largest global insurer, is delighted to announce its charity partners for 2017.

This year’s partners will see the Foundation building on existing relationships with four renewing partners - Brainwave, Camp Quality, The Big Issue and The Kids’ Cancer Project. Two new charities – Assistance Dogs Australia and Foodbank – have been awarded partner status for the first time in 2017.

In another first, one charity – The Kids’ Cancer Project – has been awarded a multi-year partnership, signing on for three years, during which time the Foundation will continue its support of an anti-cancer drug trial and other initiatives.

QBE Foundation Chairperson Sally Kincaid said all partners would help the Foundation achieve its objective of helping people in our community overcome disadvantage, strengthen their abilities, and live more independently, successfully and productively.

"The charities selected represent a wide range of causes across the country and we’re so incredibly proud to getting behind them and the work they do.

"Through appointing a select group for an annual partnership, it gives us the structure to build a relationship and really get to know the charities and their goals. It also allows our people to get involved, whether that be through volunteering, attending events, or sharing in the success stories when we work together to achieve great outcomes.

"We decided to consider multi-year partnerships for the first time this year. We recognise that certainty of funding is a challenge for the not-for-profit sector, so this allows us to commit to longer-term projects."

Ms Kincaid also announced all charity partners would have the opportunity to participate in the QBE Match Day event at the Sydney Swans, where QBE is a principal partner.

"We launched this initiative last year and it was hugely successful, providing a wonderful opportunity for us to give back to the hard-working people within the charities, as well as their beneficiaries, to have relaxing day out at the football."

Ms Kincaid said the charity partners were a very important part of the Foundation’s work, but also supported a wide variety of causes through other activities.

"Our people play a huge part in the work we do to support the community. The Foundation selects the charities we wish to work with in partnership for the year, but we also have a number of other programs in place for our people to get behind the cause that matter to them.

"They can apply for local grants up to $10,000, donate through workplace giving, have their own fundraising efforts supported by QBE through employee matching, and everyone is given the opportunity to participate in staff volunteering, which is hugely popular and a great team building exercise."

QBE charity partners are provided with a one-off donation between $50,000 and $100,000, and a 12-month commitment of support from the Foundation. They also offer QBE employees volunteering opportunities throughout the year, allowing our people to provide more than just financial support to those in need.

To be considered as a charity partner, organisations must be a registered charity and are required to complete an application form detailing their funding sources and the project for which they are seeking support. Charities that align with the QBE Foundation’s philosophy and objectives are invited to submit their applications for partnership between June and September each year.

For further information please contact:

Kate Sinclair
Senior Communications Specialist
QBE Australia & New Zealand

Mobile: 0435 688 785
Email: kate.sinclair@qbe.com

About the QBE Foundation

The QBE Foundation supports charities that help people overcome disadvantage, strengthen their abilities and live more independently, successfully and productively. Launched in 2011 to coincide with its 125th anniversary, the Foundation formalises QBE’s long history of supporting communities.

The objectives of the Foundation are:

• To make a difference in key areas that align with QBE’s vision and values.
• To drive employee engagement by developing networking and a strong team-based culture.
• To maximise the return and impact for any collection, distribution and allocation of philanthropic resources.

QBE’s corporate responsibility mirrors our insurance role in the community where we are uniquely placed to assist people when they find themselves in need through accident or misadventure.

For more information visit https://www.qbe.com.au/about/community/foundation