Our Research Projects
Current projects: Key Social Issues in Parramatta Corporate Responsibility in Australia Arts Plus Ethical Consumerism Completed projects: Managing for Recovery Cutting to the Heart of Workplace Giving Social Enterprise World Forum Managing in a Downturn Common Cause The Giving Business | |
CURRENT PROJECTS | |
Key Social Issues in Parramatta: Understanding and Engagement CSI, Parramatta City Council (PCC) Building on the success of the Common Cause report for Sydney, CSI is undertaking research for Parramatta City Council to identify the key social issues for the Parramatta Local Government Area. A range of outputs will be produced including a short report for partners that will share the knowledge captured on these key social issues including the strengths of and key challenges for social inclusion in Parramatta. The research and the report will provide the basis for developing awareness-raisi | |
Corporate Responsibility in Australia: Analysis of the Corporate Responsibility Index CSI, St. James Ethics Centre This project investigates how corporate responsibility is being adopted by leading Australian companies. It involves empirical analysis of trends reported by participating firms in the annual Corporate Responsibility Index (CRI) survey. The first phase of the research is concentrating on three main areas: (1) Exploring how integrated corporate responsibility is among participants, (2) Examining how companies measure the impact of their community investment programs, and (3) Investigating the reporting practices of this group of leading companies. | |
 | CSI, Arts Queensland This research project sprang from last year's 2020 Summit. It brings together a number of well-known artists, writers and arts philanthropists to consider ways to support mid-career practitioners of the creative arts, with its final report expected to make a series of recommendations for consideration by government. |
 | Predictors of Ethical Consumerism CSI (Asia Pacific Centre for Leadership for Social Impact - MBS), Globescan CSI's partner The Asia Pacific Centre for Leadership for Social Impact is undertaking a research project that seeks to identify predictors of ethical consumerism through the analysis of Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) Monitor data from Globescan. The project explores the factors that contribute to consumers becoming more influenced by ethical considerations, who is likely to become an ethical consumer and the behaviours of ethical consumers. It will benchmark Australian ethical consumer behaviour against international data. Read more. |
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COMPLETED PROJECTS | |
 | Managing for Recovery (Feb 2010) CSI, Pricewaterhouse Managing for Recovery finds that although conditions have been tough for charitable organisations, there is now a mood of cautious optimism returning and a shift in focus from cost cutting to revenue raising. This second survey of third sector organisations reveals that in the face of the worldwide financial crisis, Australian charities generally expect a positive year ahead. In response to the economic climate, 85 per cent of Australian not-for-profit organisations (NFPs) are changing their focus from cost cutting to generating revenue growth over the next twelve months. The second survey provides an opportunity for the NFP sector to see how they have fared since the initial impact of the economic downturn and to get a snapshot on what their future outlook is likely to be for the next 12 months. This report is the sequel to the Managing in a Downturn report released in July 2009. |
| Cutting to the Heart of Workplace Giving (Nov 2009) CSI, The Australian Charities Fund, Goldman Sachs JBWere, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, ANZ, Bain & Company, Buyology Lab This important study looks at workplace giving (payroll giving) from the employees' perspective and tells us something new. By showing that the donations made by employees to charities through workplace deductions are additional to their existing contributions - and, indeed, encourage further donations - the true value of workplace giving is revealed. This evidence should act as a catalyst to employers, charities and governments to work together to promote workplace giving as a significant way to fund community enterprise. |
 | Social Enterprise World Forum Research Roundtable (Oct 2009) CSI, Social Ventures Australia, Social Traders CSI conducted a research roundtable for the Social Enterprise World Forum with Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) co-hosts, Social Ventures Australia and Social Traders on 6 October 2009. Four international presenters spoke about social enterprise related research:
Read more about other speakers and download presentations |
 | Managing in a Downturn: Part 1 (Jul 2009) CSI, Pricewaterhouse Fundraising Institute Australia 'Managing in a Downturn' is the first comprehensive research project to assess the effect of the economic downturn on Australian charities and nonprofit organisations. It assesses the projected increases and decreases in fundraising and other income streams resulting from the economic downturn to help policy makers and charities make informed decisions in response to the economic downturn if income streams soften and the demand for services rises. In Australia, early indications are that charities are anticipating a drop in their donations and have begun to reduce the number of services offered. Read more |
 | CSI, United Way, Sydney Community Foundation, Perpetual, Community Relations Commission 'Common Cause' project aimed to help create a more inclusive community and address issues of social disadvantage by making freely available an improved information framework to all interested parties who seek to respond to the current and emerging social needs of Greater Sydney. The report maps the needs of individuals, social groups and the community to allow better planning and resourcing of community initiatives and services on the basis of evidence. |
 | The Giving Business (Feb 2009) CSI, Pricewaterhouse 'The Giving Business' research project aimed to understand the key success factors and business benefits of workplace giving, also known as payroll giving. Workplace giving was revealed as "the idea for the times" because it enables people lucky enough to be employed to easily give to those less fortunate. So David Gonski, leading businessman, philanthropist and CSI board member told a packed audience from the corporate, community and government sectors at the launch of this report. Among the key findings were that awareness of payroll giving remains alarmingly low among businesses; that businesses have an exaggerated perception of the complexity of setting up such a program, and that with relatively simple measures to improve take-up of the programs there is realistic potential to dramatically raise the amount donated by this method. Read more |
