Our learning support and mentoring programs in 90 Australian communities directly help children in need achieve their goals through education.
View all programs The true cost of creating impact
We have this misguided belief that if you put your money towards admin costs, then your money isn't doing the best that it possibly can.
In this episode, we discuss Pay What It Takes, an initiative within the not-for-profit sector to address misconceptions around admin costs and why these shouldn’t be seen as a measure of a ‘good’ or 'bad' charity.
The campaign aims to increase understanding of the true cost of running effective charities and creating a positive and lasting impact in our communities.
The Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor speaks with two of the co-founders of the campaign, Jo Taylor, CEO of the Siddle Family Foundation, and Lisa Allan, Head of Fundraising at The Smith Family, to explore why these admin costs – such as IT, HR, finance, fundraising and measuring impact – are essential for organisations to operate safely and efficiently, build strong and sustainable foundations, and deliver on their purpose.
“We have this misguided belief that if you put your money towards admin costs, then your money isn't doing the best that it possibly can,” says Jo. “So the Pay What It Takes campaign is about busting that myth and being really clear that a well-funded charity is a really effective charity.
“It's time we change the conversations from how low can you get your overheads to how much impact can you make and what is the real cost of creating that impact.”
Conversation highlights
Jo and Lisa talk to Doug about:
The campaign aims to increase understanding of the true cost of running effective charities and creating a positive and lasting impact in our communities.
The Smith Family CEO Doug Taylor speaks with two of the co-founders of the campaign, Jo Taylor, CEO of the Siddle Family Foundation, and Lisa Allan, Head of Fundraising at The Smith Family, to explore why these admin costs – such as IT, HR, finance, fundraising and measuring impact – are essential for organisations to operate safely and efficiently, build strong and sustainable foundations, and deliver on their purpose.
“We have this misguided belief that if you put your money towards admin costs, then your money isn't doing the best that it possibly can,” says Jo. “So the Pay What It Takes campaign is about busting that myth and being really clear that a well-funded charity is a really effective charity.
“It's time we change the conversations from how low can you get your overheads to how much impact can you make and what is the real cost of creating that impact.”
Conversation highlights
Jo and Lisa talk to Doug about:
- [1:24] Their most memorable education moment
- [4:22] What Pay What It Takes is and how it came about
- [7:23] Why admin costs aren’t a good measure of an effective charity
- [9:36] How admin costs help charities operate safely and deliver impact
- [12:45] Practical tips on choosing an effective charity
- [16:26] The true cost of delivering social impact
- [18:19] What gives them hope for the future
