Page 5 - Palms-Australia-Annual-Report-2019
P. 5

Page 4























































                               We also achieved income growth                                                               We have mapped budgetary projections

                               beyond budget projections in FY 2018-19,                                                     across all line items for each of the next

                               but analysis of underlying trends makes                                                      five years. I encourage members to ask for

                               it clear that to sustain 50 people on                                                        a copy. It is expected that there will be at

                               assignment beyond FY 2023-24 requires                                                        least a six month lag between employing a


                               devoting capacity now to fundraising.                                                        fundraiser and increasing income, and not

                                                                                                                            every line of income will increase by the
                               Future Investment                                                                            arbitrary 20% figure nominated at one of


                                                                                                                            the initial planning meetings in 2017.


                               While it is understood in business that

                               one has to invest to grow, it is sometimes                                                   Our targets are ambitious and stretching,

                               considered imprudent for charities to                                                        and not without risk, but we have made

                               show large deficits on annual profit and                                                     a sound identification of the potential new

                               loss (P&L) statements. I need to advise                                                      investors and the right person in the

                               that the effect of employing Palms first                                                     fundraising position will provide the


                               dedicated fundraiser in the coming year                                                      capacity we need to have them appreciate

                               will be a further increase in that deficit.                                                  the value of Palms model of international

                                                                                                                            development. The alternative is not

                               To avoid weak knees on this it is                                                            attempting to grow, but simply spreading

                               important to remember two things:                                                            the legacy over the longer term. The funds

                                                                                                                            could be spent maintaining 15 assignments


                                 1.   Injections of income the size of our                                                  per annum for maybe 10-12 years and

                                   2017 legacy gave us a monstrous P&L                                                      hoping for another sizable legacy in

                                   surplus in that year, but we cannot rely                                                 that period to avoid winding up in

                                   on similar to happen again. The income                                                   around 2028-29.

                                   growth required to achieve our plan of


                                   a break-even P&L with 50 volunteers on                                                   Palms Vision and Mission is being achieved

                                   assignment in 2023-24 is unlikely to be                                                  daily because of the values and approach

                                   achieved without investment in                                                           we take to mutual human development in

                                   fundraising capacity in the intervening                                                  the remote grass roots communities of the

                                   years.                                                                                   world and at home. Growing and sustaining


                                2.  Continuing to invest is projected to                                                    our vision requires that we give opportunity

                                   produce a greater surplus on the 2024-                                                   to more Australians to appreciate the value

                                   25 balance sheet (756,742) than we                                                       of investing in it.

                                   had three years ago ($721,334), but

                                   gives us 50 volunteers on assignment


                                   instead of 20. Long-term vision is

                                   required, rather than fear of short-term                                                         Roger O'Halloran

                                   budget deficits, if we are to avoid
                                                                                                                               Executive Director
                                   depleting funds before we get to our
                                                                                                                                      Palms Australia
                                   target.
   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10