McCusker Charitable Foundation

Former Wesfarmers boss Trevor Eastwood has stayed out of the limelight since exiting Perth’s corporate scene, but has broken his silence to publicise his largest-ever philanthropic donation.

SPECIAL REPORT: Western Australia’s 10 largest philanthropic foundations distributed $65 million last year, but like many charities, some of these organisations are increasingly targeting individual supporters to offset rising fundraising costs.

Former governor and practising barrister Malcolm McCusker has been appointed chairman of Law Access, following the retirement of founding director Adam Ebell.

The Channel 7 Telethon Trust achieved another fundraising record over the weekend, raising $38 million for medical research, but its success has not been shared across the charity sector, with Variety WA’s Carols by Candlelight the latest of several events to be cancelled due to a lack of financial support.

The Noisy Guts Project and Chemo@home have taken home the respective Emerging Innovation and Growth categories at last nights Innovator of the Year awards, marking a big win for Perth-based healthcare and research.

Big donations to three philanthropic trusts in Western Australia augur well for future charitable donations, although the state’s wealthiest person, Gina Rinehart, has bucked the trend.

Following in the footsteps of Stan Perron, some key names in philanthropy have increased their funding distribution, but many charity recipients are struggling to measure the impact of these donations.

Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation has pledged up to $2 million to The Nature Conservancy to undertake a series of activities to improve the Swan-Canning Estuary’s health, including the restoration of lost shellfish reefs.

With construction nearing its end point, the WA Museum is shifting its focus to content development at the state’s newest cultural facility.

The federal government will provide $100 million to more than 300 charities, Minderoo Foundation committed $5 million to community initiatives, and Gina Rinehart donated $6 million to the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia over the weekend to help charities meet increased demand.

Giving increased last financial year, but the economic fallout from COVID-19 will affect the potential for generosity into the future.

A $10.8 million liver cancer research centre has been established with donations from several philanthropic and research organisations, including $5 million from the Cancer Research Trust.

The University of Western Australia’s new vice-chancellor plans to shift the institution’s focus.

Telethon 2020 raised a record $46.3m for the Channel 7 Telethon Trust over the weekend, with 14 donors contributing the lion's share of the money.

A bright idea cooked up in the early stages of the pandemic has provided 34,000 meals for people in need, while also supporting local hospitality venues.

Philanthropic donations increased in 2020, despite predictions it would fall.

Telethon and the MACA Cancer 200 Ride for Research raised a record-breaking $69 million for medical research over the weekend.

A group of dedicated donors has signed up to a unique fundraising program at West Australian Ballet.

Ronald McDonald House Charities WA, a new Rare Care Centre at Perth Children’s Hospital and the Perth Lynx are the beneficiaries of three recent sponsorship agreements.

A world-first Perth research project has made a breakthrough in understanding the pandemic’s future ramifications.

WA has some very prominent philanthropists, detailed in our updated list of foundations, and there is a push to expand giving across the wider community.

Malcolm and Tonya McCusker have boosted the assets of their family's charity by more than $175 million, tripling its holdings as they plan to increase philanthropic funding.

Mark Beyer and Mark Pownall discuss the battery metals shake out; Santos legal delay impacts; high energy prices; HBF cost cut; McCusker charity news, and a magazine preview.

Major charity Telethon Kids Institute is to be chaired by Naomi Flutter, succeeding high-profile Julie Bishop as the organisation prepares to roll out a new name and strategic plan.